David Garfield has been driven by the same mission statement since moving from his hometown
of St. Louis to Los Angeles as a teenager in the early 70s: “I make music.” Fully living up to this
vision and in more expansive ways over the past few decades, the multi-talented keyboardist,
composer, arranger and recording artist has established himself an eclectic force of musical
nature. At any given point during his career—and often at the same time—he has been a
renowned songwriter, producer, bandleader (of Los Angeles based contemporary world jazz
collectives Karizma and Los Lobotomys), arranger, recording artist, record label owner
(Creatchy Records), session and touring musician, musical director and composer of various
commissioned themes for global organizations.
The multi-talented musician has had a particularly fruitful career spanning over five decades
starting with stints with Willie Bobo, Freddie Hubbard, and Tom Scott in the ‘70s, joining Boz
Scaggs and George Benson, and releasing his first solo recordings in the ‘80s. After spending
much time in the studio working with the LA session elites, Garfield joined forces with members
of Toto to continue recording, touring and performing locally in the LA scene.
Eventually, he started a songwriting partnership with Smokey Robinson, which led to a lasting
studio relationship arranging and producing for the Motown legend. Robinson’s current release
Gasms features Garfield on piano, arranging, and producing. Besides his collaborations with
Smokey, Garfield has done numerous stints as George Benson’s musical director, as well as
arranging, producing, and performing on the legendary singer/guitarist’s 2011 release Guitar
Man. Garfield continues to work with a wide variety of legendary artists such as The
Temptations, Cher, Spinal Tap, Ratt, Larry Carlton, Flora Purim, and arranged and performed on
“Higher Than The World,” for Van Morrison as part of the rock/soul legend’s all-star collection
Duets: Re-working the Catalogue.
In addition to all of his work for others David has put together several series of his own solo
works (Outside The Box series, Guitar Heroes series, Salute To The Masters series, Monster Trio
series) which features artists such as Michael McDonald, David Sanborn, Eddie Van Halen, Don
Henley, Joe Sample, along with members of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, Toto, Zac Brown Band,
Chicago, The Doors, Jimmy Buffet, Santana, Steely Dan, The Meters, Tower of Power, Vulfpek
and Dirty Loops.His original composition cowritten with Smokey Robinson, “One Like You” is a
duet between Smokey and Michael McDonald on Jammin’ Outside The Box as well as recorded
by George Benson on Songs & Stories.
Garfield has been commissioned to write and produce theme songs and musical projects for
several international organizations, including the song and CD “Pool of Friendship” for the
Swimming Aquatics organization LEN (League of European Nations); the American Society of
Cinematographers (ASC); and “Deep Within Each Man” (co-written with Phil Perry) for the
Shorinji Kempo Japanese Karate Foundation. Garfield also produced “I Play The Piano,” a Blue
Ray DVD of Terry Trotter playing solo piano on AIX Media.
Some of Garfield’s other CDs are Tribute To Jeff [Porcaro], which was dedicated to long time
friend and bandmate, drummer Jeff Porcaro and received international acclaim as well as top 10
charting. Giving Back, which enjoyed regular airplay throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and
Australia. Other solo releases were L.A. Keyboard Project, Recollections, Seasons of Change,
and I Am the Cat, Man.
Featuring many of Los Angeles’ top session and touring musicians, Karizma’s discography on
Creatchy includes Dream Come True, Cuba, All The Way Live, Forever in the Arms of Love,
Document and Lost and Found. Among other projects he has helmed for Creatchy are albums by
guitarist Michael Landau and former Toto bassist Mike Porcaro. Another classic Creatchy
release, Los Lobotomys, is a collaboration with prominent members of the pop band Toto, with
whom Garfield has performed many times throughout the years.
Besides releasing his own CDs, leading his own bands and performing live, David Garfield
continues to collaborate with the top musical talent across the globe both as a producer, arranger
as well as a keyboardist and songwriter. He enjoys working for other artists and helping them
achieve their vision as well as providing his label Creatchy Records with a continuing full
schedule of new releases to come.