David Wilcox (American musician)
David Wilcox | |
---|---|
Born | Cleveland, Ohio | March 9, 1958
Genres | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 1988–present |
Labels | A&M Records, What Are Records?, Vanguard Records, Koch International, Fresh Baked Records |
Website | Official website |
David Patrick Wilcox (born March 9, 1958[1]) is an American folk musician and singer-songwriter guitarist. He has been active in the music business since the late 1980s.
Career
Wilcox was born in Mentor, Ohio, and attended Antioch College[2][3] in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1976, where he began learning guitar. He later transferred to Warren Wilson College[3][4] in North Carolina in 1981 and graduated in 1985. Wilcox appeared regularly at a Black Mountain, North Carolina nightclub called McDibbs.[3]
His debut album The Nightshift Watchman was released in 1987 on Jerry Read Smith's label, Song of the Woods, and was reissued in 1996.[3] He began touring regularly.[3] After performing at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, he signed with A&M Records in 1989.[3] He made several albums with this label.[3] His albums were described by one Rolling Stone critic as "unjustly neglected".[5] After his contract with A&M expired in 1994, Wilcox continued to write songs, tour and release albums.[3] In 1994, he performed at Carnegie Hall with thirty other singer-songwriters in a showcase event.[6] Wilcox also appeared on the cover of Acoustic Guitar, which described him as James Taylor combined with the "husky breathiness more reminiscent of the late Nick Drake" and said he was the "best known of the brilliant crop of singer-songwriters to emerge in the late '80s." He was based in Asheville, North Carolina in the 1990s, in Washington, D.C. and Maryland in 1999–2000,[7][8] and again in Asheville in 2009.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/2016-09-23_David_Wilcox_in_Richmond_VA_4583.jpg/220px-2016-09-23_David_Wilcox_in_Richmond_VA_4583.jpg)
In the next decade, Wilcox continued to release albums, including Into the Mystery in 2003.[9] He has been a guest artist at guitar workshops.[10] His lyrics are sometimes of the "probing meaning-of-life" type,[11] as well as "thought-provoking".[12]
Wilcox plays acoustic guitars made by Olson Guitars. His fingerstyle playing, which is similar to Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell, extensively uses open tuning,[7][11] often in combination with customized capos with notches cut out to allow lower strings to ring open. He has been featured in Performing Songwriter magazine on five occasions.[13]
About his approach to music:
Music is about all the different kinds of feelings we can have -- we can be scared, we can be angry, we can be hopeful, we can be sad. We can be all these things and have company in it. Music is sacred ground and it shouldn't be reduced to that kind of simplified demographic target-marketing.
— David Wilcox, 1998[11]
The song has to offer something universal. I want songs that people can understand the first time... I write songs with layers in them, so they stay interesting over the years.
— David Wilcox, 1999[7]
His 2005 album Out Beyond Ideas was a joint project with his wife Nance Pettit,[3] described as a significant diversion from prior work, featuring sacred poetry set to music from different religious traditions,[3][14] including Saint Francis of Assisi, Jalaludin Rumi, Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz, Rabia al Basri, Yehuda HaLevi, Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Uvavnuk, and Kabir.[citation needed]
During 2005 Wilcox traveled the country with his wife and teen-aged son in an Airstream trailer attached to a bio-diesel truck.[2] He named one of his albums Airstream.[2] His album Vista was released in April 2006.[12]
In 2008 Wilcox was honored with a silver award along with Bob Dylan, in Acoustic Guitar's singer/songwriter category.[15]
His Open Hand, produced by Seattle-based guitarist and producer Dan Phelps, was released in March 2009. Wilcox and Phelps were joined by longtime Tori Amos bassist Jon Evans and drummer James McAlister.
Wilcox is sometimes confused with Canadian rock and blues guitarist David Wilcox.[16]
Although his albums have had diverse arrangements, Wilcox generally performs as a soloist.[3] He has released 16 albums.[17]
Wilcox performed a benefit concert in Westfield, New Jersey for Coffee With Conscience in late spring of 2008.
