Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Stahl studied trumpet with Walter Gier and attended Penn State University, graduating in 1970 with a degree in Music Education.[2] From 1970 to 1973 he served in the U.S. Army, where he performed as a soloist with The Army Band, lead trumpet for the Army Blues and principal trumpet for the White House Herald Trumpets. After his discharge, he toured and recorded as lead trumpet with the bands of Woody Herman (1973-1975), Count Basie (1975), Buddy Rich (1977-1978), Liza Minnelli (1987-1999), Larry Elgart and Toshiko Akiyoshi. In addition, he played lead trumpet for the Broadway productions of Damn Yankees (1994-1995), and Saturday Night Fever (1999-2000), among other shows. In 1987 Stahl formed his own record label, Abee Cake Records, which records the work of both of his bands, the Dave Stahl Band and the Sacred Orchestra.[3]
Discography
As leader
Anaconda (Abee Cake, 1987)
Miranda (Abee Cake, 1988)
Live at Knights (Abee Cake, 1989)
Standard Issue (Abee Cake, 1991)
Live at the Ritz (Abee Cake, 2005)
From A to Z (Abee Cake, 2011)
The Dave Stahl Band Collection, Volume One (Abee Cake, 2013)