Growing up in upstate New York in the sixties, then graduating from Lehigh University in 1973 with two degrees (BS - Mechanical Engineering, BA - Philosophy), Dave Fry began performing folk music in college with the Graveyard Skiffle Band, specializing in early 20’s folk and jug band music.  The early 70’s found Dave with the Shimersville Sheiks, expanding his horizons with bluegrass, early country, blues and novelty acoustic music.  It was in spring of 1976 that Dave founded Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, a 100-seat coffeehouse and listening club that eventually became a not-for-profit organization in 1983, and remains an important and well-respected stop on the national and international folk circuit today. 

The 1980’s introduced Dave to children’s music as a member of Touchstone Theater’s company for six years, creating and performing in original productions, touring schools and summer street venues, eventually touring Mexico and the White House lawn.  Dave struck out on his own as children’s performer while playing clubs with his new band, Steppin’ Out! , a Texas-swing and rock ‘n roll band.  Dave eventually formed an alternative folk/rock quartet, Out on a Limb in the early 90’s.  The rest of the decade saw Dave with a progressive bluegrass band, Pavlov’s Dawgs and a Celtic-rock band, Murphy’s Trousers.

While maintaining a performing career, booking Godfrey’s and starting a family, Dave began presenting roots music on the college radio station WMUH, Allentown, in 1986 (Hep Cat’s Holiday) and on WDIY public radio, Bethlehem, from its inception in 1995 (All Reet Street). 

Dave developed an educational assembly program RockRoots, a history of American Pop music in 1990.  This four-piece band continues to tour schools and festivals, working with Young Audiences of Eastern PA and New Jersey for over ten years, and is recognized as one of the premier and popular educational assemblies on the East Coast.  The show, taped by WLTV public TV, won Best Children’s Programming in PA in 1991, and has been broadcast nationally.

Dave has three albums to his credit:  Pearls, an adult-oriented folk album featuring blues, swing, Celtic instrumental and folk music, I Like Peanut Butter, a compilation of two kids’ music tapes, a winner of the Children’s Web Music award in 1999, and a new kids’ music album, Shake It!, a variety of dance music for children.

PBS-TV has also released the DVD: How to Play Guitar with Dave Fry, Dave's friendly introduction to the joys of acoustic guitar.  Recorded in 2004, this educational special has been played on over 160 PBS-TV stations nationally, and continues to encourage beginning guitarists all over.

Dave continues to perform family music at festivals, including regular stops at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the New Jersey Folk Festival, Westmoreland Arts and Heritage, Winterhawk and Falcon Ridge festivals.  He is one of the very few performers to have performed at every Musikfest in Bethlehem, highlighted by his week-long residency in 1999, performing 7 shows, solo and with his bluegrass, RockRoots, Celtic-rock bands.

Dave Fry on main stage at the Philadelphia Folk Festival

Dave has been honored by the State of New Jersey as a Master Artist and by the State of Connecticut as a Teaching Artist for his work in schools, and is a charter member of Pennsylvania Performing Artists on Tour.   Dave has been runner-up in the CT State Troubadour Contest in 2004 and 2006.  Dave also has been a judge for NAMM, the independent record labels, for the last 8 years, in  folk, acoustic instrumental, blues, children’s, Celtic and international music styles.

Dave's most recent work is with PASELA, a ground-breaking pilot program, charting the effect of arts on literacy with pre-kindergarten children and toddlers in Head Starts, schools and daycares on the SouthSide of Bethlehem, PA.  Along with painters, poets, actors and actresses, photographers and other artists, Dave is helping to create a national template for this fascinating educational journey.  Yes, a new challenge...

Dave has relocated to Northford, Connecticut with his two children, Rosalie and Jaimie, and wife and minister,  Kim Wilson.

More Quotes:

“Dave Fry is a legend in the folk music circles of the Lehigh Valley – storyteller of colonial children’s and political songs, virtuoso on guitar and mandolin.   Fry’s good-natured humor, warm smile, inviting eyes, fuzzy moustache and casual dress make him a natural folkie.”  Robert Hicks, Easton Express-Times.

“My daughter and I had a terrific time listening and participating with your show.  I haven’t seen her have so much fun in a long time.  You never know how much your work is appreciated until you see the laughter and cheer in your audience’s faces. You mad our night very memorable and you sparked a renewed interest in music and dance for my daughter”.  Paul Pfeiffenberger, dad

“Today, we had the great pleasure of being entertained by Dave Fry.  The word “entertained” is almost inadequate to describe what Mr. Fry did for over 300 children.  They were smiling, laughing, clapping, singing, dancing – being kids to the fullest extent.  (And so were the teachers)  What a gift!”  Nancy McCafferty, teacher.

“Fry is so flexible, funny and fluid, it’s easy to overlook his tricky craft, the joy of making music.”  Geoff Gehman, Allentown Morning Call

“This one man is more challenging than those fancy multi-media concerts.  Soon the children are enthusiastically slurping like a dog to his cues, and popping up and down to be the next do-wop crew.  The kids are charged.  They bop out of the auditorium playing air guitar or humming, and urge the man to come back to their school again.”  Lehigh Valley Magazine