David Fullerton's Blog

David Fullerton: Allow him to put his skills to work for you.

2010-06-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

David seeks to leverage his combined experiences to become an employee or consultant for a growing organization whereby the organization can benefit from his current academic prowess and specialization in nonprofits; comprehension of business models, methods and processes and entrepreneurial experience, creative insight, and market intelligence; experience as a government liaison; and, the competence to work across all three sectors on a wide rage of projects and programs with face-to-face and virtual teams; and, all of which will have a positive affect on an organizations bottom line.

David's area of interests are as follows:

Formation of joint ventures and partnerships between advocacies, grant making, and civic organizations and corporations and government.

Government affairs, political advocacy, government relations; and, monitoring of legislative and political activity.

General and operations management, Information systems and e-services; and, public relations, marketing research, and communications.

Customer service representation, planning special events and fundraisers; and, providing entertainment, amusement, and motivational speaking for most any occasion.

Talent Contest: You Can Be A Winner.

2010-06-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me, "What is your secret to winning a talent contest?"

First of all, I lost several talent contests before I began to win them.

I lost because I did not train properly and I did not have any mentor’s to give me constructive criticism.

Therefore, I faced a lot of rejection and had to make adjustments before I finally placed as a winner in a talent contest.

In fact, one of the first lessons I learned as a contestant is this: Half the people out there do not sing near as good as I do and the other half sings far better.

Actually, winning 1st place in a couple of talent contest is what finally gave me a big boost of confidence to do far better.

By doing better --- I mean competing against the best vocalist I could from then on out.

I also made it a point to find out who their mentors and coaches were, who backed them up as fans, and who promoted them.

I copied what they did and got myself some good coaches and promoters of my own.

However, I did not copy these other vocalists when it came to dressing like they did and I did not sing the same style of songs the way they sang them.

I dared to be different.

Nonetheless, I learned that some people were just going to out sing me no matter what --- at least technically speaking.

In fact, I competed against people who sang every note at the right time and place; and, they had already been studying under the best vocal coaches in the county. Moreover, I could not afford those type of vocal coaches when i started out.

Then I was asked, "So what can be done about winning against such people."

Well, I said, over time, I found out that I could still beat the best of these people given the right set of circumstances.

In short, I created my own opportunities by taking control of my circumstances.

By taking control, I mean I picked the songs that were right for my voice and then sang those songs like they were my own.

In fact, I sang my own songs some times and I either won the contest alright or placed high and still won the respect of my peers.

Regardless, of what I sang, I had to learn how to sing within my vocal range.

In truth, the majority of my contest wins were never won with me using my full range.

In fact, I never strained to hit a single note on the days that I won.

I can teach you some vocal techniques and that will ease your fear of competing with other contestants --- no matter how good they are.

Then, I can help you pinpoint the songs that work best for your voice.

Moreover, I can work with you on making a real connection with your song and your audience.

These songs will fit like a glove.

Winning a talent contest is about rising above the norm and causing your audience to feel and believe that only “you”should be up there on that stage singing that song.

That is the "BIG" SECRET!

Just --- pick the right song with a good melody and good lyrics.

If the song has stood the test of time, then pick it out and put your own spin on it.

Dare to be different.

You will see for yourself that once your confidence level is up and you find and/or write the perfect song for your voice, then you, too, can win a talent contest or place high among all the other contestants.

Once you do start winning contests though, it is then time to concern yourself with the fashion industry and photo shoots, and making a few professional recordings for your family, friends, and fans.

Then, once you discover your best niche, you will need to join up with a few top-notch social networking organizations like Facebook and/or Myspace to promote your new songs and your life’s story for all to read, see, and hear.

Not to worry, by all this time, you will have surrounded yourself with lots of supporters who will make great comments about all your hard work.

Organizing all this yourself is hard if you have a job and family and other personal responsibilities.

That is OK if you live a busy lifestyle.

Moreover, that is why I can be of service as your full-time mentor and manager until you reach your full potential.

I might also be able to negotiate a recording deal for you that might launch your career to heights you never dreamed possible.

I have surrounded myself with a team of people, who will help me to help you.

David Fullerton's Biography: Some highlights of his early years.

2010-03-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

David Fullerton is a 1st tenor with phenomenal control over his soft airy range. Nonetheless, his angelic vocal style can be transformed into a deceivingly powerful and edgy rough sound. Regardless of one extreme or another, the point is well proven --- David is a commercially viable, unique, and bankable talent, interpreting every song in his own special way. David’s inspiration for singing started very early, as he grew up with a family of singers and musicians who were performing a broad range of styles from both gospel and secular compositions. In addition, he was taking voice lessons from exceptional teachers and acquired the services of brilliant mentors and managers who believed in him.

By the time he reached high school, he was joining up with top-notch band members, singers and songwriters. At Whitehaven High School, David joined the mass choir and the swing choir under director Gains and he also sang with the Jazz band from time to time. That resulted in David becoming a Tennessee All West – All State first tenor vocalist and winning several solo and group talent contest throughout the city of Memphis. Some of those notable vocalists were Jeff Smith (bass), Victor Brooks (tenor), and Cequita McKinley (alto-soprano). Notable jazz band members were Wendel Werner, Erick Werner (pianist) and Derrick Werner (bass guitar). Wendel's brothers, Erick and Derrick performed often with David at none-school related talent shows, special events, and festivals.

