Born in Beverley just before Apollo 8 took the first human beings around the moon, David became a Christian at a Billy Graham mission in Sheffield in 1985.

He learned piano as a teenager before turning to guitar at the age of 18 because it was “easier to play in church”. He began writing songs in the mid-80s, but allowed this embryonic talent to lie dormant through almost the entire 90s, including marriage (to theREIGN’s pianist and singer, Kathryn) and the birth of their two children, Joel and Bethany. In 1999, while working away from home, he was inspired to pick up his pen again and began to write Praise and Worship songs.

He released his first CD, I Will Follow, in 2001, and this led to an invitation to join Mark Tedder’s worship band for TEMA’s European Mission Congress in December of that year. This convinced him that he needed real live musicians to move his own music ministry forward, and he spent 2002 gathering together the musicians who would eventually form theREIGN.

He has worked his entire career in Financial Services, since 2000 for a prominent local practice serving as Pension Specialist and IT Manager (among other things). He is part of the worship leading team at St Barnabas Church in Swanland.

He is a keen squash player, despite it wrecking his stereoscopic vision when he took a ball in the eye in late 2004

MUSICAL INFLUENCES
Martin Smith/Matt Redman – for their ability to bring worship to life through the power and simplicity of their songs.

Tears for Fears – for the ‘epic’ quality of their songwriting. The Seeds of Love is (IMO) one of the best collections of pop songs ever written.

Peter Gabriel – More epic stuff. Quirky, thought-provoking and quite brilliant.

Duran Duran – What can I say, I am a child of the 80s! And my singing abilities have always been from the Simon Le Bon mould.

Simon & Garfunkel – For their incredible use of harmony vocals, eclectic sound and amazing ability to tell a story through song.

Mark Tedder – Being involved with his band at Mission Congress 2002 opened my eyes to God’s inspiration for the formation of theREIGN and much of what I have done since.

PERSONAL GOAL FOR YOUR MUSIC MINISTRY
To be where God wants me to be, doing what He wants me to do, knowing that He can reach people through it. I also want to be a better songwriter, singer and guitar player (in that order) so that I can serve Him better.

FAVOURITE FOOD
Depends what mood I am in, although I have a particular soft spot for just about anything in Black Bean Sauce with Fried Rice. (Although the truly rock and roll choice would be beer, right?).

FAVOURITE MOVIE
Without question The Lord of The Rings (which I see as one movie, as Tolkein saw the book). I first read the book about 15 years ago and loved it, having failed to get all the way through The Hobbit as an 8 year old. The weird chronology of the book (particularly The Two Towers) grates a little, but I always figured that the sheer scope and length of the story would render it impossible to film without ruining it … Peter Jackson demonstrated just how wrong you can be.

DESERT ISLAND DISCS

THREE SECULAR SONGS
Duran Duran – Ordinary World: Beautifully constructed and with vocals and instruments balanced to perfection; lyrically poignant, moving and uplifting at the same time, and deceptively complex musically. Like most of my favourite songs, I wish I had written it … although you must listen to the album version, not the cutdown single release.

Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars: I had listened this to death before it was ever released as a single. A perfect example of how to build the dynamics of a song, and accomplished within the constraints of a simple 8 bar/3 chord pattern repeated throughout … but I will never understand why they cut out just one line for the single release!

Chris de Burgh – Patricia The Stripper: Eclectic, moi? I just love this song. CdB is another fine storyteller, and this has been a fun, slightly risque (in the best possible taste!), Dixieland-inspired guilty pleasure of mine for years.

THREE CHRISTIAN SONGS
Petra – It Is Finished: The first Christian rock band I discovered. Greg X Volz has one of the finest voices in any genre. Ever. And of all their scripture based songs none goes as close to the heart of the gospel message as this one.

Delirious – Miracle Maker: Whenever I listen to this song, I can feel my own wounds and inadequacies laid bare before the Lord. Just … awesome.

Chris Tomlin – How Great Is Our God: Just a wonderful worship song. I haven’t listed Chris Tomlin among my influences, but several of his worship songs are among those that I personally get the most out of when leading worship. And what better sentiment to carry in your heart on a desert island than how great God is.

ONE BOOK (other than The Bible)
Alfred Bester – The Demolished Man: One of the finest pieces of 1950s Science Fiction – grabs you on page 1 and never lets go. And like all the best examples, the SF setting is afforded much less importance than the characters.

ONE LUXURY
My Didgeridoo – If I am stuck on an island I might get the time to work on my circular breathing.