David Lasocki was born in London in 1947 and grew up in Manchester. Then he lived and worked in the United States and now Brazil. He holds a PhD in musicology from The University of Iowa (1983) and his dissertation won a national prize. He retired as Head of Music Reference Services in the Cook Music Library, Indiana University–Bloomington in 2011 after working there for 24 years, and is now a self-employed writer, researcher, editor, publisher (see www.instantharmony.net), and energy healer.

Many kind people have viewed David as one of the world’s foremost researchers of the history of woodwind instruments, especially members of the flute family. His articles and books have also won national prizes, and he received a lifetime achievement award from the American Recorder Society in 2011.