Post by Henny Macc on Jul 17, 2021 0:05:36 GMT
David L. Constantino (April 8th, 1953 - )
Years active: 1967-present
Country of origin: United States of America
Recorded vocal range: A2-A5
Band history:
- 1967-1971 - The Tweeds (guitar, vocals)
- 1971-1983 - Talas (lead vocals, guitar)
- 1997-2001 - Talas (lead vocals, guitar)
- 2007-present - Dave Constantino Band (lead vocals, guitar)
- 2012 - Talas (lead vocals, guitar)
Recorded high notes:
A5: "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "See Saw" live Niagara Falls 2012, "Shame" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Stealin'" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001
G♯5/A♭5: "Doin' It Right" live Toronto 1980, "Helter Skelter" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Shame" demo
G5: Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Battle Scar" live Buffalo 1997, "You"
F♯5/G♭5: "Baby It Sure Looks Great", "Helter Skelter" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Not Fade Away" live Syracuse 1980, "See Saw" live Toronto 1980
E5: "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Battle Scar" live Buffalo 1997, "Fit to Be Tied", "Helter Skelter" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "In Love with Yourself Again" live at Uncle Sam's Nightclub 1981, "Not Fade Away" live Syracuse 1980, "See Saw" live Syracuse 1980, "Sink Your Teeth into That" live Buffalo 1997, "Won't Be Comin' Back" live at Town Ballroom 2011, "You" live Buffalo 1997
D5: "Bump in the Road", "Helter Skelter" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Shame" demo, "Smart Lady" live at Uncle Sam's Nightclub 1981, "Ticket to Ride" live at the Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo 1998
C5: "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Battle Scar" live Buffalo 1997, "Missin' You", "Natural Feeling" live Clarence 1981, "Tie Your Mother Down" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978
B4: "All My Life" live Buffalo 1978, "And Your Bird Can Sing" Facebook video 2020, "Doin' It Right" live Syracuse 1980, "Helter Skelter" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "King of the World", "See Saw", "Shame" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Sink Your Teeth into That", "You" live Syracuse 1980
A♯4/B♭4: "Baby It Sure Looks Great", "Helter Skelter" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Must Be Love" live Buffalo 1978, "My Generation" live Niagara Falls 2012, "Shame" demo, "Superstition" live at Central Park Grill 2013, "21st Century Schizoid Man" live Buffalo 1997
A4: "All My Life" live Buffalo 1978, "All Right Now" live at the Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls, "And Your Bird Can Sing" Facebook video 2020, "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Baby It Sure Looks Great", "Battle Scar" live Buffalo 1997, "Born Under a Bad Sign" live at the Armor Inn 2016, "Cold Shot" live at Foley's 2016, "Doin' It Right", "Down by the River" live 2014, "Expert on Me", "Face the End", "Fire and Water" live at Foley's 2016, "Gave You Back", "Going Down" live 2016, "Good Love Is on the Way" live 2019, "High Speed on Ice", "Hit and Run", "I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" live at the Armor Inn 2016, "In Love with Yourself Again" live Clarence 1981, "King of the World", "Manic Depression" live 2011, "Man with a Key", "Mesa Boogie" live Clarence 1981, "Mississippi Queen", "More Every Day" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Mystery Man" live at Town Ballroom 2011, "Natural Feeling" live Clarence 1981, "Never See Me Cry", "Outside Looking In", "Please", "Red House" live at the Tudor Lounge 2012, "Rock and Roll Ain't Treason" live Clarence 1981, "R2S3" live Syracuse 1980, "Satisfy" live Buffalo 1978, "See Saw", "Shame" demo, "She Don't Know", "Shy Boy", "Sink Your Teeth into That", "Smart Lady", "Stealin'" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Superstition" live at Iron Works 2015, "Temptation Eyes" live at Sportsmen's Park 2022, "Tie Your Mother Down" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" live 2019, "We're Not Gonna Take It" live Niagara Falls 2012, "Where You Hidin'", "Wishing Well", "Won't Be Comin' Back", "You"
G♯4/A♭4: "And Your Bird Can Sing" Facebook video 2020, "Blue on Black" live at the Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls 2022, "Bump in the Road", "Day of the Eagle" live at the Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls 2013, "Doin' It Right", "Gave You Back", "Hello There" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Let It Go" live at Town Ballroom 2011, "My Generation" live Niagara Falls, "Mystery Man", "Power to Break Away" live Buffalo 1997, "Rock and Roll Ain't Treason" live Clarence 1981, "Stone Cold Crazy" live 1998, "Tables Turn"
