David Slater
{{short description|American singer and songwriter (born 1962)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Other people}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = David Slater
| image = DavidatSammons.jpg
| caption = Slater in 2020
| image_size = 200
| alt = Musician David Slater standing next to a piano
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|11|22}}
| origin = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
| instrument = Vocals, guitars, keyboards
| genre = Country
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 1987–1989
| label = Capitol Nashville
}}
David Slater (born November 22, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. He was the male vocalist winner of the television talent show Star Search in 1987, which led to a contract with Capitol Records. He recorded two albums for the label and charted two singles within top 40 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Career
David Slater was born November 22, 1962 in Dallas, Texas.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2017|page=331|isbn=978-0-89820-229-8}} Slater began performing at age nine and learned how to play guitar when in high school.{{cite news | url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2002/10/26/nashville-minister-former-country-singer-tries-to-rebuild-life-after-arrest/26025713007/ | title=Nashville Minister, Former Country Singer Tries to Rebuild Life After Arrest | work=Associated Press | date=October 26, 2002 | accessdate=June 10, 2025 | author=Bobby Ross Jr.}} In the 1980s, he moved to Searcy, Arkansas, to attend Harding University, where he decided on becoming a country music singer. To facilitate this career choice, he transferred to David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee. There, he began performing at local venues as part of a local band called Slater, Wells, and Company. His exposure in this capacity led to him writing several songs, including "People's Court", which was recorded by Ray Stevens.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1085443187/ | title=David Slater launches career in country music | work=The News of Cumberland County | date=March 16, 1988 | accessdate=June 10, 2025 | page=22}} He also began touring as a keyboardist for a number of musicians including Keith Whitley. A friend of his was a vocalist in a gospel music group called the Cumberland Boys, who at the time were one of many acts performing at the former Opryland USA theme park in Nashville. When the friend became unable to perform, Slater filled in for him.{{cite journal | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1989/CB-1989-05-20.pdf | title=David Slater: Just being himself | author=Kay Knight | journal=Cash Box | pages=33 | date=May 20, 1989}} While doing so, he was discovered by agents for the television talent show Star Search.{{cite journal | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1980s/1988/RR-1988-05-06.pdf | title=New artist fact file | journal=Radio & Records | pages=56 | date=May 6, 1988}} He competed on the show and was named the competition's male vocalist of the year in 1987, which also led to a contract with Capitol Records.
=Musical careeer=
Capitol Records released his debut album Exchange of Hearts on February 10, 1988.{{cite journal | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-03-05.pdf | title=David Slater album gets Capitol push | author=Edward Morris | journal=Billboard | pages=34, 38 | date=March 5, 1988}} Produced by Randy Scruggs, it included backing musicians such as Vince Gill, Don Potter, Dave Innis (then of Restless Heart), and Earl Scruggs, the last of whom is Randy's father. Slater also wrote several of the songs in the project including the title track. Three singles from the project all charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. First was "I'm Still Your Fool" at number 36. Capitol Records promoted the album by selling it at $6.98, which was two dollars less than the normal price of an album in the United States at the time. The label also filmed a music video for "I'm Still Your Fool", and promoted him through appearances at radio stations. Additionally, he was booked as an opening act for Lee Greenwood. This was followed by a cover of Little River Band's "The Other Guy" at number 30. Wayne Bledsoe of The Knoxville News-Sentinel gave the album a positive review, calling the album "quality stuff for relaxed listening."{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/774802453/ | title=Sweethearts' 'One Time, One Night' fails to match debut disc | work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel | date=May 29, 1988 | accessdate=June 10, 2025 | author=Wayne Bledsoe}} Ron Wynn of The Commercial Appeal was mixed, considering Slater's voice "thin" on some tracks but praising Scruggs's production style.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/773469302/ | title=Albums | work=The Commercial Appeal | date=March 18, 1988 | accessdate=June 10, 2025 | author=Ron Wynn | pages=E23}}
A second album for Capitol, Be with Me, followed in 1989. This, too, was produced by Randy Scruggs.{{cite journal | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1980s/1989/RR-1989-03-03.pdf | title=David Slater | journal=Radio & Records | pages=81 | date=March 3, 1989}} While recording the album, Slater was contacted by Graeham Goble, then a member of the Little River Band, to compliment Slater's cover of "The Other Guy". This led to both Goble and Wayne Nelson, also a member of the band at the time, providing backing vocals on Be with Me. The singles "She Will" and "Whatcha Gonna Do About Her" charted from this project, although neither made top 40 on Hot Country Songs. Also in 1989, Slater was shortlisted for the Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-03-04.pdf|title=Slew Of Stars Vie For ACM Awards|magazine=Billboard|pages=42|date=March 4, 1989}} After this album's release, Slater made a number of appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and also served as an opening act for Mel Tillis at his theater in Branson, Missouri.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/111963894/ | title=Prayer vigil sets stage for new minister | work=The Tennessean | date=August 7, 1998 | accessdate=June 10, 2025 | author=Frances Meeker | pages=4B}} Jim Fogelson, a music executive who was the president of Capitol Records's Nashville division at the time, noted that Slater's two albums were unsuccessful, and theorized that the singer was "torn" about his career.
Musical styles
Bledsoe, in a review of Exchange of Hearts, compared Slater's musical stylings to those of Kenny Rogers, and thought Slater's style would prove popular despite Rogers's decline in popularity at the time. He also stated that Slater "isn't an innovator. He isn't exciting, but he doesn't sound like he's in a coma either." Slater observed that he sang country pop at a time when neotraditional country was starting to become more popular, but thought that a more pop style was the result of "being himself". He also observed that he tended to record ballads more often than upbeat material, as he thought the former had more potential for emotional lyrics.
Personal life
In 1994, Slater retired from music as he wanted to become a minister. He began attending the Church of Christ in Montgomery, Alabama, and went on to attend Lipscomb University, from which he would graduate with a master's degree in theology. This led to him becoming an associate minister at that church.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/112709368/ | title=Minister released on bond | work=The Tennessean | date=July 11, 2001 | accessdate=June 10, 2025 | author=Janet Lethgo, Anita Wadhwani}} In 1998, he became minister of Nashville's West End Church of Christ.
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Album ! Label |
| 1988
| align="center"| 33 | rowspan="2"| Capitol |
| 1989
| Be with Me | align="center"| — |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="2"| Chart Positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
| width="50"| US Country
! width="50"| CAN Country |
|---|
| rowspan="1"| 1987
| "I'm Still Your Fool" | align="center"| 36 | align="center"| — | rowspan="3"| Exchange of Hearts |
| rowspan="2"| 1988
| "The Other Guy" | align="center"| 30 | align="center"| — |
| "We Were Meant to Be Lovers"
| align="center"| 63 | align="center"| — |
| rowspan="2"| 1989
| "She Will" | align="center"| 65 | align="center"| — | rowspan="2"| Be with Me |
| "Whatcha Gonna Do About Her"
| align="center"| 75 | align="center"| 57 |