Folklorist and performer Dave de Hugard grew up in rural Queensland on a tobacco farm. Both of his parents were musical, his father played the piano by ear and encouraged his son to learn by ear at an early age. His mother listened to a wide variety of popular music. De Hugard became involved in folk music while at university in Brisbane where he completed a pharmacy degree. In 1963 he was inspired by seeing American folk singer Pete Seeger in concert to approach music more seriously. He began performing traditional and contemporary songs and tunes on the concertina and button (bush) accordion, fiddle, piano accordion, banjo and guitar. De Hugard's interest in folk song lead him to the writings of Australian folklorist and performer Bill Scott and he became aware of Australian bush music and folk traditions. He built up a large repertoire of Australian old-time and bush dance tunes and yarns and released numerous recordings including Songs of the Wallaby Track and Magpie Morning and performed regularly at folk festivals and clubs in Australia. De Hugard's interest in Australian folk and bush music lead him to complete a degree in social anthropology at Macquarie University and work as a folklore collector and researcher.

Born 1945