G4: "All My Life" live Buffalo 1978, "Any Other Day", "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Badge" live 2016, "Born Under a Bad Sign" live at the Armor Inn 2016, "Cold Shot" live at the Tudor Lounge 2014, "Down by the River" live 2014, "Empty Arms" live 2019, "Expert on Me", "Face the End", "Fit to Be Tied", "Further on Up the Road" live at Larkin Square 2018, "Gave You Back", "Going Down" live 2016, "Good Love Is on the Way" live 2019, "Hello There" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "High Speed on Ice", "Hit and Run", "I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" live at the Armor Inn 2016, "In Love with Yourself Again" live Clarence 1981, "King of the World", "Man with a Key", "More Every Day" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Must Be Love" live Buffalo 1978, "My Little Girl", "Mystery Man", "Nobody's Cryin'", "Oh! War" live Syracuse 1980, "Outside Looking In", "Pain in My Heart", "Please", "Rock and Roll Ain't Treason" live Clarence 1981, "R2S3" live Syracuse 1980, "Seems to Me" live at Sportsmen’s Park 2022, "She Don't Know", "Shame" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Shy Boy", "Sink Your Teeth into That", "Sitting There Sad" live Clarence 1981, "Stealin'" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Stone Cold Crazy" live 1998, "Superstition" live at Iron Works 2015, "Ticket to Ride" live at the Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo 1998, "Touch", "Turn Back Time", "21st Century Schizoid Man" live Buffalo 1997, "Wishing Well", "You"
F♯4/G♭4: "And Your Bird Can Sing" Facebook video 2020, "Fire and Water" live at Foley's 2016, "Highway to Hell" live at Rock 'n' Roll Heaven 2023, "I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" live 2021, "Let It Go", "Manic Depression", "Please", "Power to Break Away" live Buffalo 1997, "R2S3" live Syracuse 1980, "See Saw", "Smart Lady", "Stealin'" live at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival 2001, "Tell Me True" live Buffalo 1997, "We're Not Gonna Take It" live Niagara Falls 2012
Recorded low notes:
F3: "And Your Bird Can See" Facebook video 2020, "Cold Shot" live at the Tudor Lounge 2014, "Further on Up the Road" live at Larkin Square 2018, "Touch", "You"
E3: "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Gave You Back", "Jumpin' Jack Flash" live 2021, "Missing You", "Not Fade Away" live Syracuse 1980, "Superstition" live 2019, "Ticket to Ride" live at the Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo 1998, "Wishing Well", "Won't Be Comin' Back", "You" live 2012
D♯3/E♭3: "Born Under a Bad Sign" live at the Armor Inn 2016, "My Generation" live Niagara Falls 2012
D3: "Gave You Back", "Manic Depression", "Mystery Man"
C♯3/D♭3: "Manic Depression", "Tables Turn"
C3: "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" live on Rockin' After Dark 1978, "Empty Arms" live 2019, "Wishing Well"
A2: "Man with a Key"
.......................................................
*Blue marks soft falsetto notes.
*Italics mark non-melodic notes.
*Underlines mark notes in backing vocals or otherwise muffled/obscured in the mix.
{Album ranges}
Talas:
Dave Constantino Band:
Talas:
- Talas (1979) - F3-B4-G5
- Sink Your Teeth into That (1982) - B3-B4
- If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now (1998) - F3-G5
Dave Constantino Band:
- Bump in the Road (2007) - C♯3-D3-E5
- Touch (2014) - A2-C3-A4
{Detailed bio}
Dave Constantino is best known as the guitarist and vocalist of Buffalo-based band Talas, who gained some considerable notoriety and recognition in their regional music scenes during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are also remembered as the first notable band that virtuoso bassist Billy Sheehan played and recorded in, as he would later become a worldwide success playing with acts such as David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, The Winery Dogs, Steve Vai, and Sons of Apollo. Though the other members of Talas never quite gained the level of fame that Sheehan reached, Constantino has still released a respectable body of work as a guitarist and vocalist, and has continued being musically active in some shape and form since Talas' disbandment. As a singer, he clearly takes influence from a variety of classic rock vocalists, such as Mick Jagger, Roger Daltrey, and perhaps most audibly Stevie Ray Vaughan, whom he can do an impressively close vocal impression of. Though he sounds pretty distinctly like a higher baritone, I was able to find shockingly little low singing by him, with his lowest sung notes being C3s, and his only example of anything second octave being a songspoken A2. On the other end, however, while his high range may give off the impression of being somewhat limited based on his relatively conservative usage of it in the studio (mostly topping out in the upper fourth octave), he has revealed himself to have quite a bit more to show there in live performances, where he can be heard doing some pretty impressive screams as high as A5 sometimes!
