Biography

Performer / Composer / Producer
Twenty-five years of playing keyboards and synthesisers
Over fifteen years as a musician of Simply Red
Playing with many other fab musicians for over thirty-five years
Recently released debut solo album Magnesium

IN SHORT
Short biography by Herisson Records

David is currently working with Simply Red, and during an illustrious career has worked with many wonderful artists, including: George Michael, Depeche Mode, Robbie Williams, Take That,U2, ABC, David Bowie, Bob Marley, Paul Rutherford, and the Human League. As well as working on various solo projects, David has released albums of funk, jazz, and soul with his musical partner Marco Perry (Pressure Zone and Mighty Monks). Their latest album is ‘London Street Soul’. In addition, he is currently working on 3D spatial sound production with Immersive Audio Ltd. David has composed musical tracks for films, documentaries and television. His debut solo album ’Magnesium’ is recently launched at Herisson Records (London, UK). Nine brand new piano and synth chill tracks are all created and performed by David. The final track, ‘Sherbet’ features the Simply Red sax player Ian Kirkham.

A BIT MORE
My story

I joined my first band ‘Celebration’ in 1982 before being spotted by‘ABC’ and joining them as a keyboard player for a world tour. After the tour I formed a band with Dave Palmer, now Rod Stewart’s drummer, and signed to Epic / CBSas ‘Person to Person’. We did two high profile support tours and an album ‘Stronger Than Reason’. From 1986 I had brief stints playing with the bands ‘Animal Nightlife’ and ‘Carmel’ whilst living in Sheffield before moving to London in 1987.
Since 1987 I have recorded, toured, composed and / or done sessions which have included:

MUSICIANS & BANDS
– Touring and composing – Simply Red 2003 to date
– Album Recording – in 2018 performed on ‘Leave a Trace’, debut album from Austrian artist Luke Andrews
– Festival tour plus live television and radio performances – Anastacia summer 2014
– Touring and recording – George Michael, ABC
– Tour programming – U2, Depeche Mode
– Solo tours – Mick Hucknall including American Soul, Bobby Bland and Art on Ice
– Tour (musician and musical director and live DVD) – Marc Almond
– Tour (musician and musical director) – Jason Donovan, Clive Griffin
– Tour – Pino Danielle, Hannah Scott, Depeche Mode
– Co-production and composing – Clive Griffin, Paul Rutherford, Human League, Toy, Flatz, Melissa Mars
– Live record – Elton John
– Recording and composing – Michael Hutchence
– Recording sessions with: ABC, Bee Gees, Beloved, Bjork / David Arnold, Bob Marley, Bomb the Bass (and band member from 1994-1998), Boy George, Bros, Camouflage, David Bowie, Estelle, Gary Barlow, Gavin Friday, Go West, Hannah Scott, Iva Davies, Jody Whatley, Karl Bartos / Kraftwerk, Lionel Ritchie, Living In A Box, Luciano, Lucie Silvas, Mario (U.S. RnB artist), Massive Attack, Nik Kershaw, Oui 3, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Protocol, Robbie Williams, Shakira, Sinead O Connor, Simple Minds, Take That, Terence Trent D’Arby, Texas, The Sound and the Fury, The The, Tina Turner, Tunde, 2 Tek, Whycliffe

FILM, TELEVISION & ADVERTS
– Film and Film Music Commissions:
In the Name of The Father (with U2 / Gavin Friday / Bomb the Bass), Batman Returns, Shakespeare in Love, Battleship Potemkin, Entropy (with Phil Joanou), Polax X (with Scott Walker)
– Film Score and Compositions:
The Tao Traveller – Recorded and produced by Jon Russell, directed by Robin Ramseyand and Jon Russell
– Numerous adverts, television and short film musical pieces placed with various music libraries

SOLO PROJECTS
I have my own small in-house recording studio with a wide range of analogue and digital keyboards and recording equipment. My musical partner Marco Perry and I have an online record label ‘Beatfarm Recorders’.
– Pressure Zone – London Street Soul, 2Tek
– Immersive Audio 3D / spatial sound production – recently included a project with Bjork at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, March 2015

LINKS
– Selection from my discography:
Discogs
– References:
Simply Red
Pressure Zone
Beatfarm Recordings
Immersive Audio Ltd.