Craig David

Singer

For the Record…

Selected discography

Sources

Craig David was barely out of his teens when he leaped onto the British pop charts with his 2000 debut album Born to Do It. The young singer quickly parlayed his blues-tinged voice and mature appearance into worldwide success as the album went platinum, “proving you don’t have to be bred in the U.S.A. to make good R&B,” as Chuck Arnold noted in People magazine.

Born in Southampton, England, to racially mixed parents, David found his musical talent early in life. His father, a carpenter, also played reggae bass in a band called Ebony Rockers, a group that attained a fair amount of British success in the 1980s. The young David remained largely unaware of his father’s influence until he found albums with his father’s picture on them. The elder David “steered [his 12-year-old son] toward classical guitar,” according to an Entertainment Weekly article by Rob Brunner. “I loved the guitar,” David told Brunner, “but I wasn’t really feeling these classical songs. I wanted to sing.”

David began accompanying his father to local dance clubs, where deejays let the precocious teen take the microphone. David used these opportunities to talk to the audience and harmonize with the recordings. By age 14, David was a popular emcee in local dance clubs; his early stint in radio broadcasting ended abruptly, however, when the police raided the pirate radio station that employed him.

In 1997 the 16 year old met producer Mark Hill, who owned a Southampton studio and created dance tracks under the name Artful Dodger. “The first time I met him, his voice just stuck out a mile,” Hill told Brunner. “It was incredible—he was just a local schoolkid.” The two collaborated on a single, “What Ya Gonna Do,” which was released on vinyl, a rarity. The record was a smash on the Southampton dance scene, and its popularity spread to clubs in Bristol, Manchester, and London.

“What Ya Gonna Do” helped usher in a popular British dance-music genre known as the two-step, defined by Will Hermes in another Entertainment Weekly piece as “a fizzy hybrid of drum-and-bass beats, house-music swing, and R&B melody.” A 1999 Artful Dodger two-step number, “Re-Rewind (When the Crowd Say Bo Selecta)” reached number two on the United Kingdom charts. Lynda Cowell, writing for MOBO magazine online, noted that “Re-Rewind” “became nothing short of a national club anthem. From sweaty dancefloors to car stereos up and down the country, nowhere was safe from it infectious beats.”

At the same time David was making his name as a lyricist, having won a nationwide songwriting contest. His prize was to pen the lyrics for the B-side to a hit record from the British group Damage. He wrote “I’m Ready,” then created his first solo track, a cover of “Human,” popularized in the 1980s by Human League.

For the Record…

Born Craig Ashley David on May 5, 1981, in Southampton, Hamptonshire, England; son of George and Tina David.

Began performing as a deejay and emcee in Southampton, England; lyricist and performer on dance singles; collaborator with Artful Dodger on dance singles; solo artist and touring performer, 2000-; first album Born to Do It released 2001; released follow-up effort Slicker Than Your Average, featuring single “Rise and Fall” with Sting, 2002.

Awards: MasterCard Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, Best R&B Act, Best U.K. Single for “Fill Me In,” Best U.K. Newcomer, 2000; Billboard Music Video Awards, Best Dance New Artist Clip, Best R&B New Artist Clip, 2001; MTV Europe Music Video Awards, Best R&B Act, Best U.K./Ireland Act, 2001.

Addresses: Record company—Atlantic Records, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10019, website: http://www.atlanticrecords.com. Website—Craig David Official Website: http://www.craigdavid.co.uk.

In 2000 David’s first solo album, Born to Do It, was released in England to good reviews and quick sales. When “Fill Me In,” the album’s first single, came out, David became—at 19—the youngest British male solo artist to have a number-one song. His success earned him a place among the United Kingdom’s top soul artists, which include Sade, Soul II Soul, and Seal. The young singer’s appeal seemed to be in a class by itself, however. “A honey-voiced crooner whose sneaky melodies tap you on the shoulder rather than smack you in the face,” wrote Brunner, “David is the rare contemporary R&B singer who understands the value of subtlety.” In Hermes’s view, the singer’s “high tenor, two parts Stevie Wonder to one R. Kelly, slides and skips over sparkling arrangements, massaging the end of each line the way he might your feet after a night of dancing on stiletto heels at a debutante ball.” The performer’s good looks didn’t hurt his reputation either. Hermes described David in 2001 as “a gorgeous 20-year-old … with almond eyes, cappuccino skin, a George Michael goatee, and a homeboy-meets-hellraiser hairdo.”

