We recently connected with David George and have shared our conversation below.

David, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment business when I was three, although I really didn’t know exactly what that meant. I was watching a Notre Dame football game with my father when it was half-time. The marching band took the field and played as the drum major marched out in front with a giant baton and furry hat. I told my father I wanted to be him! I don’t think he was pleased that I didn’t want to be a fullback. (I did play football in high school, however.)

Years later, I had no idea what I wanted to be in college. I studied liberal arts, communications, and music, and had no idea what I was gonna do. I eventually transferred to a school that offered a degree with an emphasis on Film and TV. I knew that was my path. I finished school, moved to L.A., and then started a band, and away I went…

David, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have a love of movies and music. I studied them both and worked with some of the best filmmakers in the business; too many to name. I have always played music, but it wasn’t until the hobby turned into something bigger. I got better as a songwriter AND as a screenwriter. After a while, the music became a more solid path and I worked my craft the best I could. As an artist, there were many lean years of existence as the band struggled on the path to success. The P,B,&J tour happened way too often!

I have produced over a dozen records for myself and other artists. Each record was a new rung on the latter. However, I realized that sometimes the ladder only reaches the top for a few. I knew that success wasn’t judged by getting to the top but by what I did along that path.

As a music producer, my greatest challenge is taking my songs, or someone else’s I’m producing, and turning them into a well-crafted recording. As the song goes from a demo or something as simple as a guitar/piano and voice the challenge of what to add or take away makes the end result even more satisfying.

I hope the end product is greeted with enthusiasm and success. However, not every song is a hit. It’s frustrating but inevitable.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

As much as we all bag on the internet, the internet has provided me a way to learn my craft at a different level. Videos are readily accessible to show anyone how to play a song, tune a guitar, etc. I can’t imagine where I’d be if those didn’t exist. Well… I would have struggled but I would have done my best — might have taken a little longer!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

the lesson I learned was played out when I joined John Fogerty’s band in 2012. First off, I had rehearsed for a show for eight hours or performed a show for two-plus hours on stage, ever. I had to recondition myself on what to do to make sure I could make it through. Secondly, I learned from some of the best players in the world what it takes to “make it” and I don’t mean to be rich and famous. That’s not something that anyone can learn to be. What I learned, was you have to dedicate yourself to your craft. I’ve always been a competent guitar player, but I had never really sat down and figured it out the way I should have to be a better guitarist. I focused more on my songwriting. But with Fogerty, I was just a player in his band playing in front of thousands of fans every night and I needed to bring my “A” game or I would be tossed aside.

I’ve told that story many times. Learning how the drummer Kenny Aranoff was rehearsing for a show he had coming up as we drove in the van to the airport to the next gig. Or how the bass player, David Santos, had learned Billy Joel’s entire catalog just on the off chance he’d get a call to fill in on bass… and it happened!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davidgeorgeband.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/davidgeorgemusic
• Facebook: Facebook.com/davidgeorgeorgeorchestra
• Twitter: twitter.com/davidgeorgemusic
• Youtube: youtube.com/davidgeorgemusic

Image Credits
Todd Zimmer, Tim Huggins