High school English teacher, guitarist and songwriter Dave “Teacherman” Goldman is using his music to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer. Goldman has agreed to donate proceeds from his first album, If I Knew Then, to the Lustgarten Foundation. All proceeds generated during the month of April will go directly towards pancreatic cancer research. The album can be purchased digitally via iTunes or Amazon. Physical copies of CDs are also available through Amazon.
“My father died of pancreatic cancer, and so did my grandfather, so it’s a very real, very frightening disease for me. What we went through when my father died, no one should have to experience that,” said Goldman.
“A few years ago my good friend and co-worker, Kim Foglia, died of the disease as well. We raised a lot of money then for Kim’s family and for Lustgarten. Now, if I can take the music I make – the music I started learning on the guitar my father gave me – and put it towards an organization that will fight this terrible disease, I’m more than happy to do it,” Goldman added.
Goldman grew up in Hicksville. Influenced by music of all genres, his debut release has its roots in rock and blues but extends into traditional folk and even reggae. He received his first guitar when he was a junior in high school and when his friends taught him a few chords he was hooked.
A degree in secondary education from Stony Brook University landed him a job at Division Avenue High School in the Levittown School District in 2000 and he has been there ever since. Although his career has been teaching, music has always been part of his life. Goldman has played in local bands throughout the years and most recently joined three of his fellow teachers in forming the new band, Highly Effective. As their first gig Highly Effective played Division Avenue’s Emmy Night to an audience of 500 screaming seniors.