On the strength of such singles as “Fill Me In,” “Walking Away,” and “7 Days,” Born to Do It sold seven million units worldwide, earning multiplatinum status in more than 20 countries. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award; in his home country, David took home three MOBO awards, though controversy followed when the young phenom was shut out of the BRIT Awards. When David failed to win any of his six nominations, including Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Newcomer, industry politics was blamed. Several luminaries of the British music scene hurried to David’s side; Elton John, for one, called the young man England’s best vocalist. When the debut album hit America in 2001, the “7 Days” single became a hit in February of 2002.

The success of his debut did not seem to go to David’s head. “Gotta make sure the second album is okay,” he said in a People interview, “or it’ll be back to … me saying, ‘Mom, what did you think of this track?’” Slicker Than Your Average, David’s follow-up album, was released in the United Kingdom in 2001. Graham Williams, CEO of London’s Telstar Music Group, explained in a Music & Media interview that David “makes international albums and opens doors for lots of other U.K. artists.” As for the American reception of Slicker Than Your Average, Williams said: “It’s easier on the one hand because there’s interest in him, whereas the last time we had to convince everybody that he was worth being on radio and television. This time television and radio are very receptive, but he’s still got to be judged.”

Among those evaluating Slicker Than Your Average was Dotmusic online critic James Poletti, who said that this harder-edged collection doesn’t offer quite an accurate representation of the artist. “We all know too much about him to be convinced by attempts to turn on the R. Kelly metaphors and fast cars, fast women’ persona he tries on here,” wrote Poletti. “We’ve seen him at home in Southampton. With his mum.” Still, the reviewer welcomed Slicker Than Your Average as “still way more consistent than your average over-long U.S. R&B release.” Offering a similar view was a German music editor who told Music & Media reporter Amanda Melodini that these lyrics are “a bit more shallow … but you don’t need deep lyrics with a dance track.” To C. Bottomley of VH-1, the album “is the sound of an older and wiser smoothie who has learned that fame comes with a price.”

David told Bottomley how high that price could be. “With success comes a lot of jealousy,” he said. “A lot of people stab you in the back. The people who said, ‘We’re part of the crew,’ weren’t with me when I really needed them. I’m not bitter. I’m 21, I’ve traveled the whole world; I’m having a wonderful time. But these people need to understand small little things.” As for maintaining a “player” persona, David remarked that “when I talk about sex I should do it in a way that isn’t vulgar.” He quipped that his songs are reviewed by his mother: “She picks up on things like that on this album. On ‘What’s Your Flava?’ I say, ‘I want to taste ya,’ and she’s like [adopts high-pitched voice] ‘Craig, what are you trying to say here?’ I explain it’s about ice cream flavors and then she says, ‘Oh, it’s all good!’”

Selected discography

Born to Do It, Atlantic, 2001.

Slicker Than Your Average, Atlantic, 2002.

Sources

Periodicals

Entertainment Weekly, July 20, 2001; August 3, 2001; December 21, 2001.

Essence, June, 2001.

Jet, August 6, 2001.

Music & Media, November 2, 2002; November 30, 2002.

People, May 13, 2002; November 25, 2002; December 9, 2002.

Online

“Craig David,” Dotmusic, http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/CraigDavid (January 7, 2003).

Craig David Official Website, http://www.craigdavid.co.uk (January 7, 2003).

“Craig David: The Rebirth of Slick,” VH-1, http://www.vh1.com/artists/ (January 7, 2003).

“King David,” MOBO,http://www.mobo.net/ (January 7, 2003).

“Second Cup Café: Craig David,” CBS Early Show, http://www.cbsnews.com/ (January 7, 2003).

—Susan Salter

Craig David

1981-

Musician

British rhythm-and-blues (R&B) singer Craig David rocketed to success at age 19 with his very first album, Born to Do It. His unique blend of soulful lyrics, subtle melodies, and infectious beats have earned him critical admiration and popular fame, prompting Sir Elton John to proclaim him the best singer in England.

Became Teenage MC

The son of a black father and white mother, Craig Ashley David was born on May 5, 1981, and grew up in Southampton, a city southwest of London. As a young child he absorbed a wide variety of musical influences. His father, a carpenter and bass player in a reggae band, took him to rehearsals and gigs. His mother played Stevie Wonder, Terence Trend D'Arby, and the Osmonds' records. As he later commented to New York Times writer James Hunter, "I kind of caught that puppy love thing" from his mother's favorite music. Though his parents divorced when he was eight and he lived thereafter with his mother, David remained close to his father, who encouraged the boy to take guitar lessons. "I loved the guitar," David told Entertainment Weekly writer Rob Brunner, "but I wasn't really feeling these classical songs. I wanted to sing."

