Dave Wilkes

Dave started drumming at the tender age of three (his Dad is a professional guitarist) and by the age of six was playing in the junior section of the local Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra. He rapidly gained a great reputation for his command of the kit, and started in theatre pits at 14, also debuting with the contemporary big-band Svengali not long after, backing jazz stars such as Guy Barker and Andy Sheppard. Dave also had a few years at the helm of the party band ‘King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys’ with gigs all over the UK. In Birmingham he has recently played in the theatre ‘pit’ for ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Back To The 80’s’, and further afield, he has played with many top bands on tour, including the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, the BBC Big Band, the Barron Knights and the late great Ken Dodd.