David St. Romain was 10 when he
started teaching himself to play the guitar from Mel Bay books. From his earliest years, his love of music was
fostered by the songs his father would sing to him – the Beatles, the Mamas and the
Papas and Kenny Rogers, among others. The
variety of music he was exposed to as a child contributed to the wide range of music he
includes in his shows today. His musical
influences branched out as a teenager to include Metallica and rhythm and blues greats. It was his voice, however, deep and raspy, which
led him in the direction of country music.
David
spent much of his early teenage life singing in musicals and plays from Vero Beach,
Florida, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana while cultivating the voice that would lead him to
Nashville. After graduating high school David
spent the next two years in Baton Rouge playing at local nightspots. David Hyde, a
musician and producer from Hammond, Louisiana, discovered St. Romain's talent and recorded
two of noted songwriter, Dan Tyler’s songs, and the road to success began at that
moment.
Dan
Tyler awoke on the morning that he received David’s demo tape discouraged. He was thinking about getting out of the music
business. He listened to the tape, heard
something he could get excited about, and set about making it happen. Dan went to Louisiana to meet David and his
family, attended one of David’s shows and became convinced that David possessed an
unusual gift. Dan gathered the finest
musicians, producers and songs that Nashville had to offer and recorded the CD on his own
record label, Intuit Music Group.
Titled
simply, “DSR,” this first effort explores the range of St. Romain’s talents
as both vocalist and musician. Produced and
recorded in Nashville by R.S. (Bobby) Fields, Greg Morrow and Tony Harrell, the CD
portrays David as a master of traditional country, while combining just the right touch of
modern influences that appeal to those who appreciate either, or both, generations of
music.
Four
of the songs on the CD, “Just as She Was Leaving,” “Please,” “A
Man’s Gotta Do What a Man’s Gotta Do,” and “I Hate to Love You”
were written by Dan, and these songs display the range of talent David possesses.
“It
was Dan’s belief in me that got this whole thing started,” David said. “He’s such a great songwriter that it’s
almost impossible not to sound good when you do one of his songs.”
At
23, David brings to country music a much-needed change, a voice that is reminiscent of
Doug Stone and Travis Tritt, while inclusive of modern country influences mixed with the
bayous and Cajun sounds of Louisiana.
“I
just love music – any music. I enjoy
looking out into my audience and knowing that they are feeling the emotion and strength of
the song. I know a song is great when it
makes me cry,” David said.
“Please”
is one such song. A heart-wrenching ballad of
lost love, it is impossible to listen to this song without, first identifying with, then
feeling the emotion that David’s pleading highs and lows pull from the song.
David’s
ability to convey lighthearted fun is reflected in “Dance with Me Tonight,”
“I Love You Period,” and “Wild Honey.”
The emotional side of David is revealed through “Just as She was
Leaving,” a song tailor made for David’s sultry voice.
Also
included on the CD is Kevin and Michael Bacon’s, “Only a Good Woman,” which
earned David a response from Kevin, who said that he was “very pleased and excited
about what David did with the song.”
“DSR,”
recorded with Various Major Award winning producers and musicians, including Joe Hardy,
Dan Dugmore, and Pat Buchanan, and will undoubtedly be met with enthusiasm from both
critics and country music lovers. Record
labels, such as Sony, Mercury and Capitol, have already shown interest in signing David,
but he is happy that Intuit Music Group is producing him.
"It’s
great to work with people who truly believe in my talent,” he said. “I am usually harder on myself than anybody,
but having such a strong support system gives me the confidence to pursue this career. It is so difficult to break into country music,
but with the support of my family, friends and Dan Tyler, how can I miss?”
by Susan Mustafa
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