Dave Yowell was born and grew up in Kenya, East Africa. His formative years as a musician were spent playing with many local musicians, where, along with psychedelic rock, funk and soul from the West,  he absorbed the groove and swing of African, Arabian and Indian musical culture that makes up the backdrop of Kenya's diverse population. In 1973, he moved to London, eventually setting up his own recording studio and production company, Sultan Sound. Today, he lives in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, and is a well-known music producer of world fusion, with many film and television credits.