He recently played a duet with James Landfair, a critically acclaimed folk musician based out of Little Rock, Arkansas, of Buddy Mondlock's song "The Kid." It was published on YouTube on February 21, 2013.[18]
He won top honors in the 23rd Annual USA Songwriting Competition (2018) with his song "We Make The Way By Walking". He also won First Prize in the Folk category in the competition.
He has received criticism and accusations of bigotry, racism and xenophobia from those who do not appreciate the intent of his 2010 song "We Call It Freedom" which is written ironically to appear to support torture of prisoners in the war on terrorism.
In 2019 he covered "Why We Build The Wall" from Hadestown.
Critical reception
A New York Times music critic wrote Wilcox has a "handful of sterling folk-pop songs, a genial voice and enough guitar virtuosity to make even his lesser material sound convincing."[19] Another described him as a prolific songwriter and folk artist.[20] Another wrote that he "sings with a mellow fluency that suggests a hybrid of Mr. Taylor and Kenny Rankin, but he has better enunciation than either."[21] Critics describe his voice as having a "warm, expressive" quality[5] with an "engaging vocal style"[8] and a "warm, baritone vocal tone."[3]
His music has been written as "deeply philosophical" and "insightful".[2][22] One music critic wrote he was an "influential acoustic guitarist... the PBS darling of contemporary singer-songwriter folk."[22] Another critic wrote that an "eager, unapologetic sincerity flows from the heart of David Wilcox's acoustic music," and elaborated that "Wilcox uses extended metaphors and beautifully detailed imagery in lyrics that are far more compassionate and philosophic than self-absorbed... Indeed, as steeped in romance as most popular music is, it rarely speaks directly to issues of loneliness, intimacy and commitment – let alone mortality and inner fortitude. Wilcox does this with sensitivity, analytic zeal and subtle emotional force."[5]
Many of his songs analyze the dynamics of relationships in epigrammatic verses that are at once earnest and gently humorous. While many of Mr. Wilcox's songs have light blues inflections, occasionally they also look back in spirit to Tin Pan Alley. My Old Addiction,[23] one of the most striking songs in his first set on Thursday, was a wry, wistful meditation on the tug of an old relationship that echoed Georgia on My Mind.
— Music critic Stephen Holden in The New York Times, 1992[21]
Many critics compare his style to James Taylor[6][7][21][22][24][25] as well as Joni Mitchell and John Gorka.[25] A Rolling Stone critic suggested Wilcox's best album was How Did You Find Me Here, which was released in 1989.[5][8]
One critic sensed Wilcox had a "boyish sensitivity" with "something to say about love, relationships and life" which is sung with "insight, humor and moments of profundity."[24] However, the critic felt Wilcox needs to "get some excitement into his music and voice... His even-keel, generic style of singing, playing and music-writing isn't enough to keep the focus of the modern short attention span" and his songs lack "musical distinctiveness."[24] Wilcox is a "poet/storyteller first, a songwriter/player second".[24]
Discography
Album | Year | Label | Billboard 200 (sales chart) | Folk Radio (airplay chart) | Notes | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The View From The Edge | 2018 | Self-Released | [26] | |||
blaze | 2014 | What Are Records? | ||||
Mixtape, 1979–1982 | 2011 | Self-Released | download only album | [27] | ||
Live at Eddie's Attic | 2011 | Self-Released | download only album | [28] | ||
Reverie | 2010 | What Are Records? | #30 | [29] | ||
Open Hand | 2009 | What Are Records? | #3 | [30] | ||
Airstream | 2008 | What Are Records? | #20 | [2][31] | ||
Vista | 2006 | What Are Records? | #14 | [2][3][12][32] | ||
Out Beyond Ideas | 2005 | What Are Records? | #28 | with wife Nancy Pettit | [3][33] | |
Into the Mystery | 2003 | What Are Records? | #18 | [3][9][34] | ||
Live Songs and Stories | 2002 | What Are Records? | [3] | |||
The Very Best of David Wilcox | 2001 | A&M | ||||
What You Whispered | 2000 | Vanguard | #53 | [3][8][35] | ||
Underneath | 1999 | Vanguard | #13 | [3][7][36] | ||
Turning Point | 1997 | Koch, reissued on What Are Records? | n/a | recorded in log cabin behind his home | [3] | |
East Asheville Hardware | 1996 | Fresh Baked/Koch, reissued on What Are Records? | n/a | |||
Big Horizon | 1994 | A&M | #165 | n/a | [3] | |
Home Again | 1991 | A&M | n/a | [3] | ||
Mostly Live: An Authorized Bootleg | 1991 | A&M | n/a | |||
How Did You Find Me Here | 1989 | A&M | n/a | sold over 100,000 copies by word of mouth[3] | [3][5][8] | |
