Dave Starns grew up in Hammond, Louisiana and in 1979, moved to Los Angeles. After finishing a degree in film production, he got a job as a recording engineer, and while keeping his positions at two L.A. recording studios, also began working for Rhino Records as a staff Producer and Video Director. During this time, he was a member of Big Daddy, a band which released four albums and scored a top ten hit in England, where they toured heavily.

After leaving Big Daddy, Dave formed Jump in the Water, a band which released two albums, one for MCA and one for Polygram. In the middle of all this, he continued to produce and engineer projects, working with countless clients, including the Disney Channel, Ray Manzerak (of the Doors), Universal Pictures, Steven Stills and Graham Nash, The Turtles, CBS, Elvira, Little Richard, Van Halen, Mamie Van Doren, Bobby Boris Picket, Jesse Ventura, Kool & the Gang, Edgar Winter, NBC, Joe Frazier, Jackson Browne, The Cars, Dr. Demento, Chicago, The Monkees, Linda Rondstat, Foreigner, The Doobie Brothers, Barry White, Carly Simon, The O'Jays, Alice Cooper, Marvin Gaye, Warner Bros., Talking Heads, and Cher. While he was there, he picked up a Best Instructional Video award, a Clio Award.