David S Theroff

Davids introduction to music came at a very early age. His mother listened to the music of Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis and a host of others during that time period. David was further influenced by his Grandfather Henry Rettinger who; an Austrian Wagon Wheel maker, played polkas on his button accordian and harmonica. David started picking up the tunes his grandfather would play by ear and could play some of them.

David started taking guitar lessons in the late 60s in St. Louis Missouri and after 4 years could play hits like on Top of Old Smokey; which David felt was a big waist of time. When he started his focus on playing by ear he advanced a hundred times of what the lessons taught him. David also trained in Tai Chi Chuan at this time.

David majored in music (and Photography/Art) at SIU and attended college for 6 years. While at SIU David also took piano, clarient, voice and oboe lessons. He moved to Denver Colorado where he has the head musical instrument repairman for the largest music store chain in Colorado Villa Music. He also worked as a piano rebuilder for Professional Piano Service before starting in the computer industry.

At the same time David started his study of African Drumming wih Master Drummer Adetunji Joda he also continued his training in martial arts eventually becoming a 6th Degree Black Belt Kung Fu Master. He has taught many students in Illinois, Colorado, California. He also studied Scuba Diving, and has earned over 11 certifications including an instructor rating.

David performed around the Southern Illinois area from 1976-1979 and did not perform again in public until the late 90s. He has performed in Northern California and all over the midwest.

David has a very deverse background of Photography, Art, Music, Martial Arts, Computers, Graphics Design, Scuba Diving and Archery. His passion for life is what keeps him going. He has traveled in many far away places including China, Tibet., Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Bali, Honduras, Central America and Puerto Rico besides all over the USA.

David is also a published photographer and writer. His pictures have been in Black Belt Magazine, Inside Kung Fu Magazine, DUEL Martial Arts Magazine and Kung Fu/QiGong Magazine.