Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
David Pack
American musician and singer (born 1952) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
David Robert Pack (born July 15,1952) is an American singer, songwriter, is best known as co-founder, lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Ambrosia in the 70’s & 80’s. Pack wrote and sang all of Ambrosia’s RIAA certified gold hits including 3x Grammy nominee “Biggest Part of Me”, “How Much I Feel” and “You're the Only Woman (You & I).” [1]
Pack also co-wrote and sang the bands first top 20 hit “Holdin On To Yesterday” in 1975 w Joe Puerta, mixed by legendary engineer Alan Parsons and was Grammy nominated.
In the mid 1990s Pack produced Ambrosia's Anthology CD on Warner Bros. (Best of) along with three new tracks. These included “I Just Can't Let Go” with James Ingram & Michael McDonald remixed from Pack's solo album in 1986 (a top 15 Billboard Hit).
Pack stopped touring with the band in 2000, after they played a concert in Atlantic City without him while he was on vacation with his family, fraudulently advertising that Pack would be performing.[citation needed]
Remove ads
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Solo
During the 1980s, Pack enjoyed moderate success as a solo artist with the release of his Anywhere You Go LP in 1985. The album generated three charting singles, the greatest of which was "I Just Can't Let Go" (US AC #13), a collaboration with Michael McDonald and James Ingram.[2] In 1988, he recorded a duet with Bette Midler titled "I Know You by Heart", which was featured in the film Beaches and on its soundtrack.
with Alan Parsons
David and legendary artist-engineer Alan Parsons o.b.e. have had a lifelong friendship while making music together since 1975. Parsons mixed Ambrosia’s Grammy nominated first LP and hit song “Holdin' on to Yesterday" then Produced and Engineered the 2nd LP “Somewhere I've Never Travelled” also Grammy Nominated Best Engineered Record of 1976. Pack then introduced Alan to 20th Century Fox Records Pres. Russ Regan, persuading him to sign Alan to make his own album. That record became The Alan Parsons Project Tales of Mystery and Imagination Edgar Allan Poe with Ambrosia playing on “The Raven”. Segue to 1993 and Parsons Arista album “Try Anything Once” Pack co-wrote and sang three songs: “The Three of Me” , “I’m Talkin to You”, and “Oh Life (There Must Be More) also playing guitar. The same year Pack as music director introduced Parsons at the Greek theater “Children of Bosnia benefit singing “Oh Life” for it’s debut live performance. In 2004 David co-wrote & sang “You Can Run” for Parsons’ “A Valid Path” LP. Prior to that he joined Alan for 2001 Beatles tribute “A Walk Down Abbey Road” tour of America & Japan that included Ann Wilson/ Heart, Todd Rundgren, Jon Entwistle/ Who. David performed triple duty singing Alan’s songs, his own songs and Beatle songs, while playing guitar in spectacular 3 hour tour de force evemt in major concert venues. Then Pack sang “I Won’t Be Led Astray” with Joe Bonamassa on guitar, for Parsons 2022 “From the New World” LP. [3]
Pack & Parsons continue to support each other with Pack having introduced Parsons to Leonard Bernstein in the 80’s, and Parsons introduced Pack to Sir Paul McCartney in 2023. Currently they are working on a EP of Beatle duets with “If I Fell” being played regularly on Sirius XM Beatles Channel. Pack asked Parsons to return to Abbey Road in Summer of 2023, where he engineered orchestra sessions in Studio two for Pack’s upcoming album. [4]
Guest appearances
Pack guested on lead vocals on the song "Ground Zero" for Kerry Livgren's 1980 solo album, Seeds of Change. He then performed on Kansas' Vinyl Confessions album in 1982. He would later contribute guest lead vocals on the track "Shine On" off of the album It's a Jungle Out There! by Mastedon, one of two Mastedon albums written and produced by former Kansas lead singer John Elefante and his brother Dino Elefante. He also Appeared on Chet Atkins & Friends (1987) on Cinemax as guitarist.
