Biography
Raised in a small beach town outside of Tampa, Florida, Dave Herrero was introduced to the local and national music scene through a family friend, sneaking out of military school at age 15 to regularly to see bands like the Arc Angels and Johnny Winter, and to go to a local blues jam at the Green Iguana on Monday nights, where local heroes like James and Lucky Peterson would frequently pop in.
Herrero got his start as a professional touring musician in 1996 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, then moved to Austin, TX and joined Archie Bell and the Drells (of “Tighten Up” fame). While in Austin, he played with the likes of Gary Clark Jr, Charlie Sexton, Lazy Lester, Matt Powell and Seth Walker and was also a founding member of the Blues Society of Austin. It was in Austin that Dave honed in on his guitar playing, singing and songwriting skills, that he then took with him to Chicago.
In Chicago, Dave teamed up with his brother, acclaimed hip-hop producer Mike Hero, and old friend and accomplished songwriter, Felix Reyes, who together produced Dave’s second album, “Austin to Chicago,” which garnered a nomination for the 2009 Illinois Blues Blast Award Debut Artist of the Year. During this time, Dave and his brother also started a production company, TrackForce Productions, and began making music for Harpo Productions (The Oprah Winfrey Show / The Dr Oz Show) and he was asked by Chicago Blues / Soul legend Jimmy Burns to co-produce his album, “Stuck in the Middle.”
Since his move from Austin to Chicago, Dave has toured Europe countless times, started a blues in schools program with Foundations of Music and has been blessed to share the stage with many of his heroes, including the man who inspired him to make music his life, Mr. Buddy Guy.