David Wilson
Born in Utah to a Mormon father and a Brazilian mother,
David Wilson spent his boyhood in several South American
cities, where his dad taught English to foreign diplomats
for the US Foreign Service. "It was a phenomenal
upbringing," he says. Having survived civil strife in La Paz
and a earthquake in Caracas, Wilson went to high school in
Junction City and Bible college in Portland before he found
Eugene and came out as gay in 1976. "I was born on the same
day as Eugene, October 17," he says. "I love the people
here. I've kept the party alive." Wilson has styled hair
since his 1981 graduation from the Creative Institute of
Design. "I've had some clients since beauty school," he
says. A flutist since age seven, he played with
Americanistan in the 90s. "We played the gypsy stage at the
country fair," he notes. "It was like Carnegie Hall for me."
His current guise is Orbital Disco Dave in the free-form
trio Launch Pad. Hospitalized for six days by an infection
in August, Wilson is recovering gradually. A benefit concert
to help with medical costs is set for Sam Bond's Garage on
Friday, October 12, at 9 pm.
happening people
photograph and story by Paul Neevel
Eugene Weekly / 11 October
2007
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