Dave Villani works on a project in his studio at Data Music Services. Mirror photo by Cati Keith

When Dave Villani opened his recording studio in Altoona in 1989, there wasn’t even a category for it in the yellow pages, but over the years his client list has grown to include local artists and businesses to Grammy-winning musicians.

“I do a lot with music — I produce it, I write it and record it,” he said.

Villani’s passion for music began as a youngster playing the piano and trumpet and became more serious when he was in high school.

Despite his love of music, he decided on law after graduation and started on a pre-law degree at Penn State Altoona. When music started to take more of his time, he left Penn State for Temple University.

In 1988, he received a bachelor’s degree in jazz arranging/composition from Temple. He also holds a master’s in theory/composition from IUP and a doctorate in music education from Boston University. He studied with Robert Moog at the University of North Carolina Asheville, noting Moog is the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.

For 25 years, Villani was a professor at Penn State Altoona, where he taught classes such as advanced audio and the history of jazz.

While he may have retired from PSU, he hasn’t retired from music.

In March, Villani was in the middle of creating four orchestral arrangements for a Boston symphony orchestra.

He has also written four arrangements for the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, where he is the board vice president and plays from time to time. He also records for the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.

“Dave is a superb musician with a great skill in understanding diverse types of music from popular to jazz to classical and everything in between,” said Nick Palmer, ASO conductor.

Villani is working on a new fanfare to commemorate the ASO’s 95th season, which begins July 1, Palmer said

“Dave is a tremendous asset to the orchestra and a very helpful board member,” said Janey Schwind, ASO executive director.

Villani has done a lot of technical work for the music group, she said, and his wife is also the principal piano player.

“He is a great person, always willing to help, and I enjoy working with him,” Schwind said.

He is also known for performing with his partner, Paula Glunt, at the 4D’s Lounge.

Now he performs with several groups such as Uptown Jazz and R2B2.

Villani does audio production for DelGrosso’s Family of Companies — anything heard on the television, radio or park was recorded at his studio.

Amy Mearkle, director of marketing for DelGrosso’s, said she spent a recent Friday morning in the studio to record the audio for TV and radio ads and public service announcements that will be played on the park’s sound system this season.

“Having a professional studio right here in our backyard makes production a lot easier for us,” Mearkle said.

Villani also serves as music director for Summer Thunder, the park’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show.

He creates the soundtrack for the show and consults with Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics.

“Some people might think it would be simple to piece together patriotic songs, but Dave works with the theme, pulls in a variety of genres of music and has to help hit special timing cues, so a lot of work and thought goes into musical production for that show,” Mearkle said.

Doug Stevens, owner of the Bandman, has known Villani since 1995 when he moved to the area and said the two have collaborated many times.

“He gives such a good contribution to the community,” Stevens said.

Villani has also created recordings for Stevens, such as the most recent Altoona Brass Collective spring concert.

“He is the kind of person who will do anything for you,” Stevens said. “He is always there to lend a hand.”

Villani said working with local people is a way for him to give something back to the community.

He is producing the Pines, a Central Pennsylvania band that has become a local favorite, and has worked with other local bands, including the PennSoulvanians and Felix and the Hurricanes.

Villani and Palmer have collaborated on several projects outside of Altoona, including orchestrating a new musical to be premiered in the Boston area by the cast and Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, under Palmer’s direction, at the Evening Under the Stars Music Festival this July.

Equipment important

From a music engineering perspective, Villani said a good record is all about using the right mic, the placement for that mic and a good headphone system.

When recording, Villani will do whatever it takes until the person or group feels comfortable with what they accomplished.

“Sometimes I’ll put my doctorate of music to work and say, ‘Why don’t you try that again because it is out of tune,'” he said.

Villani, who grew up listening to the Beatles and taught a course on the group, learned a lot from the band’s time in the studio.

“They did a lot of studio tricks such as doubling your voice,” he said. “With the song ‘Get Back,’ they did 52 takes to get it right.”

Villani said it’s important for those recording to have patience and to realize they don’t have to get it right in one take.

The Pines might only require one or two takes, while others might take more to get the perfect sound.

Part of what Villani does in the studio is knowing all the different families of instruments and how they work.

“There are physical reasons of how they work, if you understand that, then you know where to put a mic when recording them,” Villani said.

“I have recorded people that are self-taught, I recorded people who went to Juliard and everything in between,” he said.

Villani does not focus on just one genre of music.

“What my engineering hat says is that I don’t care about the style, I care about what you’re doing. Is it a good performance and how I can like it,” he said.

When Villani is doing a mix, he uses five different types of speakers to make sure the sound transfers to someone’s car, phone or TV.

“I have to assume that people will be listening to this on their TV and not a big system,” he said. “I know my equipment so I know what I want to hear when I’m listening here and how it will transfer.”

‘I love what I do’

Villani has worked with clients including Mel Torme’s piano player, Dolly Parton’s co-producer, Grammy winners Mike Reid, David Gates and Paul Winter, actor TJ Miller — who did voice over for the Call of Duty game — and many more.

“I’ve been lucky — I get to do what I love to do and I have a client that keeps me working,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Cati Keith can be reached at 814-946-7535.

The Villani file

Name: Dave Villani

Age: 70

Hometown: Altoona

Education: 1971 graduate of Altoona Area High School; 1998 bachelor’s in jazz arranging/composition from Temple University; 2002 master’s in theory/composition from IUP; 2014 Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from Boston University

Career: Owns Data Music Services; taught at PSU Altoona 1997-2022

Family: Wife, Mary; two collies, Jazz and Bella.

Hobbies: Sports and cars — owns a classic Triumph TR-6, Toyota Supra and two Ferrari 308s.