As producer
Pack has worked as producer for Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Loggins, and Wynonna Judd. He has also produced music for Chet Atkins, Patti Austin, David Benoit, Natalie Cole, Chick Corea, Andrae Crouch, DC Talk, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Bruce Hornsby, Jennifer Hudson, James Ingram, Patti LaBelle, Little Richard, Branford Marsalis, Bette Midler, Michael McDonald, Brian McKnight, Olivia Newton-John, The Pointer Sisters, LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, Brian Setzer, Mavis Staples, Take 6, Steve Vai, Trisha Yearwood, and CeCe Winans.[5]
David produced, conceived & arranged the 1995 BMG/ Sony Tribute to Leonard Bernstein: “The Songs of West Side Story” benefiting Bernstein Education Through the Arts (BETA) Fund & Grammy's Music in Schools, RIAA Certified Gold album. It featured 27 superstar artists including Aretha Franklin, Phil Collins, Natalie Cole, TLC, Lisa Left Eye Lopes, Brian Setzer, Chick Corea, Toto, David Paich, Sheila E, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Bruce Hornsby, Patti Austin, Steve Vai, Little Richard, Take 6, Mervyn Warren, Def Jef, Paul Rodriguez, Jerky Boys, All-4-One and the late Selena's final performance featured in the film Selena soundtrack. [6] This project included Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim allowing David to add lyric variations and rap improvs to songs “ Officer Krupke” and Little Richard's “I Feel Pretty”. Sondheim voiced his approval to Bernstein son Alexander in a note saying “ To my surprise, I rather enjoyed both “Krupke" and "I Feel Pretty”.
David served as Music Director & Co Producer of Pres. Clinton's Inaugural Arkansas Ball in 1993 and again in 1997 featuring “David Pack's All Star Dream Team band: Michael McDonald, Bruce Hornsby, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, Greg Phillinganes, Nathan East, Steve Ferrone and others. Pack got Pres. Clinton to play sax on Loggin's “Your Mama Don't Dance” at ’93 Inaugural that made headlines around the world. [7] In 1997 David Music Directed "The Presidential Volunteer Summit" in Pa. with Oprah, Colin Powell and all living Presidents. Performing stars included Wynonna Judd, Bela Fleck, John Secada, John Travolta. [5]
In 2000 David Co-Music directed & performed for Yamaha's Millennium Lifetime Achievement Concert honoring Michael McDonald at Shrine Auditorium hosted by Jeff Bridges. The concert included performances by Ray Charles, Christopher Cross, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs and marked the debut performance of “Maria” by Michael, David, and James Ingram” from the Songs of West Side Story album[5] In 2005 David produced and music directed the World Aids Day concert at Saddleback Church in Orange County, featuring artists ranging from Wynonna Judd & DC Talk's Michael Tait to Country star Jimmy Wayne helping "Purpose Driven Life” Author Pastor Rick Warren. [5][8] Previous significant events David Music Directed include 1992 Aids Project LA feat. Elton John, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Eddie Van Halen Produced by Bernie Taupin; AmFar's Elizabeth Taylor tribute to Madonna; Avon Voices with Fergie, Dianne Warren; California Aids Walk 2010 Greek Theatre feat. Sheila E, Steve Lukather, Alan Parsons, Siedah Garrett. [5][9][10]
Grammys
David won a Grammy for producing Patti Austin's “But Who May Abide” on Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration “Best Contemp Soul Gospel LP 1992 ” and a second Grammy for producing finale “To God Be the Glory” for "Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album 1997”.
In addition, David has been Grammy nominated for co-producing Kenny Loggins “Return to Pooh Corner” 1994 “Best Musical Album for Children”. He’s received five Grammy nominations for Ambrosia: “Best Pop Vocal Group (for album One Eighty)”, Best Arrangement for Voices “Biggest Part of Me (1981), Best Arrangement Accompanying Voices “Biggest Part of Me (1981), Ambrosia first album for Best Engineered Recording (non classical), and Ambrosia’s "Somewhere I've Never Travelled” (1976) Best Engineered Album (non Classical ) engineered by Alan Parsons.
All told David has won 2 Grammys and been nominated 6 times.[11]
He also sang on the 34th annual Grammy telecast in 1992 performance of “Hallelujah” from Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration in an all star choir with Quincy Jones conducting that included: Patti Austin, Daryl Coley (lead vocals), Andraé Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis, Marilyn McCoo, Stephanie Mills, Jeffrey Osborne, David Pack, Richard Smallwood, Sounds of Blackness, Take 6, Tevin Campbell, Vanessa Williams, and Chris Willis.[12]
Remove ads
Discography
Summarize
Perspective
Ambrosia
- Ambrosia (1975)
- Somewhere I've Never Travelled (1976)
- Life Beyond L.A. (1978)
- One Eighty (1980)
- Road Island (1982)
Solo albums
Solo singles
Movie soundtracks
Record producer highlights
Film & TV
Other projects
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads