Born and raised in California’s East Bay Area, David M. Tanner moved to the rolling hills of Calaveras County in the Spring of 2000. It was there he discovered and honed his craft of drumming. Tanner studied extensively under Jim Anderson (The Pointer Sisters, The Tom Johnston Band, Elvin Bishop) and performed in various jazz and rock ensembles. Under Anderson’s teaching, Tanner began to perform with the Columbia Kicks Big Band. This is where he really cut his teeth as a performer sharing the stage with artists like Mic Gillete & Skip Mesquite (Tower of Power), Greg Champlain (Sons of Champlain, Chicago), Paul Contos (Head of Jazz at CSU Monterey Bay), Bob Secor (Professor of Jazz at San Joaquin Delta College), Jamie Dubberly (Grammy Award Winning Latin Jazz Artist), Barbara Morrison (Count Basie Orchestra), Mike Rocha (Glenn Miller Orchestra, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band), Mario Flores (Santana), and many other Collegiate Jazz Professors, and Jazz Recording Artists.

Tanner attended the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. There he received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education. At UOP, he had many opportunities to perform with, record with, and study with many amazing musicians including Robert Glasper, Dave & Iola Brubeck, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Eric Harland, Freddie Hubbard, and was able to record posthumously with Louis Armstrong. During this time, Tanner also performed at the Monterey Next Generation Festival, as well as toured the west coast with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Currently, Tanner studies drums with Tower of Power’s own, David Garibaldi.

Since 2005, Tanner has performed professionally with many different groups and artists in the jazz, funk, blues, and rock genres, including bands playing original music, cover bands, orchestras, and tribute bands. Currently, Tanner is a member of the band Raizing Kane. Tanner also hosts over 100 jam sessions a year as a member of the Gatorville Jam Band, featuring David M. Tanner on Drums, Jeramy Norris (Jeramy Norris & the Dangerous Mood) on Guitar, and Angelo “Aron” Camacho (Brandon & the Superchargers) on Bass. Tanner also works as a freelance drummer, performing with several groups all over California’s Central Valley, as well as being a go-to studio musician, theatrical pit performer, and orchestral percussionist. Tanner is excited to work with and endorse Soultone and can’t wait to show their amazing product off to all his musical family!