– Trumpet – Vocals
Dave Von Blohn grew up in the northeast, around Pennsylvania and New Jersey. His father, who was a high school trumpet player, gave him his first formal lessons. He came to Texas for graduate school at the University of North Texas and never left. He holds three Master’s Degrees in Music Education from UNT.
He studied with a very good freelance performer in New Jersey, whose studio walls were lined with pictures of him performing with Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Carol Channing.
“I spent too many lessons staring at those pictures when I should have been paying better attention,” said Von Blohn.
He first became aware of Chicago through their records around 1975 and saw them live in the 90s touring with Earth, Wind and Fire. His first group was The Basement Band, formed in high school in Wentzville, Missouri.
“We were quite the thing in our little town. That’s when I got bit by the live performance bug,” said Von Blohn.
He played lots of one nighters with a variety of groups while attending college in Kansas and Texas. His first steady gig was with legendary sax player Bill Tillman and the Horns from Hell, from the late 80s to early 90s. Since then he has played over 2500 weddings and events in the DFW area.
He was referred by the former trumpet player from Chicago Tribute Authority about 18 months ago, and now he is an integral part of the horn section.
“I like the physical challenge of performing this music. It’s a BLOW for a brass player to play 20 Chicago songs in a row. But as the song says I’m feeling stronger every day,” said Von Blohn.