Dave MANCINI

Dave Mancini has most recently toured and performed as the drummer for the legendary trumpet player and former Tonight Show Bandleader, Doc Severinsen. He has also toured with jazz artists Maynard Ferguson, playing drums, and Chuck Mangione, playing percussion.

Dave Mancini has also performed as drummer or percussionist with artists such as Eddie Daniels, Urbie Green, Marvin Stamm, Jeff Tyzik, Allen Vizzutti, Don Menza, The Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, Bill Dobbins, Rosemary Clooney, Diahann Carroll, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, and Bob Hope. He has also shared the bandstand with numerous jazz greats at New York City's famous Jazz night club, Eddie Condon's. Dave has performed at the Marlboro Music Festival; from 1971-1981 was a member of the percussion section of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and was also the xylophone soloist on the George Hamilton Green solos for the Eastman Marimba Band album, "Nola."

Dave Mancini is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he was also awarded the Performer's Certificate. In addition, he is an artist/clinician for the Yamaha Corporation of America, the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company, and Vic Firth, Inc. As an artist/clinician, Dave makes numerous appearances each year at colleges, high schools, and junior high schools around the country where he performs as a guest soloist and presents hands-on workshops and master classes for the students. He is also the author of Drum Set Fundamentals, which is published by William Allen Music and available though Sons of Sound.

Dave Mancini is the founder and president of We Love Kids, Inc., which is an outreach program for kids. Dave and his partner Sheriff's Lieutenant Leon "Rick" Flowers, who is also a Latin percussionist, present hands-on drum and percussion workshops, with the purpose of encouraging young people to use their creative talents and participate in music programs. The ultimate goal is to provide a positive alternative to drugs, gangs, and violence.

Dave Mancini and Rick Flowers recently presented workshops at the National D.A.R.E. Conference in Washington, D.C., for police officers and teachers from around the country. The title of the workshop was "Drums of Knowledge: Beating Drugs, Gangs, and Violence with Drums and Rhythms." Through the We Love Kids outreach program, Dave and Rick plan to present hands-on drum workshops for kids nationwide, and help establish drum ensembles in communities around the country.