Dave McAfee

Dave McAfee

Toby Keith

Dave McAfee started playing drums in school when he was in the 3rd grade. In middle school, he had Vic Firth sticks in concert band. McAfee always played VF sticks since he started on them, and everything else has always felt wrong. He marched in the Massillon/Washington High Tiger Swing Band, and in the Ohio University 110. He moved to the Oklahoma/North Texas area in 1984, and began his professional career touring with Mason Dixon in 1986. McAfee moved to Nashville in 1994 and played with several major label acts until getting the job with Toby Keith in 2000. He is in my 19th year with Toby and these days he's his bandleader as well. McAfee loves playing for huge crowds, and feels blessed to still be playing to sold out audiences at most every show. He's proud to say he's been able to work without interruption as a drummer since 1986, and his Vic Firth sticks have been with him every step of the way!

Dave
McAfee's
IN 3

Dave McAfee's
IN 3

  • WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

    Playing during the Jamey Johnson sessions for the "That Lonesome Song" and "The Guitar Song" albums, there was no click track ever used, and we almost always left the chart for the vibe of the song. We all still talk about a higher plane we acheived during those sessions, and I have always received comments from other drummers about those projects and the synergy and magic they seem to have.

  • WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRUMMERS

    I love trying to take whatever show I'm doing, and making it a great time for the audience, the band and the artist. I love practicing and trying to improve my fluidity, feel, and my thought process. The show I'm mostly involved with these days draws from many albums. Trying to have so many songs ready to perform at a high level is even more challenging when you consider all the travel, the long hours, and even aging. Trying to make the entire thing a related, exciting process takes lots of work. I have learned to look at the whole thing as a creative process, and I love it all when I remember to think about it that way!

  • FAVORITE ZILDJIAN CYMBAL/COMBO

    Vic Firth sticks are just higher quality sticks than any other brand. Everything else feels wrong in my hands

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