Born in Berkeley, California in 1936, Stuart Dempster was inspired both by Spike Jones and the avant-garde. When studying music he met Pauline Oliveros, among many others, who would become life long friends and collaborators. Mostly known for playing the trombone, Stuart also taken to performing with anything else even remotely similar such as garden hoses, pipes, and conch shells. With this open mind, Dempster was probably the first American to play the didgeridoo. On the faculty of the University of Washington in Seattle from 1969 until his retirement, he has influenced generations of younger players. Although not often recorded, Dempster continually performs live and seems to relish being part of different ensembles and exploring different styles. Among his better known collaborations are Deep Listening Band and performing with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
Stuart is married to Renko Dempster and together they have two sons, including the cellist Loren Dempster.