by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The City of Huntsville has approved two public tributes honoring beloved blues musician David “Microwave Dave” Gallaher, recognizing his lasting influence on the city’s music, arts, and cultural identity.
The Huntsville City Council approved both resolutions, formally authorizing the renaming of a downtown street segment and a dog park in Gallaher’s honor. Cleveland Avenue between Meridian Street and Church Street will now be known as Microwave Dave Way, while the Downtown Dog Spot has been renamed the Microwave Dave Dog Spot. City officials said new signage has already been installed at both locations.
Gallaher was more than a performer. According to the Huntsville History Collection, he was born in Chicago, raised in Texas, and later made Huntsville home in the mid-1980s. He studied arranging and composition at Berklee College of Music and became known locally as a bluesman, radio host, and cultural storyteller.
His band, Microwave Dave and the Nukes, formed in 1989, and his long-running radio program, Talkin’ the Blues, aired on WJAB 90.9 FM at Alabama A&M University and on WLRH 89.3 FM.
His work helped keep blues music visible in North Alabama while introducing listeners to the genre’s history, sound, and spirit. For many residents, Microwave Dave represented the power of music to educate, connect, and strengthen the community.
The street and dog park renamings ensure that Gallaher’s name and legacy will remain part of Huntsville’s public landscape for years to come.