By age 14, David was spending a lot of time at the dances sponsored by his father's West Indian social club. One night, the DJ there let the boy try his hand as an MC. He proved quite popular, and was soon offered gigs at local clubs and parties. With his earnings—about $150 per week—he built a small studio in his bedroom. He sang on the single "Let's Kick Racism Out of Football" for the English Premier League soccer organization, and won a national song-writing contest with the tune "I'm Ready" for the boy-band Damage.

David's first big career break came in 1997, when he met producer Mark Hill, who recorded dance tracks under the name Artful Dodger. Hill invited David to collaborate on the single "What Ya Gonna Do," which they released on vinyl and which was included on the album Rewind (When the Crowd Say Bo Selecta). The song was an instant hit, helping to popularize the British dance-music genre known as the two-step. "It caused a storm on the underground scene," David said of the record in remarks quoted by Brunner. "We were just amazed. We were these guys from Southampton, and we'd made a record that was getting five-star reviews. It was crazy."

Launched Solo Career

With the huge success of two-step, David was in an ideal position to make his first solo recording. In March 2000 he released the song "Fill Me In," which went straight to the top of the U.K. pop charts. At age 19, David was the youngest British male solo artist ever to enjoy the distinction of a number-one hit song. Born to Do It, his debut album featuring the hit single, was released in 2001. Produced by Mark Hill, it sold 7 million copies and reached gold, platinum, or multi-platinum status in more than 20 countries. Entertainment Weekly writer Will Hermes described Born to Do It as a "brilliantly market-tuned fusion of R&B elegance and all ages pop sugar" that made David a "post-race, post-class poster boy for England's new melting-pot culture."

David's second album, Slicker Than Your Average, was released in 2002. It presents "a more assured, intimate sound and lyrics," noted a reviewer on the Craig David Web site. "Anyone expecting a sequel to Born to Do It is in for a surprise. Slicker is the sound of a man who has seen the world, perfected his live sound and is truly comfortable in his own skin. More accomplished and diverse than his debut, it sees Craig merge the influences he grew up on with the experiences he had absorbed." The hit single from the album, "What's Your Flava," was the basis of a music video that David based on his favorite film, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Solid hits in England and Europe, both albums also sold well in the United States, where David's celebrity fans include Quincy Jones, Beyonce, Missy Elliot, J-Lo, and Usher. Nevertheless, some American hip-hop fans have accused David of creating music that is too soft. But the singer told James Hunter of the New York Times that these critics are just jealous. "I always knew that my music had a lot more pop-R&B influence," he noted, "and I wasn't going to just jump on being the face of two-step garage." The singer makes no apologies for his polite, cheerful image. He does not smoke, rarely drinks, and avoids rough language and topics in his songs. As he commented in Hello! magazine, "Growing up with my mum, I think it gave me so much more respect for women in general, and to not be vulgar in the way you go about writing songs."

Remained Loyal to Home-Grown Values

Though David has won numerous awards, including Best R&B Act, Best U.K. Newcomer, and Best U.K. Single in 2000 by the MasterCard Music of Black Origin Awards in 2000, those close to him say that success has not changed the young musician. He still considers Southampton home and is proud of his roots in that city. David has participated in several charity concerts, including the Tsunami Relief Cardiff concert in 2005, in which he joined such other notable artists as Eric Clapton and the Stereophonics. The event raised more than one million pounds for those affected by the tsunami that hit south Asia in December 2004. Another honor was being invited to join the roster of performers at the Live 8 concert at Hyde Park in London on July 2, 2005. The concert, one of several staged worldwide, was organized to raise awareness of world poverty, especially in Africa.

At a Glance …

Born on May 5, 1981, in Southampton, England; son of George and Tina David. Education: Attended Southampton City College.

Career: Recording artist and touring performer, 1997-. Worked as deejay and MC in Southampton, England; lyricist and performer on dance singles.

Awards: MasterCard Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, Best R&B Act, Best U.K. Single for "Fill Me In," and Best U.K. Newcomer, 2000; Billboard Music Video Awards, Best Dance New Artist Clip, Best R&B New Artist Clip, 2001; MTV Europe Music Video Awards, Best R&B Act, Best U.K./Ireland Act, 2001.

Addresses: Label—c/o Warner Music International, Ave. de Chillon 70, 1820 Montreaux, Switzerland. Web—www.craigdaviduk.com.

