| David Bryan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | David Bryan Rashbaum |
| Born | February 7 1962 |
| Origin | Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Hard Rock, Piano Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Keyboardist |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, trumpet, violin |
| Years active | 1980s - Present |
| Associated acts |
Bon Jovi |
David Bryan (born David Bryan Rashbaum, 7 February 1962, in Edison, New Jersey) is the keyboard player of the band, Bon Jovi.
Contents |
Early life
Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and raised in Edison, Bryan began to learn piano at age seven. He graduated from J. P. Stevens High School in Edison. Emery Hack, a professor at Juilliard, studied with him for thirteen years. His father, Eddie Rashbaum, played the trumpet. His twins, 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.
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. However, he dropped out of Rutgers to attend Juilliard, a school devoted to music in New York City.
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.
Solo Work
His recordings include the successful solo albums:
- 1991: Netherworld
- 1994: On a Full Moon
- 2000: Lunar Eclipse
And also a successful musical, Memphis.
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.
