Salute the Dawn formed in 2003 in the busy suburban county of East Meadow, New York. A personal belief that Dj came to acknowledge is that life itself existed through musical composition. In other words, the noise of melody became the greatest outlet for internal satisfaction. The skeptical notes so carefully scripted taught to “let it be” made waking up less of a chore. 

Salute the Dawn officially began during the crisp winter of 2003 when Dj Meisse and Pat Reinhart played together for the first time, complete strangers at the time, in Djs’s parents basement.  Eventually they upgraded to the garage in 2005 and finally obtained a “space” of their own to keep the train rolling.  

Since 2003 frustration, nervous apprehension, lack of patience, addiction, musical differences and financial distress grew across the board and has led to six different line up changes.  Fortunately Dj and Pat decided to stick it out through the good times and bad until it was either successful or completely dead.  Wild horses would not drive them away from reaching their goal.

The industry has formed into a vampire, a blood sucking entity that uses technology to override musical integrity leaving many diamonds in the rough undiscovered.  Pat, the optimist, likes to refer to STD as long islands best kept secret, while Dj, the pessimist (much to his discomfort), simply believes that “money talks” and “connections” get bands where they want to be these day and it breaks his american heart.

The eccentric sound of STD contains four key members who constantly work in unity with a sincerity that could light the darkest room.  Salute the Dawn has finally and happily settled as Evan Palamara, Ralph Durso, Dj Meisse and Pat Reinhart.

Ralph Durso of Seaford joined STD in the fall of 2006 and has become a key contributing member with guitar licks driving with a rebel force that has rounded STD’s sound.  Those licks of aggression along with hooky melodic quality are complimenting the vocal patterns of the band and ultimately bringing the song to completion.  Ralphs musical performance is very much alive and well.  The lead arrangements he creates will inevitably be heard as adding tasteful tonal qualities that harmonize with the rhythm section.

Evan Palamara of Merrick joined the band in the winter of 2007.  Evan has an interesting musical background that consists primarily of metal.  Although STD is not a metal band, the traits that Evan brings to the table breeds strong, and most importantly, consistent unique beat patterns executed in metronomic time, creating the backbone to the band.  Evan is a master of his trade, never ceases to amaze, eats 12 times a day, loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and is earning the nickname “pistahhhchios” for his love of the nuts….and we hope it sticks.  

It is now August of 2008, over four years after the band came into existence, and STD has a solid line up, and is currently in pre-production for their first EP to be released on RCS Records.  Along side Dave Caggiano and Sean French the band will be entering JAM Studios and The Animal Farm Studios to record in mid September.  

The band is rehearsing with producer Dave Caggiano five days a week who inspires them daily to give their best performance no matter where they are playing.  He has also said something that they will carry throughout their lives whether music pans out or not.  After sharing many intellectual and inspiring stories he said, “Always remember when you play a song, play it like its the last time you will ever play it”.  

This statement reflects the passion and sincerity that sums up the goals of Salute the Dawns message to never give up.  This genuine flavor we hope to share with listeners that have yet to hear us that could relate to our music is what keeps us going.  Salute the Dawn wears no mask, what you see is what you get, our mission is simply a message of hope when the chips are down to bring a glow to our listeners faces.

Salute the Dawn would like to thank all the past members for helping us out along the way and recognize their contributions.  So to Mike R., Steve S., Erik D., Rick H., and Joey M., thank you so much for helping us get here and we wish you all the best.