David King

Dearly beloved son of Dr. Stanley and Mina King, utterly irreplaceable brother of Jennifer, devoted Nephew to Drew and Shelagh Webster, Eleanor and Dick Byers, and the late, great (Uncle) Don King, and colourful inspiration to his cherished cousins in Montreal and Calgary.  To know Dave was to know his friendships, which ran long, loud and deep. The many who counted themselves among them will hear his voice, feel his support, and know his passionate heart, always.

Dave's life's work was the crafting of songs. These three-minute constructions were able to capture the essence of beauty, lift hearts and encode within a single melodic line memories to last a lifetime for all who heard them. No matter what was happening in his life, the lines came out like the sun after a wash of rain, carrying people along with them. You could feel time and memory intersecting in the distinctness of his chords.

A gifted writer from an early age, he specialized in big ideas and the cultivation of beauty in the world, and eschewed the things that make us less human: ugliness in neighbourhoods, creative dead zones, and the deep disparities of the world. From an early age, Art in all its forms was his lifeblood. From visual art to Inuit sculpture, film criticism and supporting live music through showing up, he did not skimp on enthusiasm. If he liked your music, he would let you and the people in the surrounding blocks know, warming many a soul on many a night.
He was a frequent guest on CKCU radio, where he spoke of life as a disabled musician, his mental health journey, and the stories behind the songs.

Dave died from complications of advanced kidney disease after fighting a long battle; one of the several he had tirelessly fought since early adulthood. The family would like to thank the staff of the Nephrology, Hemodialysis and ICU units at the Ottawa General Hospital who provided compassionate care throughout his admission.

Funeral & Celebration of Life in Hampton Park, 512 Island Park Drive, Ottawa on Dave's birthday, Oct. 7th at 3pm. Parking is available in the North and South parking lots, and the event will take place at the site of the Remarkable Tree, 100 m East of the Buell street entrance. Parking is also available on Buell Street, with the spots closest to the park prioritized for those with accessibility requirements. Registration is mandatory. Please contact Tubman's Funeral Home at 613-722-6559 for more info.

Memorial Concert at Irene's Pub, 885 Bank Street. October 8th-Show starts at 9.30pm. This concert of ALL DAVE KING COVERS is a tribute to Dave's 38 years as a songwriter. The provincial vaccine mandate will apply, and registration is mandatory, with safety protocols being observed. Please contact Irene's at 613-230-4474 for more information and come on out to celebrate the gifts of our beloved and extraordinary songwriter.

A cause close to Dave's heart was the humanitarian crisis in Yemen which is predicted only to worsen this year. In lieu of flowers, donations to UNHCR Canada or Doctors Without Borders earmarked for Yemen would be sincerely appreciated.

It would be literally impossible to forget him; how to manage the missing of him will be a different matter entirely.

"The rainbow's end/These dreams I send/We're on the mend/The colours blend
And when you go there, when you go there, when you go there/May you live in Peace." (Dave King/Serendipity)