Nightshift Watchman | 1987 | Song of the Wood (1996 reissue by Fresh Baked/Koch) | n/a | [3] |
References
- ^ allmusic
- ^ a b c d e f "Focus On: David Wilcox". Folk Alley. 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Craig Harris (2009-09-12). "David Wilcox Biography". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ "America's Best Colleges #241 Warren Wilson College". Forbes. 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b c d e John McAlley (September 8, 1994). "Album Reviews -- David Wilcox "Big Horizon"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1994. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|archivedate=
(help) - ^ a b Jon Pareles (October 18, 1994). "IN PERFORMANCE; POP -- Singer-Songwriter Festival Offers a Broad Sampling Carnegie Hall". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b c d e Melanie M. Bianchi (1999-03-24). "Fashioning compassion -- New Grass Revival co-founder Curtis Burch teams up with the Larry Keel Experience". Mountain Xpress. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ^ a b c d e John d. Luerssen (August 28, 2000). "David Wilcox What You Whispered (Vanguard) -- Jets to Brazil, Amil Lead New Releases". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b "In Brief: Incubus, Jam -- Sony fires back, the Jam get complete". Rolling Stone. February 14, 2003. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ "National Guitar Workshop -- Music Education Program". Guitar World. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-09-12.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Derk Richardson (December 24, 1998). "Derk's Top 20 Albums of 1998". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b c "Looking Forward to It!". San Francisco Chronicle. April 9, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ "Back Issues: Performing Songwriter magazine". Performing Songwriter magazine. 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help)[dead link] - ^ "Out Beyond Ideas – davidwilcox.com". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- ^ "2008 Players' Choice Award Winners". Acoustic Guitar Magazine. 2009-09-14. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ^ "David Wilcox On Tour". last.fm. 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ "Exclusive Downloads -- David Wilcox". Paste Magazine. 2009-09-14. Archived from the original on 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ^ "Youtube". Craig Landfair. February 21, 2013.
- ^ "The Listings". The New York Times. March 4, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ RALPH DiGENNARO (January 30, 2000). "A Calling to Tell Stories, With Melodies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b c Stephen holden (March 1, 1992). "Review/Folk; Marginal Repertory, But Not Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b c "Essentials -- David Wilcox". San Francisco Chronicle. April 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ Note: The correct title of the song "My Old Addiction" is "Chet Baker's Unsung Swan Song"
- ^ a b c d Maria Armoudian (1994-05-04). "David Wilcox". Variety. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ a b L. Zimmerman (July–August 2008). "David Wilcox -- Airstream". Performing Songwriter magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ "Official Site".
- ^ "Press Release – Songwriter David Wilcox Releases Digital Album of Unreleased Early Recordings". 24-7pressrelease.com. 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ "Press Release – David Wilcox Releases "Live From Eddie's Attic" and Offers "Launch: An Emerging Artist Fellowship"". 24-7pressrelease.com. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of January 2011 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of May 2009 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of March 2008 Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of June 2006 Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of September 2005 Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of May 2003 Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of October 2000 Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
- ^ Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of April 1999 Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine, compiled from playlists submitted to Folk DJ-L (accessed 3/19/2011)
External links
- 1958 births
- American folk musicians
- American folk guitarists
- American male guitarists
- American folk singers
- American male singer-songwriters
- American singer-songwriters
- Fingerstyle guitarists
- Living people
- People from Yellow Springs, