The music of DSR defies easy categorization, and in so many ways, so does the man himself. Hailing from the Central Louisiana town of Alexandria, David has steadily built his reputation as an entertainer, playing high energy, musically diverse shows driven by what may be his biggest asset – that powerful, soul-drenched voice. America got a taste of David’s promising talents when he made the finals of Nashville Star in 2007. Now David is delivering on that promise releasing brand new music showcasing what his followers across the country have been raving about for years.
David’s musical education began early in life as a kid. He was taking in the pop-influenced country sounds of Kenny Rogers from his dad’s record collection before rocking out at Metallica and Guns-n-Roses concerts with his Junior High buddies. The new wave of 90’s country, particularly Garth Brooks’ seminal No Fences album, had a big impact on David. David’s growing obsession for music soon gave way to performing for audiences; he says “I never really wanted to do anything else besides singing and entertaining”. Further musical explorations led David to expand his R&B vocal skills, singing in a Juniorr High group styled after the harmonies of Boyz II Men. By his early 20s David had started playing shows in nearby Hammond, La where he met a local producer. That chance meeting led to a few recording sessions and the beginning of David’s trips to Nashville to take his first swing at the big time.
In early 2000, David made further connections in Music City and began working on his first full length album DSR with some of Country Music’s top musicians and songwriters. Over the next few years David toured the country; performing frequently gave David an invaluable opportunity to develop his distinct vocal style and energy-driven live show. “There’s an experience and wisdom in that environment,” David says, “you learn to be professional at all times, whether you are playing for two people or a crowd of thousands”.
Opportunity came knocking in Spring 2007 when he was selected to star as a contestant on the new season of TV’s premiere country competition Nashville Star. Besides the invaluable national exposure the show brought him, David also performed on the 40-city Nashville Star tour and had a chance to interact with many of the nearly half million fans who voted for him. Nashville Star also introduced David to many Music Row veterans, in particular Shawn Pennington, the former manager of mulit-platinum acts Big & Rich, Alabama’s Randy Owen and new group Thompson Square. Shawn was very impressed with what he saw in David’s live show during the Nashville Star tour. “At the time I was working with Big & Rich and their live show is what really set them apart. They owned the room every night and I’ve seen David do that exact same thing,” Shawn says. “David can go into a room where no one knows his songs, and by the end, they are all giving him a standing ovation”.
By 2008, David and Shawn were working together finding songs and beginning the process of recording a new album. David also continued collaborating on songs of his own with some of Nashville’s top writers. All I Really Wanted to Say was the first album released on David’s own independent label DSR Entertainment in 2010. His hit single “Twenty Years Late” rocketed to #56 on the Billboard Chart. David continues to successfully tour performing his own brand of country music to riveted crowds earning him a new legion of dedicated fans.
David has also been hard at work writing, producing and recording his newest project due to release later this year. He explains, “I hope this latest EP will show my fans the growth I’ve made as a songwriter and artist, while exploring the depth of my musical influences. I really feel that this is the culmination of my journey up till this point.”