Dave Shapiro, a 42-year-old music executive and co-founder of Sound Talent Group, tragically died in a plane crash at Gillespie Field Airport near El Cajon. He was one of three individuals who lost their lives in the incident.
Career in the Music Industry
- Shapiro began his career in the music industry during his teenage years.
- In 2018, he co-founded Sound Talent Group alongside Tim Borror and Matt Andersen.
- The agency represented notable clients, including:
- Hanson
- Pierce The Veil
- Parkway Drive
- Sum 41
- Vanessa Carlton
Advocacy for Independent Musicians
- Shapiro was a strong advocate for independent musicians.
- He co-founded the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO) to support emerging artists.
- His contributions to the industry earned him a spot on Billboard’s "30 Under 30" list in 2012.
Passion for Aviation
- Shapiro’s passion for aviation began at age 22 when he took an introductory flight course at Velocity Flight School.
- He earned his private pilot certificate six years later and acquired an ATP rating, allowing him to fly large commercial jets.
- Despite this, he preferred flying smaller planes like Cessnas or Pipers, which could land on short runways.
The Tragic Incident
- Shapiro owned several aircraft, including a Cirrus SR20 single-engine jet.
- The crash on Thursday morning resulted in the deaths of Shapiro and two Sound Talent Group employees, John Oakes and Alex Bernal.
Sound Talent Group’s Presence
- Sound Talent Group has offices throughout Los Angeles County, including Van Nuys Airport.
- Some staff members were based full-time at Van Nuys, while others split their time between there and San Diego.
- The agency shared space with Velocity Aviation, which offered training flights out of Gillespie Field Airport and later at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, located about five miles north of downtown Carlsbad.
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