The
D S Big Band was founded by Dave Southall in 1999, and was formerly
known as The Dave Southall Big Band.
Starting in the Salvation
Army as a talented young trumpet player, and then playing in School
and Brass Bands progressing to dance bands in the 1960's, Dave grew
up in the era when Swing Music was at it's height. He was inspired
by Ted Heath and his Music, and especially by trumpet players Bert
Ezzard and Bobby Pratt. He ran his first big band at the Regency
Ballroom, Bath in the mid 60's.
In 1999 as he watched the success
of Syd Lawrence and the Glenn Miller Bands touring the country, he
decided to get together some musicians who shared his love of big
band music. Until his untimely death in May 2004, Dave led the
band, sang and played the trumpet.
His vision for the band was
to entertain to the highest standard, and that sentiment has continued
with the D S Big Band. He was a fantastic man, full of fun and
mischief and he is sadly missed.
