Dave began playing guitar at age eight, and went on to study music composition and theory at Cleveland’s Modern Music School under the tutelage of highly acclaimed composer, arranger (Stan Kenton), and educator, Phil Rizzo. He soon earned two Berklee College of Music scholarships, where he studied under jazz great Garrison Fuel, as well as Larry Bione, Bruce Saunders and Bruce Bartlett.  He also became an honors graduate of Cleveland State University, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing.

Over the course of his career Baker has performed at the White House, the Grand Ole Opry and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, plus toured the US, Australia, China, Switzerland, Germany, and Afghanistan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain (the Middle East twice for the USO).