Justin David
The Performance
The impressive multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and pop/country vocalist continues to turn heads both in Nashville and across the country. In clubs, performing arts venues uptown and down, both solo and with his band, he's a young man who's proven what he's made of since his first appearance on "Nashville Star." What he's made of is true talent, a real gift - and a generosity of spirit and appealing personal warmth that layers over his audiences everywhere he goes. Justin David is one to watch. Better yet, he's one to hear.
When he was a kid, Justin David viewed fiddle competitions like most other kids his age looked at mowing lawns — as the way to earn some spending money. Winning prizes and beating out other fiddlers from across the globe, however, likely brought a certain personal satisfaction that the lawn mower would never have quite equaled. Justin learned to play the mandolin as a four-year-old by listening to his father whistle melodies in their Southwest Missouri kitchen. "The music was continuous at our house," he says. "Every morning while waiting on the school bus, I would play the mandolin and my Mom would accompany me on piano. I grew up around one big jam session, thanks to my parents." Later, as a teen, he was recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Master Artists Apprenticeship, an experience that further strengthened his bonds with traditional fiddle music and an influence still heard in the contemporary country music he writes and performs today. While performing fulltime in a music review in Branson, Justin received an email about the 2005 auditions for TV's "Nashville Star" competition. He gave it a shot — and ended up in the top five finalists for that year's prize. Roy Clark also heard the young musician performing in Branson, and immediately offered him a "job" that Justin still counts among the luckiest breaks of his career, a performance schedule with Clark of more than 200 dates a year now for the past seven years, with Clark graciously turning over the stage to Justin for a substantial solo set each night. Today, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, fiddle & more) is building his own solo career, touring with his own band, and viewed by many in the business as Nashville's fastest-rising "one to watch" on the contemporary country music horizon.
"As a child, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by people that inspired my musical career, but I have to say that my Dad was the driving force. On my fifth birthday when my grandparents gave me my own mandolin, my destiny was sealed. Mom and Dad would organize music parties every weekend in our home. Sadly, I've lost my Father now, but from my Father to me, the dream lives on." - Justin David
In a Word…
"Do yourself a favor and listen to Justin David. As far as playing great fiddle, mandolin, being a great singer — he is unequaled. He is extremely dedicated to his music. Justin David is a great young talent, a young man in my life that makes me feel good to be around." - Grammy, ACM and CMA award-winning musician and entertainer Roy Clark, Country Music Hall of Fame
"Justin David rocked this house with his music, his astounding versatility and his mega-watt charisma. He's a talent to be reckoned with. There's no limit to how far this guy can go." - Larry Coleman, Exec. Dir., Batte Center, Wingate University, Wingate, NC
"Justin David's stars are lining up and music lovers are taking notice. He's got the total onstage package — incredible talent, purpose and drive, and a charismatic presence that signals big success ahead. Patrons in our lobby were buzzing. They couldn't wait for the second half. Justin David is destined for stardom, but those who've seen his performance will tell you it's already arrived!" - Ron Jewell, Exec. Dir., Bartlett Performing Arts Center, Bartlett, TN
A Presenter's Point of View
It's so appealing to watch an artist whose sincerity, warmth and deep joy of performing is so real and true. Justin says he realizes now that the pay he gets for the actual show has to be simply for the travel on the road and the time away from his family — because making the music and sharing these experiences with his audiences are just too much fun to ever be classified as "work." This is a young performer who's ready for what's ahead — with the foundation solidly planted, the discipline, training and calling respected and honored. When a guy is polite enough to ask his audience to "pardon me for turning my back" when he reaches for a glass of water on stage, you wanta go make biscuits and take ‘em to him while they're still warm after the show.