Constantino began his career during his high school years in 1967, in a Buffalo-based pop band called The Tweeds. This band also featured his future Talas bandmate Paul Varga on drums and vocals, and released four songs that I have been able to find online - "A Thing of the Past", "What's Your Name", "I Want Her to Know", and "We Got Time". At some point down the line, The Tweeds were rebranded as Talas, which went through several lineup changes over the years before settling on their best-known lineup in the late '70s, with Constantino on lead vocals and guitar, Varga on lead vocals and drums, and Billy Sheehan on bass and additional vocals. After several years of gigging around the Buffalo area, they released their self-titled debut album in 1979, which featured a very traditional classic rock musical styling (with the addition of Sheehan's bass shredding parts), and some particularly distinct vocal harmonies between Constantino and Varga that largely helped define the band's signature sound on songs like "See Saw", "Any Other Day", and "She Don't Know". After promoting and doing some limited touring for this album over the next few years, Talas went on to release their second album Sink Your Teeth into That in 1982, which featured much more of a shift towards a heavy metal musical style. To accompany this, Constantino's vocal style became more aggressive and gritty on this album, which can particularly be heard on songs like "King of the World", "Hit and Run", and the title track. This album also featured the song "Shy Boy", which would later go on to become the band's best known song after Sheehan covered it with David Lee Roth.
Though Talas' popularity continued to rise throughout the early 80s, in 1983 Constantino (along with Varga) left the band, and was replaced on vocals by Phil Naro and on guitar by Mitch Perry. For the next 14 years after this, not much is publicly known of what became of him or his career, as I have not been able to find any recordings or live footage whatsoever from that era by him. However, in 1997 Constantino resurfaced for a reunion of the classic Talas lineup, playing a packed show in the band's hometown of Buffalo, which was recorded and later released as a live album under the title If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now. Certain editions of this album also included a newly-released studio track entitled "Doin' It Right", which the band used to regularly play live in the late 70s and early 80s but had never released on an album. In the years following this, the reformed Talas continued to play shows intermittently, including their first overseas show in Tokyo in 1998, as well as performing a set at the Buffalo-Niagara Guitar Festival in 2001, which was recorded for a DVD release. Following this, Talas disbanded again, and Billy Sheehan resumed focusing on his other projects.
In the years after Talas' second breakup, Constantino went on to form his own solo band, simply called the Dave Constantino Band. He began to regularly gig around the western New York area with this band in the 2000s, playing a mix of new original material and classic rock/blues rock covers. He released his first solo album in 2007, entitled Bump in the Road. Though this album featured a bit less high singing than he demonstrated during his Talas years (topping at A4 apart from a couple screams up to D5 and E5), it also showed a glimpse of his seldom-used low range for one of the first times, with some songs getting down to the lower third octave. After doing some gigging to promote this album in the years after, Constantino partook in one last Talas reunion in 2012, playing a one-off gig with Sheehan and Varga at the Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls. Two years after this, he released his second solo album, entitled Touch, in 2014, which utilized a similar vocal tessitura to Bump in the Road and has been his last release to date.
To this day, Constantino continues to be an active musician in the western New York music scene, and has since gone on to play in a few other projects such as Willie and the Reinhardts, Shyboy (a reformed version of Talas without Billy Sheehan, with the name changed out of courtesy), and even a reformed version of The Tweeds, though I have not been able to find any additional information or recordings from some of these acts. Constantino has also been inducted to the East Aurora Music Hall of Fame, and begun to run his own school of rock with his wife, entitled Limelite University. Though his career may have never taken off to levels of international fame, I appreciate his contributions to the first two Talas albums, and am glad that he is still out there performing and making music one way or another!
