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| New CD Release By David Watt Besley The music industry is buzzing about the debut CD release by David Watt Besley titled 'Believe These Eyes', which upon listening will make a believer out of you! Featuring former Bon Jovi member Kurt Johnston and RPM member Barry Dunaway, along with a host of other top Northeast Florida musicians, David has created a unique sound. If you molded Cat Stevens and John Prine you would come up with David Watt Besley. Freelance writer Richard Wall says, "I really got the Cat Stevens influence, particularly in David's singing style. But the songs have a newness to them; they are well written, telling his stories from the heart, along with some sterling accents on a solidly enjoyable musical foundation, which suits the material." Inside sources say that ex-Bon Jovi Kurt Johnston contributes some memorable piano and guitar parts to 'Believe These Eyes'. "He is a good friend and we have done many projects together through the years and have played a lot of music together, " says David. Virginia-born singer/songwriter David Watt Besley currently resides in Saint Augustine, Florida. In the mid-seventies David was part of the band Saucer, who were one of the first US bands looked at by Virgin Records. In the late seventies David played bass and wrote music with the NorthStar Band, one of Washington, DC's most influential music groups. In the early 1980s David toured with Bob Margolin (Muddy Waters). In 1986 he joined his brother Ed Pickett and formed The Seiners, based out of Jekyll Island, Georgia and toured the southeast. In the early '90s David joined the group Those Guys (several times voted Saint Augustine's #1 band). The band also included Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynrd) and Banner Thomas (Molly Hatchet). In 2009 he reformed Northstar with his brother Ed and signed a publishing deal with Shadow Mountain Music. In 2010 David put together The Big Lonesome, a group featuring some of David's favorite local players and writers. During this time he also started a solo career simply called "DAVE". Even though David loves to get together with Northstar and The Big Lonesome, he has found that his solo career is the most enjoyable – Dave and his music. Which leads to the release of his critically acclaimed debut CD 'Believe These Eyes'; a CD that has been receiving praise from press and fans alike worldwide. "There is no real concept behind the CD, " David explains. "It was just a group of songs I put together for my first solo release. A friend of mine called me after listening to 'Believe These Eyes' and jokingly said, 'Stop writing songs about my life!' Whatever is in my heart at the time comes out in my song lyrics." David is currently playing select gigs in support of his latest CD release. With longtime friend and co-producer Jim Stafford (Eclipse Recording Company), David had been busy over the last year and a half recording his sophomore CD 'Hopeless Romantic' to be released later this year. Along with Kurt Johnston and Barry Dunaway, who also worked with Survivor, Pat Travers, Yngwie Malmsteen and many other notable bands, David has used many talented people to record on 'Believe These Eyes' and his forthcoming release and is very proud of the contributions they made: Wayne Johnston, Rob Peck, Chris McVey, Ed Pickett, Woody Pernell, Rusty Springfield, Janine Newfield, Michael Howard, Michael Houpt and Marc Douglas Berardo. David also had two lifelong friends he played with in the '60s, Jim Miner and Chuck Caudill, join him on the recording sessions. Finally David had this to impart: "Music is my life, it is what makes my world go around. I have had the chance to hang with many great writers and players over the years. I have been blessed with a great audience that supports my music. There have been so many magic moments over the years. To me that's what music is all about, sitting down with other writers and creating something." write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Jazz News :: home page |