QUINCY JONES LAUNCHES DAVID’S CAREER AS MUSIC PRODUCER

In 1983 while seeking a new path forward, David met with the legendary Quincy Jones through his managers Fitzgerald Hartley who shared offices with Jones.

David recalls: Quincy said to me “you produced and wrote those incredible Ambrosia hits, why not produce other artists?” I replied “I’d love to but how do I start?” Quincy said “you should produce Patti Austin for my label Qwest” to which I replied “yes please, thank you!” Quincy added “only one catch - you must introduce me to Leonard Bernstein, he’s my hero,” to which I replied “done!”

This led to David producing three albums over five years for Patti Austin, including the Grammy-winning “But Who May Abide…” from Handel’s Messiah-A Soulful Celebration; along with her acclaimed Qwest standards album The Real Me; and the GRP album classic: Carry On.

Circa 1984 Quincy asked David to write a song for daytime TV heartthrob Jack Wagner from General Hospital, who Jones had signed to his label. That song, co-written with Glen Ballard and Cliff Magness, became the #1 CHR smash “All I Need,” Wagner’s only hit, and a gold record.

David has since gone on to produce platinum and gold-selling Grammy-nominated records over the last 30 years, including Kenny Loggins’ 3-million selling Grammy-nominated Return to Pooh Corner LP, as well as records for Aretha Franklin, Selena, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Linda Ronstadt (Disney’s Cinderella) Brian McKnight, Phil Collins, CeCe Winans, Trisha Yearwood, and two tracks on Wynonna’s gold album The Other Side.

Career film and TV highlights include usages of David’s songs for hit movies such as Judd Apatow's #1 blockbuster 2007 comedy Knocked Up; Taylor Hackford’s 1987 film White Nights; and a duet with Bette Midler for the iconic movie Beaches (#1 double-platinum soundtrack.) David wrote five songs for Goldie Hawn’s Wildcats. For the Arthur movie #1 Platinum soundtrack starring Dudley Moore, David co-wrote “Poor Rich Boy” with Burt Bacharach.

He penned “Our Love” (w/ Michael McDonald) as the end title song for Richard Gere and Kim Basinger’s film No Mercy. More recently David composed a significant amount of music for the indie film Gallow's Road, starring Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) and Kevin Sorbo (Hercules); and music for Director Robert (Coppola) Schwartzman’s 2018 movie Dreamland.

For TV, David wrote all music for Roseanne Barr’s Roseanne talk show on NBC; and in 2006 he wrote all music and cues for Rick Dees' radio show on Movin’ 93.9 Los Angeles.

In the early 90’s, music icon Barbra Streisand, via film composer James Newton Howard, asked David to help her arrange, conduct, and be a vocal coach for a fundraiser featuring a new song by Alan & Marilyn Bergman, “Common Threads.” The event supporting Sen. Barbara Boxer and women running for Congress featured Barbra, Dionne Warwick, Melissa Etheridge, Judy Collins, Goldie Hawn and other female superstars.

Then in 1992, David was asked by Bernie Taupin to direct and conduct the massive AIDS Project L.A. Commitment to Life fundraiser. This featured Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Billy Joel, Eddie Van Halen, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Lyle Lovett, and other greats performing David’s arrangements of West Side Story. The event was a triumph, raising over $4 million for AIDS research, for which David received industry-wide accolades.

The momentum from the AIDS concert manifested in David being asked to music direct, perform, and co-produce President Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Arkansas Ball in Wash DC on Jan 20, 1993. David hired his friends Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Bruce Hornsby, Patti Austin, and Eric Clapton’s rhythm section to perform at the event. This became part of American history when Pack asked Clinton to play sax on Loggins’ “Your Mama Don’t Dance” - seen by over 3-billion people worldwide.

This event went so well that in 1997 Pres. Clinton asked David back to direct his 2nd Inaugural Arkansas Ball - for which Pack recruited Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Trisha Yearwood, and other superstars.

David went on to conduct/music direct events such as: Amfar Elizabeth Taylor’s tribute to Madonna; PETA fundraiser with Sheila E.; American Bible Society 9/11 Anniversary concert in New York; Colin Powell & Living American Presidents’ Volunteer Summit with Oprah Winfrey; California AIDS Walk at Greek Theater; Children of Bosnia at Greek Theater; and countless others.

in 2011 David served as music director, celebrity judge, and music producer for the global Avon female talent search Avon Voices. This two-year project included Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, Diane Warren, Reese Witherspoon, and other female stars. David produced Diane Warren’s song “Until U Love U” for Russia’s #1 star Valeryia (over 200-million units sold) as the project’s debut single.