Daily Inspiration: Meet David George

Today we’d like to introduce you to David George.

Hi David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born in Kentucky to a salesman and an accountant. We moved a lot as a kid and Kansas City eventually became our home. Although I’ve moved back in forth to Los Angeles a few times, over the years, Kansas City is where my roots are and no expectations of moving away again!

Musically, I’ve always played an instrument, starting on the piano in my single digits, guitar when I was a teen. But it was when I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film (my first job was working on the TV series “The Wonder Years”) that I bought an acoustic guitar after seeing and meeting the Indigo Girls. They inspired me to step away from the piano and take a guitar with me anywhere I could. Eventually formed an acoustic trio called the Chaneys.

Over the many years after that, I formed Deege moved back to KC, and then Moaning Lisa. The latter moved back to LA in 2004. We released two full-length albums and an EP. Then in 2010, my family needed my help and I moved back to Kansas City and formed David George & A Crooked Mile. In 2012, I was asked to join John Fogerty’s band and spent about a year touring in Canada and the U.S. I was also fortunate to have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman.

David George & A Crooked Mile put out a full-length album and a single we recorded during the Kansas City Royals World Series run, “Hey, Kansas City!” became a bit of a hit and then became the touchdown anthem for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015-16 season. That’s also the same year I created the musical Christmas Ain’t A Drag and debuted it at the Madrid Theater. The show features all original Christmas tunes inspired by the Brian Setzer Orchestra and big band music.

In 2017, I connected with two producers in New York City where we did a reading and a musical showcase the following year for investors. In 2019, we were able to raise enough money to do a sold-out performance at The Cutting Room in New York. Unfortunately, when we were in the process of meeting with investors to do a 2020 run in New York the pandemic hit.

Currently, I am working on turning the stage show into a full-length feature film!

I have also written a fantasy book about a young pre-king Arthur called “Bear & The Future King” and am currently working on a limited series I’ve created about Brigitte Bardot.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a touring musician has been never been a smooth road. It hasn’t been a disaster, but it’s been filled with challenges at every turn. Paying rent, gas, food, etc. was always a challenge. Kansas City was, fortunately, easier to afford than Los Angeles. In LA, I slept in a closet for months until the three girls I was living with kicked me out!

I rented a room from Johnny Depp’s ex-wife and then bounced around places until I moved back to KC. I think getting married tamed the beast a bit. Touring can beat you up. In a van with four or five other guys, you struggle to keep sane. I’ve been in fistfights with band members. Once in the middle of a truck stop in Iowa after playing a festival my lead guitarist and I nearly got arrested for fighting in the store. (We made up a couple of days later!)

Touring with Fogerty even had its issues. Although, a private plane and hotels in every city made it extremely comfortable. However, being gone for a month and playing three-hour shows five days a week can wear on the best of them.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Songwriter. Producer. Screenwriter, etc. While my other friends and peers geek out over the technical side of playing or the mechanics of guitars or amps, etc., I have focused almost all of my attention on writing. I have written and recorded over a dozen albums/EPs.

I have written a musical and am very proud of the creation of the show. I love the infancy stages of a song and where it goes as it gets written. Sometimes it weaves and bends until it’s something completely different than the spark that created it. Sometimes that’s a good thing. Sometimes we just have to set aside and move on.

I believe I have an amazing ability to create a melody that’s memorable. I feel confident that my lyrics tell a story or convey an emotion. As a screenwriter, I believe my talent as a storyteller comes from my ability to write songs and vice versa. I’ve always loved reading and writing. I especially love movies. Sitting in a dark room as the shimmer of the screen before I allow a moment of escape into someone else’s creation.

I have a small production company that does jingles/commercial music as well as producing other artists. I recently produced an EP for an amazing Singer-Songwriter named David Luther. Hoping to release the EP early next year!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Originality yet a familiarity. It helps to create something unique. It also helps to create something that people can digest. A friend of mine in LA has had an amazing career producing and performing on other people’s records.

But he never was able to find the success with his music that he deserved because I believe his material was too complicated, or smart. I think the labels didn’t know how to market him. Now, I’m one to talk. I have only had minor success compared to him. But it goes back to creating something that sets you apart from others but draws them into your world without confusing them.

Someone today said I lack a certain bone in my spine that makes me ruthless. I don’t think they really meant I’m spineless, but that I want to please everyone to a fault. I am always the guy that worries that everyone or anyone is not having a good time at the show, the party, or even a small gathering of friends or like-minded artists. But I’ll take that over being pushy or even a bully. No room for that in my life.

It’s how we take the talents we are blessed with and turn them into something others can enjoy. I hope I have that ability.

Contact Info:

• Email: davidgeorgeband@gmail.com
• Website: http://www.davidgeorgeband.com
• Instagram: @davidgeorgemusic
• Facebook: davidgeorgeband
• Twitter: @davidgeorgeband
• Youtube: DavidGeorgeBand
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-618280164/sets
• Other: http://www.christmasaintadrag.com

Image Credits
Paul Andrews – Main photo
Bryan Hitt (lightningdadphoto.com)