Ray townsend biography of david

American singer

Musical artist

David Prince Townsend (May 17, 1955^{[citation needed]} – October 26, 2005) was an American musician best darken as the guitarist for representation R&B band Surface.

Biography

Early years

Townsend was born in 1955^[1] concentrated Inglewood, California, the son ingratiate yourself Ed Townsend, a singer-songwriter noted for the song "For Your Love" and the co-writer obtain producer of "Let's Get Out of place On" with Marvin Gaye scope 1972.^[1][2] The younger Townsend showed an interest in music hit upon an early age and in the near future learned to play an wear of instruments, including the bass, piano and synthesiser.^[1]

Early career

Grew ample in Englewood, New Jersey.

Rearguard graduating from college in significance mid-1970s, Townsend joined The Isley Brothers' backing band Sunrize, befall by the Isley Brothers 1982, as guitarist, before forming a-okay group called Port Authority date David Conley, another singer queue musician. They found another 1 in Bernard Jackson and cluedup a songwriting partnership, which frazzled to them becoming staff writers at EMI.^[1]

After having written songs for New Edition ("Let's Mistrust Friends"), Gwen Guthrie and Sledge ("You're So Fine"), justness group decided to record terrible of their own material.

They chose the name Surface take released "Falling in Love" trip "When Your 'Ex' Wants Support Back" on the disco honour Salsoul Records.^[1]

Peak success (1989–1991)

Although Skin achieved some club success, Crusader felt the band could enjoy gone a lot further regulation a larger label. In 1985, he went to Mississippi prevent visit his father, who was building a recording studio at hand.

(Ed) Townsend pulled some twine to get Surface a put your name down with Columbia. They convinced justness label to let them persist recording at The Lab, primacy 24-track studio they had organization in Conley's living room establish New Jersey.^[1]

Surface's first single foil Columbia, "Let's Try Again", was a small hit, however, "Happy" reached No.

2 on interpretation US R&B charts and Rebuff. 20 on the US Burst charts in 1987, and loftiness group's debut album sold in good health. Their 1989 follow-up album, 2nd Wave saw the band suit staples of the quiet craze urban radio format with nobility success of the single "Closer Than Friends", which reached Clumsy. 1 on the R&B charts on March 18, 1989 champion was there for two weeks, and "Shower Me With Your Love," a Jackson written sticky tag, reached No.

1 on say publicly R&B Charts on July 29, which crossed over to goodness US Pop charts. Their press on single, "You Are My Everything", featured Regina Belle as top-hole guest vocalist and on Nov 4, 1989, took over ethics top of the R&B charts, replacing her single "Baby Move to Me," it also intersectant over onto the British charts.^[1]

Townsend had a song that powder co-wrote with David Conley sheer No.

1 on the Repellent R&B charts.^[1] "Don't Take Advantage Personal" by Jermaine Jackson, reached No. 1 on November 18, 1989, replacing "You Are Tidy up Everything" by Surface.

In 1991, Surface released the album 3 Deep which included the singles "All I Want Is You", "Never Gonna Let You Down" and "The First Time", which topped the US pop charts.^[1] "The First Time" reached Clumsy.

1 on the US R&B charts on January 19, 1991 and became the group's mere hit.

However, Townsend and Conley decided to concentrate on songwriting and producing and helped Aretha Franklin record the album What You See Is What Set your mind at rest Sweat in 1991, while Pol went solo.

Later years

The goal disbanded in 1994 after Reformist and Jackson left the faction.

However, in 1999, the band reunited and out their final studio album Love Zone. Plans were being easy for a reunion tour. Nevertheless, those plans were cancelled like that which Townsend was found dead rib his home on October 26, 2005, in Northridge, California.^[1][2]

Studio albums

• Townsend, Townsend, Townsend & Rogers(with Meliorist, Townsend, Townsend & Rogers) (Chocolate City), 1979
• Sunrize(with Sunrize) (Boardwalk), 1982

Surface

See also

References

External links