During his senior year, David transferred over to Overton High, a school of creative and performing arts, which maintained an internationally renowned and award winning CAPA program for vocal performance under award winning director, Lulu Hedgeman. At Overton, David represented the CAPA program as a choir member and was also a talent show participant and winner at the Mid-South Fair. Other notable contemporaries at Overton were Melanie Johnson, Marcus Reed, Kevin Paige, Melody Rains, Elise Neal, Anthony Truly, Wendy Moten and Orlando Draper, among others.

During all that, his father, Jerry, was a passionate supporter. His father would take him to churches and gigs to perform with the best Memphis had to offer. It was Jerry who converted the garage behind his parent’s house into a makeshift rehearsal room with a huge mirror on the wall, a sound system, a karaoke recording system, an upright piano, a guitar, and plenty of space to spread out for bands and fans. David’s mother, Loretta Lutz-Fullerton was his biggest fan, as she, along with others, thought David sounded as good as anyone on the radio. It is no wonder either, David was belting out the best songs from the greatest recording artist: The Imperials, Russell Taff, David Meece, Leon Patillo, Richard Smallwood, Al Green, Lionel Richie, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, Phil Collins, Hall & Oats and Elton John, just to name a few.

David proved his vocal prowess by showing he was far different from any other entertainer. That difference is why he won or placed high in every talent contest he entered and why he was, and still is, a respected figure among his peers. For instance, at the Memphis Orpheum Theater, with a group he put together, David sang along on the song “We Will Stand” by Russell Taff’. David’s group received rave reviews from the audience and the local media. In addition, this was a special event song for the wife and children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who were sitting on the front rows, which made the performance so special for David.

On another occasion, Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) sponsored a song writing contest in Memphis and David sang “All the Way to Love” by John Ward, which caused Ward to win best song in the Pop category and best all around song for all categories combined. David received the only standing ovation for his performance from a panel of 30 judges, who where major music moguls from all over the United States and abroad. Ward would then become a songwriter for Malaco Records and later found Ecko Records. Since then David has continued to prove his matchless prowess for interpreting original material from almost every genre of music.

On another occasion, at a Beale Street night club in Memphis, the radio station Magic 101 FM sponsored a contest and an all–star panel of record company executives and judges awarded David the second place cash prize for his rendition of Lionel Ritchie’s song “Hello”, which was played by David’s band Spice, who themselves were award winning musicians from across the United States of America. David sang as if the song was his own and that is what got the attention of several major labels that had already been calling on him and keeping up with his progress.

While writing and performing his own songs to test on small audiences and major music moguls in the industry, David made a pit stop with Sound Town Records to refine his skills. Sound Town was a local label in Memphis, TN with international appeal, whose production team and recording artists had been affiliated with STAX and Malaco Records. While briefly signed to Sound Town, David was exposed to the works of recording artists like J. Blackfoot (formally with The Soul Children), Shirley Brown, Randy Brown, Luther Ingram and many other vocal legends. David was soon applying the vocal styling of these artists to that of his own material and it helped David perfect his own unique blue-eyed white soulful style.

David would also work closely with Sound Town producers and songwriters Homer Banks (If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want to Do Right --- Luther Ingram & Barbara Mandrel, and TAXI --- J. Blackfoot). Homers highly talented and infamous Sound Town sidekick, Charles Brooks, mentored David and inspired David to perform at a much higher level on his original material. As David began learning from these master performers, Chuck, decided to introduce David to Elvis Presley's record producer, Chips Moman. Chip was impressed with David and their project together became a point of major popularity within the music industry. Nonetheless, Chips was caught up with legal turmoil and controversy over the Ringo Star project. So David's album project was never released. With that said and done and Sound Town beginning to fold, David would not seek to lend his voice to any album project again ---- but, he did continue to write and perform for small audiences in and out of town and ended up returning to his gospel music roots.

In fact, Art Gilliam, owner of the Memphis Radio Station 1340 WLOK, has invited David and his band to perform for the annual Stone Soul Picnic celebration. As a result, David has performed on the same stage with Leon Patillo (formerly lead singer for Santana) and Shirley Caesar, among others. David also joined gospel groups like Marvin Grant and Friends, who supported a tour with the Clark Sister’s and Commissioned.

Grant and Friends received enthusiastic reviews on their short tour. In fact, one of the group’s songs, Choice to Make, was later re-recorded by Daniel Winnans on an album that received a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album of the Year. Grant and Friends always maintained their faithful objectives and they put together a group from the most respected professionals in the music industry like pianist John Scott and soprano, Wendy Moten, who later sang, Come On In Out Of The Rain, a #5 smash hit on Billboards Adult Contemporary chart, and like baritone Michael Adrian Davis, an infamous gospel music DJ in the Memphis Metropolitan area.

David also teamed up with his Whitehaven High School classmate, Victor Brooks Jr. Victor was the son of a well-known Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) minister, who founded Youthville USA in Memphis. Victor was singing with the likes of Andre Crouch during this time and he was also writing songs for Brian McKnight, among others. Victor introduced David to the SDA faith shortly after high school. David would then support the SDA music ministry by performing live at numerous church related concerts.

David also signed a management contract with George Edwards, a spiritual mentor and head deacon for New Covenant SDA church and who was also affiliated with Three Angles Records and the 3ABN TV network. Under George’s direction, David supported the gospel group, A Special Blend, in a concert and he received enthusiastic reviews for singing both original and cover material.

Of course some members of A Special Blend became Members of the 18 Grammy-Award nominated group Take 6. Take 6 is the most nominated Gospel, Jazz, Pop or R&B artists in Grammy history.

If you would like to work with David, then you can contact him at the following link:

http://www.myspace.com/memphis-man