Dave "K" Konstantin was born in 1956 in Oceanside, Long Island, New York and started playing drums at the age of 10 in a marching band. A drum set came after that and lessons soon after that. He studied for years with renowned jazz/rock drummer, Charles Perry.
Dave K started his professional career at the age of 17, playing Top 40 and album rock in clubs on Long Island and in New York City with 2 popular bands. At the age of 21 an article in a surfing magazine inspired him to move to San Diego in a quest for "warm weather, waves and women".
In the early 80's he landed a gig with a top Bluegrass/Country Band called "The Constables". They played all over San Diego and the western states for close to 3 years.
After that, Dave K took a break to raise a family and start a construction business. His drum set was always nearby and he played enough to keep the spark alive. As his children got older and his business more successful, he started honing his chops and began to play out again.
A deep, life-long love of blues drew him to the local blues jam scene and soon after, led to a series of gigs with local bands. These days, Dave is usually out a couple of times a week making music in local clubs. Dave's also played with the "Blues In The Schools" program for the Blues Lovers United of San Diego. You will be hard pressed to find some one with more energy than Dave K.
In 1995 Dave K formed a Rockin Blues Band, Road Dogs, in San Diego. They have become one of most respected bands in town. National acts Road Dogs have opened for include Doyle Bramhall, Tommy Castro, Smokin Joe Kubek, Guitar Shorty and Mike Zito
Some of the local clubs Dave has played in include: Anthology, Humpfrey's Back Stage, House Of Blues, Patrick's II, Arcadia Blues Club, Baileys, Pala Casino, Rosie O'Gradys, Pal Joey's, O'Connel's, Kraken, Serra Mesa Street Fair, Clairemont Family Days, Chula Vista Summer Concert Series, Viet Nam Vetrans Stand Down, Blind Melons, Cabo Wabo (Mexico), The Sky Box, Tiki, Downtown Cafe, South Park Bar & Grill, Chuy's, Brick By Brick, Etta's Place, Vista Entertainment Center..... He has played tons of partys, bennefits and recovery events.
Dave K has been giving drum lessons for some time now. He specializes in instructing young people and has experiance with children with learning disabilitys.
In late 2006 Dave K met Texas Blues Guitarist Smokin Joe Kubek. 3 months later Joe's drummer quit on short notice. Dave agreed to sub and after 3 gigs became Joe's full time drummer. Dave “K” spent a year and a half touring the world with The Smokin' Joe Kubek Band featuring Bnois King in 07 and 08. This is an internationally recognized, hard hitting, Texas Blues Band based in Dallas. In his time with SJK he performed in 35 states and 6 countrys. Show sizes varied from festivals with 10,000 people to intimate clubs. Dave is proud to have been on their 13th album, their first on Alligator Records, entitled Blood Brothers. The album debuted at #4 in the Billboard Blues Album Charts and stayed in the top 20 for 8 weeks. It was nominated for a 2009 Blues Music Award.
"Daves drumming is solid and tasty with a great back beat. Check him out on the "Blood Brothers" album we did together on Alligator Records." Smokin Joe Kubek
Dave's approach to blues drumming is straight forward:
"Find the pocket and live there".
Dave K has sat in with........ Doyle Bramhall, Tommy Castro Band, Elvin Bishop, Keb Mo, Los Lobos, Susan Tedeschi, Smokin Joe Kubek, Bnois King, Guitar Shorty, Jimmy Thackery, Joe Bonamassa, Buckweat Zydeco, Magic Dick (J.Giels Band), Earl Thomas, Curtis Salgato, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Mike Finnigan, Michael Burks, Roomful of Blues Horns, Debra Coleman, Zac Harmon, Kenny Neal, Serita Neal, Deanna Bogart, Ana Popovic, Larry McCray, Cal David, Dennis Jones, Billy Branch, Mitch Woods, Mark Hummel, Sean Carney, Van Shaw, David Maxwell, Kid Anderson, Rod & Honey Piazza, Preston Hubbard, Shane Dwight, Mighty Mike Shermer, Debbie Davies, Scott Nelson (Kenny Wayne Shepard), Mike Keller (Marcia Ball, Bobby Murry (Etta James), Harold Brown (War), Ed Early (Elvin Bishop), Laurie Morvan, Hiene & Missy Anderson, Tom Cat Courtney, Charles Burton, Alan Iglesias, Michelle Lundeen and many others.
Dave has performed "Drum Tech" duties for Doyle Bramhall and Cris Layton (SRV).
Bands Dave K has been in include:
Treat
Calliope
The Constables
Will Street Blues
Road Dogs
Chet and The Committee
145th Street Deluxe Blues Band
KV's Blues Academy
The Snake Drivers
The Rhythm Cats
Shades Of Blue
Smokin Joe Kubek & Bnois King
