Meet David Grace

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

David, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started playing music while attending Texas A&M University-Kingsville when I was around 20 years old. I bought a pawnshop guitar and quickly grew a passion for it. After my college football career, receiving my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and coaching college football for a year, I decided to give music a chance.

I moved back to the Houston area in the fall of 2007 and starting playing shows full-time in May of 2008. I started off with a three piece acoustic show and played anywhere from 4-7 nights a week, 4 hours a night.

After about 2-2 1/2 years of that schedule, I decided I wanted to focus more on my original music. I took out a very sizable personal loan to get my project off the ground. Van, trailer, an immense amount of musical equipment/instruments, and starting my first full-length album. I was very green, and in my opinion late in the game, starting my music career. When I started at 25 years old, I surrounded myself with people who had been playing music/singing their entire lives. I didn’t even think about music as a career until I was 24. With that said, I didn’t have a direction. I was raised on traditional country music, which I love, and tried to become a similar act in that market. In other words, a country band. As the years progressed, I learned that I had a different sound and voice that didn’t really fit all that well in the ‘country market’.

I tried that route for about 6-7 years, and couldn’t catch traction. I believe I didn’t find my sound/direction until around 2016 to be completely honest. It’s a more soulful, groove style. I dropped my latest album on April 26th, 2019 that portrays what I’m trying to describe. I’m extremely proud of the product and the direction it’s going.

Both of my parents are very talented vocalist. My mother has a big, powerful voice but only sang in church mostly. My father has a very soothing voice, is a writer, and also a phenomenal steel guitar player. So, I’ve been around music my entire life. I just never grew a passion for it until after college.

In my first eight years, I endured many downfalls. Empty promises from investors, that literally almost bankrupted me at least three times, to nearly blowing my vocals out from playing every night of the week; it was brutal. It was a tough road with a lot of disappointments. It seemed as if nothing would ever go my way. I took every opportunity I could while investing every dime I made back into my project.

In year 9, I made a lot of changes and everything was seeming to finally come together. I was making great money, picked and chose what shows I wanted to play and had a couple of private investments I was involved in that made good money. To a point, I was finally relaxed.

Then the real tragedy begins.

Hurricane Harvey hit August 27th, 2017 and changed my life forever. My girlfriend at the time (that’s another story) and I had just gotten a house and we got 7 feet of water. I lost everything I’ve ever owned. A fully furnished house, all my music equipment, van, clothes, guns, TV’s, 15 years of financial records, every picture and memory; literally everything. We walked away with nothing but the clothes on our backs and nothing could be salvaged. So, I was literally back at square one.

I had a severe nervous breakdown over the next 3-4 months. I let go of everyone and everything. I just gave up. It’s surprising I lived through it. There’s a lot more to the story, but I’ll leave that to another day.

Somehow, with the help of many, many people who I’m forever grateful for, I was able to somewhat get back on my feet. We started recording my latest album in 2018 and I continued to play shows. How it all came together is astonishing to me. I also wrote, in my opinion, the best song I’ve ever written in 2018. It’s about throwing away a true love because of my selfish actions, and not being able to resurrect what I threw away. It’s called ‘I Lose’ and is available on every music platform. The album is called “The David Grace Project”,

I’ve sacrificed everything for this dream. A wife, family, love, money, my sanity; everything.

So, in a nutshell, it’s been a long hectic road over the last 11 years. But, I’m still going strong and headed in the correct direction.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I myself am the lead singer and rhythm guitar player. I run a 4-5 piece at most of our shows. My drummer, Lyndon Hughes, also sings harmony vocals that really sets us apart. I have a great rhythm and lead section as well. Very talented players.

We’re a crossover band that has a different sound than most. It’s real music with real stories behind them. I would describe it as very passionate. I put 100% into every performance. We found our nitch in performing arts centers; a theater style set up. We also play events and festivals. It’s taken a lot to get to this point, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to work with the players and people I do.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I believe it can be. Like I’ve mentioned, I’ve taken every opportunity possible and also consider myself a business man. There are a lot of contacts in the Houston area, and with the right plan in place, one can seize those opportunities presented.

If a young musician approached me about what city to start out in, I would say Austin or Fort Worth. There’s a lot more appeal in those cities. I took a different direction in my project, so staying in the Houston area has been beneficial to me.

Houston has one of the most difficult live music scenes in my opinion. It’s mainly rock cover bands in the local scene and national/mainstream acts at certain larger venues. The Texas Music scene is a huge market that Houston doesn’t play a part in. I believe it’s getting better, but it’s still one of the toughest markets to draw a crowd.

Contact Info:

• Website: YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/davidgracevideo
• Phone: Email: davidgracemusic@gmail.com

 

Image Credit:
Cinescope Creative

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