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Dave Kaplan is an American Talent Manager, who has managed the careers of artists in the music industry including UB40, Brian Setzer, Dave Stewart, Glen Campbell (co-management), Richard Cheese, Rusty Anderson, Freddie Mercury, Stray Cats, Gary Hoey, Butthole Surfers, BulletBoys, Noise Ratchet, Echobrain, (among many others). Dave Kaplan is the founder of Dave Kaplan Management (DKM), one of the five cornerstones of his broad based entertainment company which also includes Surfdog Records, Surfdog Music Publishing, Surfdog Entertainment Marketing (SEM), and Surfdog's Java Hut (located by famous surfing hot spot, Swami's, in Encinitas, CA).

Biography
Kaplan graduated from the UCSB business school and gained status as a certified public accountant, and set up permanent residence in San Diego. In 1981, Kaplan moved to Los Angeles to join a small merchandising firm. The company soon signed artists including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bette Midler and David Bowie, going on to become one of the largest merchandising companies in the early 1980’s. Kaplan’s big break came with the opportunity to co-manage the world-renowned British reggae group UB40, in 1985. Shortly thereafter, Kaplan’s partner left to work for Arista Records and Dave Kaplan Management was formed. From this foundation he went on to manage the careers of many artists, which he continues to do to this day.

Kaplan has a passion for surfing, the oceans, snowboarding, and of course music. He has been involved with the Surfrider Foundation (a non-profit organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves, and beaches) since 1992, and has been a member of the advisory board since 1994. To support the foundation, Surfdog Records has released three MOM (Music For Mother Ocean) albums, which contributed to the largest Surfrider Foundation donation to date, in the late 1990’s. The MOM compilations feature some of the biggest artists in music today, including Paul McCartney, No Doubt, The Beach Boys, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Ramones, Snoop Dogg (w/members of Rage Against The Machine), James Taylor, Jane’s Addiction, Beastie Boys, Moby, Brian Setzer, Jewel, Blink 182, Ben Harper, Dick Dale, Chris Isaak, Offspring, Butthole Surfers, Beck, Soundgarden, Jimmy Buffet and Brian Wilson.

Business Developments
Under Kaplan’s co-management, UB40 became one of the first western bands to penetrate the “iron curtain”, performing in the USSR in 1986. UB40’s decision to play a show in the USSR was considered so controversial for it’s time, that it triggered a British MI5 Security Service investigation into the band. The 1986 tour resulted in the documentary “UB40 – CCCP” by acclaimed director / photographer Anton Corbijn (creative director behind U2 and Depeche Mode). UB40 had their most successful worldwide single release in 1993 with their cover of Elvis Presley’s “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Live With You”.

In 1992 Dave Kaplan founded Surfdog Records. Since this time, Surfdog has released over 100 albums by artists such as Brian Setzer, Stray Cats, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Glen Campbell, Butthole Surfers, Slightly Stoopid, Richard Cheese, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Gary Hoey and many more. Rockabilly and big band leader Brian Setzer (formerly of Stray Cats), is managed by Dave Kaplan Management and has released over 15 albums through Surfdog Records. To date, Setzer has won three Grammy Awards, as well as receiving a total of eleven Grammy nominations. In the 2000’s Kaplan’s management team oversaw the Stray Cats reunion, with the band hitting the road for their “Farewell Tour”. In 2004, the Stray Cats reunited for a month-long tour of Europe and released a live album from those concerts, entitled “Rumble in Brixton”. In 2007, they followed these dates with their first North American tour in over 15 years.

Dave Kaplan also manages Dave Stewart, best known for his work with British pop-rock duo Eurythmics. Stewart joined Surfdog's roster in 2007, and shortly thereafter released his album "The Dave Stewart Songbook Vol. 1". Followed by his 2011 release through Surfdog Records "The Blackbird Diaries".

In 2011, Surfdog Records signed Glen Campbell releasing his album "Ghost On The Canvas", Cambpell’s farewell to studio recording following being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Campbell in 2012 received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to music throughout his 50 years plus career.

In addition to Kaplan’s management credits, Kaplan also co-penned Sprung Monkey’s 2001 hit single “So Cal Loco (Party Like A Rock Star)” which appears on the film soundtrack for Dude, Where's My Car?.