1. Early life

2. Career

3. Musical influences

4. Coming to America

5. References

Døvydas has headlined major music festivals in Lithuania and Poland; "Visagino Country 2010", "Bliuzo Naktys 2010", "Wegorzewo 2011", and "Most Rockowy 2010". The David Smash Band recently competed at the International Blues Challenge 2016, and made it to the semifinals, an accomplishment not achieved before by any Lithuanian-born person. While at the International Blues Challenge Døvydas jammed with many musicians including the mountain dulcimer player Bing Futch.^[6]

Early life

Dovydas Maščinskas was born in Kaunas, the second largest city of Lithuania. His father is a painter and his mother stayed at home to raise him. Døvydas began playing guitar at the age 13, and after taking private lessons from older guitar-playing friends he enrolled at the Kaunas Children Music School. Later he studied classical guitar at Naujalis Music Gymnasium and in 2010 he transferred to Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Music Conservatory.

Career

Smash started playing guitar at the age of thirteen in Lithuania, learning the drums, bass, piano, xylophone and harmonica shortly after. He was heavily inspired by a blues CD that his father bought in Germany, entitled "Blues Giants Vol. 2", a compilation of blues songs from artist such as John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, BB King, Etta James, and Memphis Slim. Døvydas says, "It was magic. That CD with those songs was like having an invitation letter to Hogwarts. Not only the music was captivating and enchanting, they were singing in this amazing language, and they lived in this distant part of the world that I've only seen on television."{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

During school he formed his first band, "David Smash and the Smash Band", which was later shortened to simply "David Smash Band".{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} The group began playing local competitions and festivals and after Smash's appearances on national television, they received invitations to headline major music festivals in Lithuania and Poland.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

He linked up with local Blues musician Steve Arvey and moved to Florida at the age of 19. In his two years in Sarasota, Smash has expanded his musical repertoire and integrated himself into the local music scene. After signing a contract with the Del Couch Music Education Foundation and Howling Dog Studios, Smash has released two CDs in United States, one of them titled State Of Sunshine.^[7][8]

Musical influences

Døvydas was influenced by American music recordings owned by his parents. Among his most notable influences, he lists Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin. Døvydas references Steve Vai as one of his favorite guitarists. Døvydas' impromptu rendition of the song "Tender Surrender" by Vai gained him significant success within the YouTube community and viewership has steadily increased since that time.

Coming to America

After graduating high school Døvydas was planning on moving and taking his music beyond Lithuania. He had Germany and United Kingdom in mind. One night a blues musician from the United States came across Døvydas' Lithuania's Got Talent performance video and reached out to him on Facebook. Steve and Døvydas began communicating via email and soon enough Døvydas came to the United States.

References

• Yōsei Teikoku
• Yōshin Koryū
• Yōshin-ryū
• Yōshin-ryū (disambiguation)
• Yōsuke Isozaki
• Yōsuke Itō
• Yōsuke Kawasaki
• Yōsuke Kondō
• Yōsuke Kubozuka
• Yōsuke Kuroda
• Yōsuke Saitō
• Yōsuke Shinoda
• Yōsuke Takagi
• Yōsuke Takahashi
• Yōsuke Takeuchi
• Yōsuke Tsuruho
• Yōsuke Yamahata
• Yōsuke Yamamoto
• Yōsuke Yamashita
• Yō Yoshimura
• Yŏŭido
• Yŏŭido Island
• Yū Aoi
• Yū Asagiri
• Yūbari-class destroyer escort