Well-written songs have the unique power to stir the emotions and make us feel more connected. It's this magical ability that inspires singer/songwriter/pianist, David Ross to write and perform music that listeners can identify with and experience through him. He is but a conduit through which the muses speak. So fame, fortune, and notoriety are not his raison d'etre, but are only by-products. The sheer joy in creating and sharing the emotional connection with people is the main reason he writes and sings songs. His simple, yet powerful, lyrics reflect universal feelings that are expressed with strong melodies and interesting chord progressions that harken back to the days of classic pop/rock tunes. His themes are usually upbeat, as in "Dreams Can Come True," which reveals the possibilities if we believe in ourselves and hold on to our dreams.

David lives in Dallas, where he continues to write and perform.

Press Info

Billboard Magazine
The Dallas Morning News
The Denison Herald

Influences

While in New York, David met and befriended a famous composer, Samuel Barber, who wrote "Adagio For Strings." Sam sparked an interest in songwriting and David started writing songs.

Bio

Born and raised in Texas, David started singing in choirs at church and school. His beloved mother, Ruby, loved to sing hymns and had always wanted to play the piano but never learned. When she discovered David's interest in learning the piano, she bought an old upright piano and he began lessons at age 8. Thus, began a love affair with music.

He continued his musical studies at the School of Music of The University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Music (BM) degree. While at the University, David studied organ with Dr. Frank Speller, voice with Nancy Olson, piano with Danielle Martin and composition with Janet McGaughey. He was student conductor and tenor soloist with the University Chorus and also sang with the Texas Opera Theatre where he appeared in a PBS production of Gilbert & Sullivan's "Trial By Jury."

He then decided to move to New York City where he met and became friends with the famous composer Samuel Barber while taking an orchestral conducting class at The Juilliard School. Sam offered suggestions to David's compositions and shared funny stories about him and "Lenny," Leonard Bernstein. Sam dedicated his Hermit Song "St. Ita's Vision" to David.

David started writing songs. He sang, played the piano, produced and marketed a recording of his songs. The song, "I Always Will Remember" received radio airplay and appeared on Billboard's singles review page for possible chart entry. Several songs received favorable reviews in The Dallas Morning News and his style was compared to Dan Fogelberg. Two songs were entered in the Music City Song Festival and both received Honorable Mentions.

David was a member of the Dallas Symphony Chorus (Tenor II) which performed the Mahler Second Symphony with the DSO during the opening concert of the new Meyerson Symphony Center. Ross Perot was honored that evening for his $10 million contribution which allowed for the completed construction of the Meyerson.

David also sang with the Turtle Creek Chorale in its early days.

As a part-time actor, David appeared in two major film releases, "A Scanner Darkly" with Keanu Reeves and "Idiocracy" by writer/director Mike Judge (creator of Beavis and Butthead).

David wrote a feature screenplay (historical drama) which was selected as a quarter-finalist in the Scriptapalooza screenplay competition in Los Angeles. He was then paid to write a synopsis for a film produced by a LA television/film production company.

The screenplay has since been adapted into a stage play and is currently being marketed along with the screenplay. All inquiries may be submitted to RV94@HOTMAIL.COM for "FIRE FROM THE GODS."

Letter from:

Mike Nardone
Director Of A&R
Universal Music Group
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Dear David,

True Love sounded like something you might hear in a movie. Like a light romantic comedy. AM pop. Well done. Your arrangement is real solid. The order of your parts is thought out and makes sense. Your chord progression is nice and the melody is strong. Good work. Sail Away is the kind of song one would expect to hear in a cruise ship lounge. That's a compliment actually. It's good work if you can get it. The arrangement is solid here as well. Tried and true. Your lyrics are well written. Kind of Jimmy Buffet like. Tropical locations, oceans, etc. They paint a scene nicely. Evil Eyes was a little heavier. It reminds me of an early Billy Joel style piano based rock song. It was a nice song and shows that you have some edge and are capable of something more than pop or ballads. Again, solid writing. The performances were solid too.

Your demo is good if you are trying to get lounge work or "casuals" gigs. You may do it now for a living. You are certainly good enough to. Your songs are well written to boot. I would think you would be able to get all the "casuals" work you could ever want though. Your style fits that scene like a glove. Best of luck.

Sincerely,
Mike