Waiting for Sara is the music you want playing when she walks through the door. It's the atmosphere on the beach when she first kisses you. It's the soundtrack of romance. 'David Feder is a phenomenal guitarist...and one of the best kept secrets in the Florida Keys...' (Carl Hiaasen, Author) 'David Feder took the stage next -- a real world-class act. He did amazing things on an electrified Taylor classical guitar during an absolutely incredible set. Dave premiered several new compositions from two soon-to-be-released CDs called 'Black Emerald' (Hillbilly Flamenco) and 'Leila's Dream,' as well as songs from 'Waiting for Sara.' If his sheer musicianship wasn't dazzling enough, the stories he told about his compositions were funny, moving, and he really touched a lot of people with his music.' Byline: John Bartus from Tourbaby Show Reprinted from Monroe Council of the Arts Summer newsletter 2000 I bet you're wondering, what the heck is 'Hillbilly Flamenco?' 'Hillbilly Flamenco' is the magic sounds of guitarist David Feder and his band Salagua-Azul. David writes and plays Original Flamenco style Gypsy music, with a Celtic, 'Psyco/Hillbilly' feel. It's really fun and romantically charged and now you can experience it live! David is an exciting, warm and provocative musician. He and his band are world class musicians with only one driving goal..'to take their audience along with them on exciting, romantic and fun musical Journeys.' The newest CD release by Dave and the band is titled 'Black Emerald.' It is filled with great musical voyages and features some awesome new musicians. Many of the songs were written in the Azores, and capture the appeal of these mysterious islands. If you close your eyes and listen, you are there, dancing on the volcanic, black emerald sand. Whether you hear David Feder live or on one of his recordings with Salagua Azul, you will be in for a great musical experience. Dave Feder (Biography from Arts Council Article) Magic happens when a person finds the one thing in life he or she was meant to do. Such is the case with Upper Keys musician David Feder. Somehow it's hard to imagine Feder doing anything other than creating and playing music. Feder began taking piano and guitar lessons when he was four years old and was writing songs for the guitar at age ten! In fact, he says that some of the music he plays today are variations of songs he wrote as a child. 'I believe we all have one song inside of us,' commented Feder, 'and everything we write ends up being a version or another expression of that one song.' However, he took a somewhat circuitous route before finally succumbing to his lifelong love of music. Originally from Niagara Falls, New York, Feder studied engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. And even though he often performed at coffeehouses while at school, without music as an integral part of his life, Feder says he was 'pretty miserable.' So after graduation, he enrolled in the music education program at the State University of Buffalo. Interestingly, Feder says school was difficult, musically/spiritually. 'It's hard to play and improvise when you're being taught to try and quantify everything,' he said. 'To me it felt like It was sucking the art out of the music.' Luckily there were Some very cool musicians in Buffalo at that time who provided the fuel for Feder's Fire. So he left school and began performing with bands playing saxophone and guitar, doing studio session work, and supplementing his income with a variety of jobs. But Feder became disenchanted with the music scene because of the destructive life styles so often associated with musicians. He decided to put performing aside and concentrate on electronic design. However, the road ahead still had a few twists and turns in store for Feder. As a favor, he agreed to help out a friend by playing the guitar in his jazz band. According to Feder, once he started performing again, he knew this was what he wanted to do. Says Feder, 'Even a bad night playing music is better than working!' While he doesn't think of playing music as
