Craftsman to Artist/The Great Resignation
Born and raised in rural central Illinois, David Singley is a singer- songwriter- guitarist living in Saint Paul, Minnesota, whose music is born of the street, the country, and the academy. An experienced veteran with decades of backing world-class artists and performers, he has recently joined the “Great Resignation” and set his sights on his own artistic pursuits. His music evokes the golden era of the singer-songwriter: the late ’60’s and early-to-mid ’70’s; with its chameleonic stylistic twists and turns, as well as its memorable melodies and insightful, poetic lyrics. His music expresses a point-of-view that is at once highly personal and triumphantly global. His voice evokes traces of many of his influences: James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Jackson Browne, Dan Fogelberg, and many others. His guitar playing is at once highly focused and passionate, impressive yet always absolutely appropriate to the song at hand.
His 2021 album, The Long, Slow Fuse of Night, as well as his last seven singles, have all charted on Americana radio and have received substantial notice on YouTube. His next album, Fools & Mystics, is set for an April, 2024 release, and the first new single from that album, “Paradise,” is set to drop on February 27, 2024. Follow up singles “Cartoon Heart,” and “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Mama No More,” are set for Spring and Summer, 2024 releases.
Playing With the Greats at All the Great Places
As a guitarist Singley has shared the stage with such jazz luminaries as Bob Brookmeyer, George Shearing, James Moody, Bob Mintzer, Phil Woods, Ernestine Anderson, Paquito d'Rivera, Slide Hampton, Bob Florence, Tal Farlow, and Dave Weckl.
His musical collaborations have taken him across North America appearing with Perry Como, Debbie Gibson, Gene Pitney, Idina Menzel, Mary Wells, Debbie Reynolds, Shari Lewis & Lambchop, and many others.
Working in the orchestra pit of touring Broadway musicals, he has supported live productions including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond, The Lion King, Chicago, If/Then, and Beautiful.
His artistry supports a range of performances from commercial jingles to appearances with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera, The Guthrie Theater, The Childrenʼs Theater. He has also appeared on National Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion.
David has appeared on over a dozen jazz albums recorded in the Twin Cities, and has written and produced three of his own records, The Long, Slow Fuse of Night (2021), Good Hope (2016), and How My Heart Sings (1997). He is also a published composer and arranger with pieces for Jazz Ensemble available in the catalogs of the Neil A. Kjos Music Co., Increase Music, and reallygoodmusic.com.
Music Education & Academic Experience
David formerly taught at the McNally-Smith College of Music in Saint Paul, MN and Carleton College in Northfield, MN. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University.