Dave Constantino is best known as the guitarist and vocalist of Buffalo-based band Talas, who gained some considerable notoriety and recognition in their regional music scenes during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are also remembered as the first notable band that virtuoso bassist Billy Sheehan played and recorded in, as he would later become a worldwide success playing with acts such as David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, The Winery Dogs, Steve Vai, and Sons of Apollo. Though the other members of Talas never quite gained the level of fame that Sheehan reached, Constantino has still released a respectable body of work as a guitarist and vocalist, and has continued being musically active in some shape and form since Talas' disbandment. As a singer, he clearly takes influence from a variety of classic rock vocalists, such as Mick Jagger, Roger Daltrey, and perhaps most audibly Stevie Ray Vaughan, whom he can do an impressively close vocal impression of. Though he sounds pretty distinctly like a higher baritone, I was able to find shockingly little low singing by him, with his lowest sung notes being C3s, and his only example of anything second octave being a songspoken A2. On the other end, however, while his high range may give off the impression of being somewhat limited based on his relatively conservative usage of it in the studio (mostly topping out in the upper fourth octave), he has revealed himself to have quite a bit more to show there in live performances, where he can be heard doing some pretty impressive screams as high as A5 sometimes!
Constantino began his career during his high school years in 1967, in a Buffalo-based pop band called The Tweeds. This band also featured his future Talas bandmate Paul Varga on drums and vocals, and released four songs that I have been able to find online - "A Thing of the Past", "What's Your Name", "I Want Her to Know", and "We Got Time". At some point down the line, The Tweeds were rebranded as Talas, which went through several lineup changes over the years before settling on their best-known lineup in the late '70s, with Constantino on lead vocals and guitar, Varga on lead vocals and drums, and Billy Sheehan on bass and additional vocals. After several years of gigging around the Buffalo area, they released their self-titled debut album in 1979, which featured a very traditional classic rock musical styling (with the addition of Sheehan's bass shredding parts), and some particularly distinct vocal harmonies between Constantino and Varga that largely helped define the band's signature sound on songs like "See Saw", "Any Other Day", and "She Don't Know". After promoting and doing some limited touring for this album over the next few years, Talas went on to release their second album Sink Your Teeth into That in 1982, which featured much more of a shift towards a heavy metal musical style. To accompany this, Constantino's vocal style became more aggressive and gritty on this album, which can particularly be heard on songs like "King of the World", "Hit and Run", and the title track. This album also featured the song "Shy Boy", which would later go on to become the band's best known song after Sheehan covered it with David Lee Roth.
Though Talas' popularity continued to rise throughout the early 80s, in 1983 Constantino (along with Varga) left the band, and was replaced on vocals by Phil Naro and on guitar by Mitch Perry. For the next 14 years after this, not much is publicly known of what became of him or his career, as I have not been able to find any recordings or live footage whatsoever from that era by him. However, in 1997 Constantino resurfaced for a reunion of the classic Talas lineup, playing a packed show in the band's hometown of Buffalo, which was recorded and later released as a live album under the title If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now. Certain editions of this album also included a newly-released studio track entitled "Doin' It Right", which the band used to regularly play live in the late 70s and early 80s but had never released on an album. In the years following this, the reformed Talas continued to play shows intermittently, including their first overseas show in Tokyo in 1998, as well as performing a set at the Buffalo-Niagara Guitar Festival in 2001, which was recorded for a DVD release. Following this, Talas disbanded again, and Billy Sheehan resumed focusing on his other projects.
In the years after Talas' second breakup, Constantino went on to form his own solo band, simply called the Dave Constantino Band. He began to regularly gig around the western New York area with this band in the 2000s, playing a mix of new original material and classic rock/blues rock covers. He released his first solo album in 2007, entitled Bump in the Road. Though this album featured a bit less high singing than he demonstrated during his Talas years (topping at A4 apart from a couple screams up to D5 and E5), it also showed a glimpse of his seldom-used low range for one of the first times, with some songs getting down to the lower third octave. After doing some gigging to promote this album in the years after, Constantino partook in one last Talas reunion in 2012, playing a one-off gig with Sheehan and Varga at the Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls. Two years after this, he released his second solo album, entitled Touch, in 2014, which utilized a similar vocal tessitura to Bump in the Road and has been his last release to date.
To this day, Constantino continues to be an active musician in the western New York music scene, and has since gone on to play in a few other projects such as Willie and the Reinhardts, Shyboy (a reformed version of Talas without Billy Sheehan, with the name changed out of courtesy), and even a reformed version of The Tweeds, though I have not been able to find any additional information or recordings from some of these acts. Constantino has also been inducted to the East Aurora Music Hall of Fame, and begun to run his own school of rock with his wife, entitled Limelite University. Though his career may have never taken off to levels of international fame, I appreciate his contributions to the first two Talas albums, and am glad that he is still out there performing and making music one way or another!
