Dave wrote the songs of Melody Rain. Dave and Dik Shopteau produced all of the Melody Rain "Whispers and Shouts" recordings. Dave did some of the arrangements. 
Dik Shopteau, bass guitarist / engineer / and fellow-producer of the Melody Rain recordings. Dik mixed the Allman brothers 40th anniversary DVD and Disney on Ice. He has done much engineering work with Shaun LaBelle, a musician who has topped the UK charts at least twice in 2025 in the contemporary jazz genre.
Guitarist John McGhee was a member of LTD with Jeffrey Osborne on lead vocal. John also recorded with Marvin Gaye (#1 Billboard hit "Got to Give It Up"), Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, Ike and Tina Turner, Gladys Knight and others. He played on a recording session that Quincy Jones produced in 1970s Chicago.
Steve Strand, trumpeter, recorded and performed with Prince for over two decades. He also recorded with The Jonas Brothers, Baby Face, Chaka Khan, Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone) et al. He has performed with Trisha Yearwood, Lenny Kravitz, Burt Bacharach, Gladys Knight, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Mavis Staples and many others.
Violinist Carolyn Boulay has recorded with Prince and Semisonic. She also played on the Lipps Inc. #1 Billboard Megahit Funkytown. She has played with the San Antonio Symphony, Aaron Copland, Rock Star Supernovas, Dave Brubeck, the Moody Blues, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Tammy Wynette, Vince Gill and many others.
Pipa player Gao Hong graduated from Beijing's elite Central Conservatory of Music. Since coming to the United States, she has performed at the Lincoln Center Festival, Carnegie Hall, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Smithsonian, and at festivals in Paris, Caen, Milan, and Perth. Recently, she collaborated with Ignacio Montaverde, 2019 UK Latin artist of the year, on recordings at Abbey Road Studios in London. Her compositions and collaborations are too numerous to mention. Suffice to say that not everybody has their name and likeness on a postage stamp in France and followers on several continents
Aimee is the singer that I have known the longest (decades). Collaborating with Aimee has always been a joy and pleasure. It has been comfortable since day one. She has been known to slightly alter a line of my lyrics from time to time. Once without asking. Guess what? She was right. Aimee has such a clear and rich tone to her voice. She grew up singing to very melodic and nuanced popular music; this is part of what makes her a great fit for the recordings of Melody Rain.
Mick is a gritty and soulful singer. He "dives into" our sessions with a fearless attitude. Mick has a remarkable stage presence and has performed as a solo act, as part of Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers, and leader of many tribute bands.
Tonia is also a Gospel Singer by training. I am grateful to Tonia for doing lead vocal on some Melody Rain recordings and doing background vocals on others. Tonia has an emotional quality to her voice that can't be taught. She's just "got it." I am also grateful to Tonia for believing in me, being a "sounding board" when I need it, helping me network, etc.
A friend told me to go listen to Ray sing. My friend said, "he'll blow you away." He was right. Ray has "all of the tools in the toolbox." Now, Ray is my friend and collaborator. Ray also writes and records his own material. We are proud of Ray for the courage that he has shown in facing a life-threatening health issue. We have had to work around that but it has been well-worth it.
Sara is a self-described soul singer. She is indeed soulful. She writes and co-writes her own songs and has released multiple albums. Sara also performs in the gospel, jazz, R & B / pop arena. She is rather unique and courageous in that she co-exists with people from various genres while staying true to her own belief system. We are glad that she chooses to work with us.
David Hurst is a Gospel singer who was an absolute joy to work with on "Ball of Fire" (a non-Gospel recording) He "jumped in with both feet" and gave us a performance that exceeded what Dik and I had "scripted." He "owned it."
Scottie Miller is a critically acclaimed musician, named Bluebird Reviews' Artist of the Year for his poetry collection and album Carnival Cocoon. He is also the keyboardist for 2025 Grammy Award winner Ruthie Foster. He has recently released his 13th solo album. Scottie is a joy to work with in the studio e.g., patient, focused. He also "works a crowd" as well as anybody that I can think of.
Photo by Layne Kennedy
Cameron has his roots in Gospel Music. He sings a variety of Gospel and pop / R & B music. Cameron was a very successful contestant on Season 26 of The Voice, NBC. Michael Buble was his coach. Cameron did very well but ultimately was eliminated before the champion was crowned. We are proud of Cam.
Patrick has been a joy to work with. He can get very funky, yet he understands the complex chord structure that exists in many of the Melody Rain recordings. I saw him perform live with Grammy winner Ruthie Foster on a Scottie Miller recording called "Keep This Good Thing Goin" from Scottie Miller's album "Stay Above Water." We are lucky to have Patrick on the Melody Rain recordings.
Mark is a multi-instrumentalist. He plays flute, oboe, saxophone and other instruments. He is so highly-intuitive. He probably came out of the womb playing some wind instrument. His first breath probably produced the sound of a flute. A natural!
Rich is a highly-gifted saxophone player. He brings enthusiasm to every session. He has delivered what we needed on every Melody Rain ("Whispers and Shouts") recording. I have used the term "Mr. Professional" numerous times in reference to Rich. If I telephone him, it is likely that he answers on the spot. Furthermore, if I am stuck on a problem, he always tries to help. I remember Rich saying that he once performed with The Four Tops.
Diane is an active and versatile freelance cellist in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, performing with groups such as the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, the Guthrie Theater, and others, both as a soloist and as a pit musician. As a recording artist, she has been featured on scores of folk, classical, and pop recordings throughout her career and has been a featured performer on 'A Prairie Home Companion.' Diane has such a great sense of pitch and is a great fit playing her cello on the Melody Rain recordings.
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