User:Dave de Coup-Crank

John David "Dave" de Coup-Crank was born on November 25th 1955 in Stuttgart Germany, the son of a British father (Jack), and an American mother (Shirley), and was clearly a creative artist and performer from the time he was 4 years old. Dave left us on January 11, 2008. Dave is survived by his sons Austin and Ryan de Coup-Crank, as well as sisters Peggy and Jennie and brother Steve.

Dave was more than just an actor, poet, magician, songwriter and musician. He had an unforgetable presence and a genious mentality. Dave was caring, creative and had a great sense of humor. He grew up as a California boy living in La Puente. When he was 4 years old he recited the poem Hiding by Dorothy Keeley Aldis and won first place in a competition for children from 4 to 13 years old. Dave said about winning that competition "I have been an actor, performer, musician, poet and songwriter ever since. It is amazing how such a simple poem can make such a subtle impact in one's life." (From Old Poetry website)

As a Boy Scout he receivied the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated with an Associates of Arts degree from Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California. Dave was an accomplished magician and was invited to perform at Hollywoods Magic Castle. A showplace for some of the greatest magicians from around the globe.

Dave, started his musical career in the early 1970's, and was frustrated by the silly "Churchy" music he heard on Sunday and wanted to break out of "church" music and just write and sing music that was more subtle about the spiritual struggles that he noticed his peers were struggling with.

Dave understood the need to break the mold of "Churchy Christian Music" by writing about universal realities and refusing to preach to the choir. He said, "My goal is to help people to see life as it really is, and not as it appears behind the shroud of "religiosity", yet adhereing to the teachings of the old and new testament.

He spent many months in Switzerland with Dr. Francis Schaeffer at L'abris, learning that his mission was different than many of musicians and songwriters who were his contemporaries.

Dave worked with Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Mark Heard, Allen Des Noyers and many other musicians who held the same ideological principles.

An accomplished composer of Christian folk music he also sang back up vocals for Mark Heard.

1981 - Stop the Dominoes (Mark Heard) - Background Vocals: Graphic Director 1983 - Eye of the Storm (Mark Heard) - Background Vocals 1985 – Mosaics (Mark Heard) - Background Vocals 1985 - Acoustic (Mark Haerd) - Background Vocals 1985 - Greatest Hits of Mark Heard - Background Vocals 1993 - Reflections of a Former Life (Mark Heard) - Background Vocals 2000 - Greatest Hits (Mark Heard) - Background Vocals 2000 - Ashes and Light (Mark Heard)- Background Vocals

His song "The Lightning and Thunder of the Desert Storm" was a hit on Armed Forces Radio and was distributed to men and women in the first Gulf war by Armed Forces radio network. It was distibuted in 1992 by General Neil in Camp Pendleton, and General Schwartzcopf to the wives of soldiers. Dave was able to sing the song at the West Coast Homecoming in Oceanside CA.

General Colin Powell did his best to invite Dave to the East coast Homecoming, but was just a little too late by one day.

Dave was a proud father of 2 sons Austin and Ryan. Friends will tell you not a conversation went by without him mentioning his sons. Proud is actually an understatement as he would often say if he wasn't their father he would want to be their friend.

He worked as an artist and copy writer for Microsoft and other High tech companies. You can find his contributions with Solid Rock Records, Azimuth Records, and many other recording companies as a graphic designer and a background vocalist on many albums and CD's in the last 10 years.

Dave said,"Mark Heard is the most influential non family member in my life. Mark literally changed my life. He was the big brother I never had, I truly loved that man, and I miss him very much".

While in Macon Georgia, Dave was able to go with Mark's mother to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and see the tribute to Mark Heard right next to the Little Richard exhibit. "I was humbled to see my graphic design work there on display", Dave acknowleged.

Although Dave never cut a full album, he did make an impact on younger folks by just singing his heart out from his own perspective to people who could understand exactly what he was talking about.

Dave had a great personality, and sense of humanity. Only of which could be surpassed by his own sense or humor. He was an unforgetable presence as his extraordinary talent and genious mentality will be remembered by all who were blessed to have known him.

The following was written by Dave and graciously contributed here by his son Ryan.

His song "The Diary of a Volkswagen" was his ballad written to deal with the concerns of many young people who felt insignificant in the midst of the Rolls Royces of the world.

Diary of a Volkswagen--It's my autobiography by Dave deCoup-Crank (Beep beep)

Looking back when I was younger, when I saw my first Roll Royce

And I felt so insignificant because I had no choice

And I had cursed my maker 'cause he didn't know what he was doin'

And because I wasn't satisfied, I drove myself to ruin

Now my skin is corroding from gasoline and rust

And my carburetor's chokin' on all the city dust --cough--

And I'm laying in this junk yard and I was ready to die

Till a man in white came up to me and said ''you're the one I'm gonna buy

And he paid the price for me. And he set my wheels spinning free

And he made what he wanted me to be. And I ain't a Rolls Royce -- but I'm me.

Well he's making me hurt a bit he's banging in my fender

But he says it will be good for me and so I will surrender

You know, a new life isn't easy, oh the roads are going rough

And He never gives me lots of gas but always just enough

That old Rolls Royce yells You ugly bug, I rather see you dead

But my maker He said he'd numbered each spark plug in my head

But when the roads are gone the Rolls Royce will have no place to go

And his golden rims and white wall tires will end up on skid row

Well, I'm still not the Rolls Royce, I always wanted to be

But I am serving my maker and He is proud of me

Because I take Him on the rough roads all across the land

And I pay my respects the rusty old Rolls Royce stuck in the sand

And he paid the price for me and He set my wheels spinning free

And He and he made me what he wanted me to be  And I ain't a Rolls Royce --but I'm me

I'm me :repeat