Today we’d like to introduce you to David Alley. Him and his team share his story with us below.
Please kick this off for us with some background on the story.
David became involved in the arts at a very young age. Starting with the trumpet in the fifth grade, he would compete and be awarded, first chair in the Texas All State Band his junior year in high school, followed by a six-year stint as featured soloist with the SMU Mustang Band, a recording contract with Capitol Records as a vocalist, and a forty plus year career in the entertainment business. He has traveled in various production capacities with David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Carpenters, and many other entertainers. He became involved in the lighting business for twenty of his forty years in the entertainment business, where he was Executive Vice President of International Operations for the renowned Emmy Award-winning innovators of automated lighting technology, Vari-Lite, Inc. He is a member of the National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Professional Photographers of America, and has a Masters Degree in Business from Southern Methodist University. Over the years, David has played with many artists, including Thunder, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Little Richard, the Vocal Majority, Nitzinger, LA Si Si, Dobie Gray, the Soul Society, and many others. Besides being a musical artist, David is also a Certified Professional Photographer and has photographed many celebrities (see website for details) and has sold his fine art images to many collectors.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The Entertainment Industry is notable for challenges. It’s a long and winding road filled with ups and downs. However, I don’t regret any of the struggles and challenges. Each one offers opportunities for growth and I would do it again in a heartbeat. As an example, when I first embarked on my journey as a recording artist, I was turned down by every major label until Capitol Records picked us up. That gave me the opportunity to do my first record as a vocalist and although the project didn’t chart, we did get an 87 score on our single when played on American Bandstand. It gave me a lot of experience I later used in my management and production career. There are a number of other examples which I can elaborate on later but the upside to each challenge resulted in new doors opening for future growth. It’s remarkable how the Universe provides so much opportunity out of the struggles we encounter along the way.
David Alley Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
David Alley Productions specializes now in Music Production and Fine Art Photography. The Fine Art Photography has evolved over the last ten years and is focused on the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, etc. We have been selling images to collectors that appreciate our natural environment.
The Music Production part of the business has just emerged the last few years beginning with my production of a track for the Lloyd Schwartz play titled “Independence” which is a theatrical play about the life of Dr. Mary Walker, the only female recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor which she received for her contribution during the Civil War. It had it’s debut during the Seneca Falls Convention last year. The track “America My Home” sung by Summer Rose and produced by me was featured in the play. It will be opening in Philadelphia in the near future. It was such an enjoyable experience for me that I decided to do a new recording of some for the other songs written by the same writing team that wrote “America My Home.” This recording has just been released independently and features yours truly on Flugelhorn, Trumpet, and Vocals. It is titled “My Life’s A Musical” by David Alley and the Brass Tacks. It’s available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, CD Baby, and elsewhere.
In the past, I have also specialized in live entertainment production, having worked with the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, the Carpenters, and many other entertainers. I also spent many years with the legendary entertainment sound and lighting companies, Showco and Vari-Lite, having spent twenty years as a senior executive with them.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
As long as I am happy and proud of what I have produced either in a production, music, photography, or business, then I consider it a success. Art is a subjective medium and there will always be those that do not appreciate what you have done. It took me a while to realize that trying to please everyone is an impossible task. So now, if I’m happy, then that’s good enough for me. I am the benchmark for my work.
I’ve also developed a philosophy that I now live by for any project I take on. “IF IT’S NOT FUN, I’M DONE.” Life is short and should be fun. I feel successful when I’m having fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: davidalley.com
- Phone: 818-508-0777
- Email: alleydavid@sbcglobal.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidalley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.alley.5648
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHOVx3ZMxoVt0dW_-tyKPyA
Image Credit:
The image with me and the camera is by Karen Soltero. The image with the horn is by me as well as the CD cover and the protrait. The one with the Emmy is unknown as it was takes at the Ceremony by the staff photographer. The one with the big bow tie was taken at the Jonathan Livingston Seagull World Premier by an unknown paparazzi (might be a Getty image photo).
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