Born in 1951 as David Edward Long in Scarborough Ontario, the name "Dee" was a childhood nickname that stuck.  Always a musician, Dee grew up in the free spirited and radically experimental Yorkville music scene.  His early rock bands included The Sundogs in elementary school and The Black Market in high school, which evolved into a professional act re-named The Polychromatic Experiment in the late '60's. 



During a "Battle of the Bands" event at a rival high school, Dee met drummer Terry Draper who would become an integral part of his future success.  Meanwhile, Dee's band Bloodstone put out one single “Toronto” on "Bent" records in 1970 featuring Fred Coutts on lead vocals.

In 1971, he answered musicians Want Ad and once again met Terry Draper, who introduced him to John Woloschuk and Jamie Bridgman. Their band Mudcow lasted for about a year before breaking up in late 1972.  Dee and John continued to work together at an electronics factory where they hatched the idea for Klaatu - a recording act that would let the music, and not image or live performances speak for them.  Klaatu released 5 albums in total.



By the time the 5th LP “Magentalane” was to be recorded, Dee and John Jones (producer for Duran Duran, Alan Frew, Fleetwood Mac) had opened ESP studios in Buttonville, so Klaatu recorded there. During sessions for "Klaatu's" new album, Long and Draper produced other acts including Gerald O'Brien's "Nightwinds" which wasn't released until 1991.



"Magentalane" was released in late 1981, the same year as the band's first and only tour. They rehearsed for 6 weeks in a Toronto office building and hired keyboardist Gerald O'Brien (Surrender, The Hunt, Nightwinds), bassist Mike Gingrich (Toronto), and drummer Gary McCracken (Max Webster) to augment their own trio. During the first leg of the tour (November and December 1981), they opened for Prism. Klaatu stole the show at nearly every gig and Prism split up shortly afterward.
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Through the mid-80's Dee produced or co-produced albums for Red Rider, Zappacosta, Gary O', and Rational Youth.  Long also performed on Rational Youth's 'Heredity' album in 1985 as well as engineering various remixes that would later be released on RY's  'All Our Saturdays' best-of’ package in 1996.

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By the end of 1984, the Canadian music scene and production work had grown stale.  Dee and partner John Jones sold ESP Studio and moved to England where they set up a digital editing suite at AIR Studios in London. Dee engineered and performed most of  the music for over 40 jingles for McDonalds, and engineered projects for: Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, George Martin, Duran Duran, Yes, The Outfield, and David Gilmour.  More about Dee can be seen at www.deelong.com