Dave Provost

As a young man Dave Provost took his grandfather's advice "to honor what you love" to heart. If you have had the chance to witness him at work as the Head of School at the Nantucket New School or as a member of the musical group, The Shingles, you know he succeeds more often than not. Whether at work as an educator or musician, Provost moves through his world with the quiet assurance of a man doing just what needs doing.

Dave Provost in his music studio surrounded by his guitar collection. PHOTO ROB BENCHLEY/THE INDEPENDENT "My grandfather was my mentor in many ways. He installed floors for a living; he helped install the original parquet floor at the Boston Garden," said Provost.

Grandfather Leon Provost's great love was music; he played in a trio called "The Blue Star Hawaiians" that performed in and around Rhode Island for a nickel a night back in the '30s.

"I've always felt my grandfather would have liked to have done more with his music. There's a song 'Cowboy Shirt' on my album 'Home' that I wrote for him. I got my love for the dobro and the lap steel guitar from my grandfather," said Provost.

A close-up of a Fender Stratocaster 12-string electric that belongs to Michael Kopko. Dave's 2002 album "Home" was produced by Bruce Winter who also played bass on the album. Winter played bass from time to time with "Toad the Wet Sprocket" and produced several of the group's recordings. One can almost hear some of the same appealing pop sensibilities of "Toad" in the first cut of Provosts album "It's About Time."

Provost said those who influenced him, include Richard Thompson, Uncle Tupelo, and The Grateful Dead.

"I followed the Dead for a time. I probably saw about 100 live shows over the years," he said. Lately Provost says he has been listening to a Scottish group called "Frightened Rabbit."

"I've been playing with the Shingles for awhile now and it's been a real joy," Provost said. "We get together on Sundays to practice and hangout. Everything, all the pressing concerns of the work week fall away for a time, it's a lot of fun and very therapeutic."

"I like to blend genres. That's what's been really cool about playing with the Shingles," he added. "Chris Westerlund and Cary Hazelgrove have a deep rooting in bluegrass and country, Andy Bullington brings a jazz/blues sensibility and Mike Kopko is a jack of all trades. Being a member of such a diverse group of musicians has helped me continue to grow."

Provost plays a Gibson Skylark lap steel guitar that he found on eBay. The Shingles play regularly at the Chicken Box, an all age's performance that is one of Nantucket's great success stories.

"I'm in my 40s now, married and the father of two. I hope my music is coming from an honest, wiser place - at least that's what I'm aiming for. I've been working on some new songs and it feels like it might be time to record them," said Provost.

The Provost family includes wife Kristen, Ellis, 6, and daughter Emery 3.

"We named Ellis in honor of a place in Santa Barbara, California that Kristen and I love called Elsie's. We felt sure our first child would be a girl and planned to name her Elsie. When our son was born, Elsie became Ellis. Emery is named after Kristen's grandmother Emma," Provost explained.

The idea of an in-home studio for a father of two children is an ideal not often achieved.

"I have a studio at home for the first time in about 10 years; that it might be exclusive of my kids is just not an option. That's OK, I love that my kids want to be part of the music of my life.

My family is my inspiration," said Provost. I