Dave Dover - Small in stature but tall in talent
Bring it on Home to Me - Eric Burdon
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place PT1
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place PT2
Everyone has people who influence their music style and tastes. Family always have a large influence and we all tend to grow up listening to the music being played by our elders and peers. Jack Burr Band are no different with the exception that one member of the band probably would not have pursued a career in music were it not for one main influence, Dave Dover.
Chris was 11 when he first met Dave as he joined a family friend to create a duo ‘Sam and Dave’ performing in the family bar on South Pier, Blackpool. The Jack Family were frequent visitors to hear the sounds of the duo and it was at this point Chris became captivated by the sound coming from the guitar being held by the man small in stature.
Before karaoke had become a big hit Sam and Dave on a Sunday afternoon used to offer the audience to come and sing a song and they would be the ‘backing band’. One Sunday afternoon whilst Chris and his father had gone to visit Sam and Dave, they decided to ask Chris if he wanted to get up and sing a song. Now Chris had been singing from a young age from the influence of his father who was an avid singer as a younger man and Chris was encouraged to sing all of the time so Chris happily agreed.
Following this Chris was ‘bitten’ by the feeling of performing in a band and following a discussion with his father decided that this is what he wanted to pursue. At the age of 13 Chris made the decision to follow in Dave Dover’s footsteps and learn to play Bass Guitar. Who better to teach him than the man himself. An agreement was reached between father and son and his first bass was purchased and he was ready to learn.
Over the proceeding years Chris performed with Sam and Dave on multiple occasions learning numerous songs that he still performs to this day with the Jack Burr Band. As Chris commenced on his first musical venture he would ask Dave to come along and critique and assist to ensure that the music was moving in the right direction. This continued throughout Chris’s musical career and the Jack Burr Band had the pleasure of performing with Dave Dover at a private function whereby his teaching continued with each member as he instructed each of us what to play and what he was hearing before singing the blues and playing the harmonica, of which he was an accomplished performer.
Highlights of Dave Dover’s career
This could be filled with mentions of many accomplishments, performances, time as a session musician etc. However we just want to highlight some of the work that Dave did over his varied career.
1971
Colonel Bagshot
Album “Oh What A Lovely War”
Tour with Slade
1974
Supercharge
1976
Tour with Eric Burden (The Animals)
Dave was joined by two other members from Colonel Bagshot on this tour. With all three hailing from Liverpool and the harmonies that they could perform from knowing each other so well it gained them the nickname from Eric Burdon “The Scousetts”.
Dave was a mentor and a tutor but mostly was a family friend to the Jack Family to whom had a friendship formed of over 30 + years. There are many happy memories of our time with Dave, and his wife Anne, and he may be gone but not forgotten.
24th August 2022 - Dave Dover was laid to rest in his home town of Liverpool.
The service was standing room only and more were stood outside unable to be accommodated inside the chapel. It was wonderful to see such a turn out with many conversations about Dave and the life that he lead to the full.
He will forever be remembered by all that had the opportunity to meet him. The band will continue to learn from his influence.