Not merely seeking fame, David has aspirations to achieve something deeper with his music. "I just felt that deep inside I was part of something unique and British but yet that was very exportable," he told Hunter. "Coming from a mixed-race family…I was always very open-minded about music…. I love to ask questions and find out what it is that makes things tick." David released his third album, The Story Goes, in August 2005. He described the project to interviewer Noel Davies as "another chapter in my life [that] brings me back to things how they used to be when I was starting off. There's a lot of good memories there for me." Noting that the lyrics on this new record differ from his previous work, he said that he thinks it is his best work to date. "Craig's a true gentleman," said Ron Shapiro, co-president of the singer's record label, to Hunter. "Craig's about joyousness."

Selected discography

Albums

Born to Do It, Atlantic, 2001.

Slicker Than Your Average, Atlantic, 2002.

The Story Goes, Warner Music International, 2005.

Singles

"What Ya Gonna Do," 1997.

"Fill Me In," 2000.

Sources

Books

Contemporary Musicians, Vol. 42, Gale Group, 2003.

Periodicals

Entertainment Weekly, July 20, 2001, p. 64; August 3, 2001, p. 30.

Jet, August 6, 2001.

New York Times, January 19, 2003.

People Weekly, December 9, 2002, p. 109.

On-line

Craig David, www.craigdaviduk.com (August 30, 2005).

"Craig David," Hello!, www.hellomagazine.com (June 14, 2005).

Davies, Noel, "Q & A with Craig," Southern Daily Echo, www.thisissouthampton.co.uk (June 7, 2005).

—E. M. Shostak

CRAIG DAVID

Born: Craig Ashley David; Southampton, England, 5 May 1981.

Genre: R&B

Best-selling album since 1990: Born to Do It (2000)

Hit songs since 1990: "Walking Away," "7 Days," "What's Your Flava?"

Craig David, the British-born singer/songwriter, burst upon the American scene in 2001 with his eclectic mix of edgy dance beats and traditional pop song craft. He emerged in Britain as the popular face of U.K. garage, a dance music genre marked by fast-paced, fractured beats and soulful choruses. He won acclaim for his debut album, Born to Do It (2000), and became the youngest male artist to top both the singles and album charts in his native country. He continued this success in America, and in 2002 released Slicker Than Your Average, in which he ventures further from his garage roots into pop and R&B territory.

Craig David was born in Southampton, a port city in southern England, to an English mother and West Indian father. His multicultural upbringing and love of American pop and soul influenced his first forays into music as a DJ, spinning and mixing records on a local pirate radio station at age fourteen. He soon moved on to club sets, and in 1996 won a national songwriting competition for an original track titled "I'm Ready." The song was recorded by the R&B group Damage and ended up as the B-side of a successful single. "I'm Ready" brought David to the attention of Mark Hill, a member of the popular garage production team Artful Dodger.

The garage style combines quick, clipped beats with rap and R&B-style choruses. The texture of the beats is light and breezy in comparison to the hard, frenetic sound of typical club music. This tonal variation represented a new and engaging sound, and garage caught fire in the U.K. underground dance scene. Hill set David's pop and R&B songs to a garage beat, and the team produced the 1999 U.K. hit single "Rewind." The song is credited with introducing garage to the mainstream, and it set David up for a full album release.

Born to Do It was a hit in Britain upon its release in 2000. Its success was driven by a string of stirring singles, including the sexy "7 Days" and the confessional "Walking Away." Much of the sound is rooted in garage, but what shines through is David's talents as a singer and songwriter. "7 Days" benefits from the novelistic detail of a chance meeting that stretches out over a week. The confident vocals match the smooth arrangements and reveal a real personality usually absent in garage's anonymous producer-driven singles. The following year the album received its American release and garnered significant acclaim and commercial success.

In his second album, Slicker Than Your Average (2002), David articulates his love of pop and R&B with a collection of supremely catchy songs. Although some fans regretted his departure from garage, he won wider acclaim for his bold songwriting and ambitious vocals. Dance tracks like "What's Your Flava?" slink with a newfound bravado, and the ballads unfold with assured grace. "Rise & Fall," a ballad recorded with Sting, addresses the perils of fame and the pitfalls of stardom in startlingly open terms: "Now I don't even wanna please the fans, / No autographs, / No interviews, / No pictures, / And less demands."

Craig David stands in a line of pop singers who do not conform to a particular style. Like his heroes Prince and Terence Trent D'Arby, David easily jumps genres with a sound and attitude all his own.

SELECTIVE DISCOGRAPHY:

Born to Do It (2000, Atlantic); Slicker Than Your Average (2002, Atlantic).

WEBSITE:

www.craigdavid.com.

sean cameron