David Pack - Wikiwand

David Robert Pack (born July 15, 1952) is an American singer and musician best known as co-founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the rock band Ambrosia in the 1970s and 80s. Pack wrote and sang most of Ambrosia’s biggest hits, including “Biggest Part of Me”, “You're the Only Woman (You & I)”, and “How Much I Feel”.

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David Pack

Background information
Birth name	David Robert Pack
Born	(1952-07-15) July 15, 1952 (age 73) Huntington Park, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock, progressive rock, soft rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)	Guitar, keyboards, vocals
Years active	1970–present
Labels	Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Concord

Website	www.davidpack.com

In the mid 90’s 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. This and other acts of betrayal towards Pack including using the Ambrosia name for live concerts without Pack’s permission while misleading fans and promoters, caused years of legal issues.

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Career

Summarize

Perspective

As performer

Pack was co-founder, guitarist and main vocalist for the band Ambrosia.^[1] His collected works as a performer and producer have sold over forty million units worldwide. Hits from the band written and sung by Pack include certified gold singles "Biggest Part of Me" (1980), "You're the Only Woman (You & I)" (1980) and "How Much I Feel" (1978).^[2] He co-wrote and sang lead on the band's first top 20 hit, "Holdin' on to Yesterday" (1975). His 2005 solo album, The Secret of Movin' On, included remakes of "Biggest Part of Me" and "You're the Only Woman".

Thumb — David Pack performing with Ambrosia

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.

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.^[3] 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.

He co-wrote three songs ("The Three of Me", "I'm Talkin' to You" and "Oh, Life (There Must Be More)"), for which he also sang and played guitar, on Alan Parsons's 1993 album Try Anything Once, and sang and played guitar on the song "You Can Run" on Parsons' 2004 album, A Valid Path. (Ambrosia's first album was engineered by Alan Parsons, who served as producer and engineer for their second; all four members of Ambrosia played on the first Alan Parsons Project album, Tales of Mystery and Imagination.) Pack joined producer Alan Parsons on his 2001 live tribute tour to the music of the Beatles called A Walk Down Abbey Road.

Pack again appeared as lead vocalist on the song "I Won't Be Led Astray" on Parsons' 2022 album From the New World.

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.^[4]

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. ^[5]

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 orld. ^[6]

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. ^[7]

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 Skaggs and marked the debut performance of “Maria” by Michael, David, and James Ingram” from the Songs of West Side Story album^[8]

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. ^[9]^[10]

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 w Fergie, Dianne Warren; California Aids Walk 2010 Greek Theatre feat. Sheila E, Steve Lukather, Alan Parsons, Siedah Garrett. ^[11]^[12]^[13]

Record producer highlights

Return To Pooh Corner, Kenny Loggins, RIAA Platinum Grammy-Nominated
The Songs Of West Side Story – Tribute to Leonard Bernstein feat. Aretha Franklin, Selena, Phil Collins, Trisha Yearwood, Little Richard, Chick Corea, James Ingram TLC others RIAA Gold (1996)
Wynonna Judd The Other Side Curb RIAA Gold "Wyld Unknown" "Why Now" (1997)
White Nights film Soundtrack "Prove Me Wrong" RIAA Platinum (Atlantic)
Ambrosia Anthology (WB) Greatest hits + 3 new songs (1997)
David Pack's Napa Crossroads feat Doors’ Ray Manzarek, Todd Rundgren, Alan Parsons, Bela Fleck, David Benoit, Rooney Robert Schwartzman, others (2014)
Handel’s Messiah – A Soulful Celebration Patti Austin track – Grammy Winner (1994)
Disney’s Cinderella feat. Linda Ronstadt & others (1994) A Dream is a Wish (co writer)
Michael McDonald’s Blue Obsession “Aint that Peculiar” duet w DC Talk (TobyMac)
Thank You Billy Graham feat. U2's Bono, Leann Rimes, TobyMac, Andrae Crouch
The Real Me, Patti Austin – (Quincy Jones/Qwest 1988) and Carry On (GRP 1990)
His Gift, CeCe Winans 2 tracks Christmas album – Dove Award-nominated (1998)
Tribute: Songs of Andrae Crouch (WB) Grammy Best Contemp Gospel Album of Year (1996)
One Heart At A Time Cystic Fibrosis, feat. Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton John (1998)
Purpose of Christmas Sarah McLachlan, Vince Gill, Rick Warren others Wal-Mart
Psalm 23 project 9/11 Children of Victims NY American Bible Society (2002) ^[14]

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