Last semester he was attending classes, working to earn a degree in music in worship; this semester, he has recorded, performed and toured with a Top 5 in Adult Pop Radio band, Andy Grammer. David Maemone has been blessed with the opportunity to play keys and guitar for Andy Grammer, known for their catchy tune “Keep Your Head Up,” the single that is currently certified Gold and quickly approaching Platinum.

On March 15, Andy Grammer performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, sharing their newest single “Fine By Me.”

“I met Andy's bass player of three years, Zach Rudulph, while playing on the worship team at The Cause Community Church in Brea mid last year,” Maemone said.

“We became friends, and he recommended me for an audition with Andy [Grammer] back in November. I auditioned, and got asked to join the band to play keyboards and guitar.”

Since being recruited in November of 2011, Maemone took the spring semester off to play on the band’s self-titled EP, released March 13, and has been on a seven week headlining tour throughout the United States.

“One of my favorite spots had to be Nashville,” Maemone said. “I love country music, especially bluegrass. … I also loved New York City — the diversity, the skyline, and of course, the pizza!”

Without his four and a half years here at Biola, Maemone does not feel he would have been prepared to record, play and tour nationwide. His professors, instructors and other students gave him a technical and biblical foundation to build upon.

“One of biggest thing music classes taught me was to be flexible,” Maemone said. “When playing for an artist day in and day out, anything can change at the last minute — sometimes seconds before going on stage, and you’re expected to adjust and perform as if you had been doing it for weeks.”

Maemone’s experience has been nothing short of amazing. Getting to do what he loves and call it his job is a dream come true.

“I pinch myself every now and then just to make sure that my job really does consist of traveling around the country on a tour bus playing music for sold-out crowds of screaming fans every night,” Maemone said. “I feel so blessed to call this my job, because it definitely doesn’t feel like one!”

So where does he go from here? With his career already kicked off before he even graduated Biola, Maemone plans on enjoying his time with Andy Grammer and touring this summer with Gavin Degraw and Colbie Caillat and returning to Biola in the near future.

Watch Andy Grammer perform on the Tonight Show. Maemone is playing the keyboard behind the guitarist to the left of the screen.

Written by Abbey Bennett, Media Relations Intern. For more information, contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, at 562.777.4061 or at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.