Former bandmates, label head remember Glenmont native killed in plane crash
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (NEWS10) -- It was a tragedy that shook the music industry. Music executive Dave Shapiro was killed in a plane crash in San Diego back in May.
Shapiro, a graduate of Bethlehem High School, got his start in music back in the 90s in the Capital Region.
"You knew at that age that whatever he wanted to put his mind to, he'd be successful at," said Dave's childhood friend and former bandmate, Jed Rosenkrantz.
That eventually came in the form of pop-punk band Count The Stars. Shapiro, along with friends Chris Kasarjian and Clarke Foley, started the band after finishing up high school. A record deal, music video and full-length album would follow.
Chris Kasarjian was the lead singer for Count The Stars.
"Count The Stars was actually taken from a song title that Visual Reason had. That was kind of our homage to where we came from."
Major tours with Fall Out Boy and Taking Back Sunday would follow. Also, a spot on the Vans Warped Tour.
"Every show we played, every tour we got was an opportunity, and Dave was meticulous and methodical and excellent at this," said Clarke Foley, who was the bassist for Count The Stars. "He was just a natural networker."
Shapiro's career in music was only beginning. Steve Reddy founded Albany-based Equal Vision Records, and like many others, saw something in Shapiro early on.
"You can't have a career that outshines what he did," Reddy said. "It's a real tragedy. It's more than just the grief; it's the rest of your work without him."
Shapiro would go on to start his own record label, Velocity Records, as well as founding the music agency Sound Talent Group. Shapiro represented such acts as Sum 41, Vanessa Carlton and Dave Navarro.
Shapiro passed away on May 22 when the plane he was piloting crashed in a San Diego neighborhood.
"Whatever he did he went full throttle," said Kasarjian. "He fell in love with a job that wasn't a job and that was helping bands achieve greater success."