David Bryan
| David Bryan | |
|---|---|
Bryan at the 2009 premiere of When We Were Beautiful
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Bryan Rashbaum |
| Born | February 7, 1962 Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Hard rock, Glam metal, Instrumental |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards, Vocals, Trumpet, Violin |
| Years active | 1980s - present |
| Associated acts | Bon Jovi |
David Bryan (born David Bryan Rashbaum, February 7, 1962, in Edison, New Jersey) is the keyboard player of the band Bon Jovi. Bryan also sings backing vocals and often at live shows sings part of or the whole of the song 'In These Arms', one of a handful of Bon Jovi songs credited to him.
Early life
Bryan began to learn piano at age seven. His father, Eddie Rashbaum, played the trumpet. He attended Herbert Hoover Middle School, then JP Stevens High School, where he played keyboards for a band called Transition with bass player Steve Sileo. He graduated from J. P. Stevens High School in Edison. Bryan studied with Emery Hack, a professor at Juilliard, for thirteen years. Bryan was accepted into Rutgers University, but dropped out to attend Juilliard, a school devoted to music in New York City.
With Bon Jovi
Bryan was the first to receive a call when Jon Bon Jovi learned that he had received a recording contract, and agreed to join the band. He shortened his full name to his first and middle names. At the time Bryan was attending Rutgers University and was studying Pre-Med with a 4.0 GPA. Bryan has played keyboards and sang on all of Bon Jovi's albums, as well as the solo projects of Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora .
Circular saw accident
In the late 90's, prior to the band coming together to record "Crush", Bryan nearly severed his finger in a home accident involving a circular saw. After a year of rehabilitation and therapy, Bryan regained motion in his finger and went back to playing the keyboards.
Personal life
He married his High School sweetheart April McLean on August 25, 1990, but they divorced in 2004. They have three kids together: twins Gabrielle Luna and Colton Moon (born March 10, 1994), and Tyger Lily (born April 29, 2000). Gabrielle (Gabby) and Colton recently had Bat and Bar Mitzvahs, respectively. Jon Bon Jovi and Michael Strahan were there to help celebrate the B'nai Mitzvah. They live in Colts Neck, NJ.
Charity Work
Bryan is very active in VH-1’s Save the Music program, as well as Only Make Believe. He also wrote the anthem for Only Make Believe, "Rockin’ All Over the World", with Dena Hammerstein. He is an honorary Board member for Only Make Believe.
The band has built several homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The video for the hit song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home" is a documentary of the making of these homes. The band also gave Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network one million dollars. With this, she created Bon Jovi Boulevard in Louisiana. Bon Jovi was welcomed back, one year later, to see Bon Jovi Boulevard, and to unveil it to its future residents.
Musical Theater
He co-wrote the musical Memphis, which had its off-Broadway debut in 2002. In 2008, Memphis was performed at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, CA. The show is scheduled to be performed in January, 2009 in Seattle, WA, at the 5th Avenue Theatre, prior to moving to Broadway later in 2009.
Bryan also wrote the musical "The Toxic Avenger" with Joe DiPietro, which made its Off-Broadway premiere at New World Stages on April 6, 2009.
Discography
Bon Jovi
|
|
References
External links
- Official site
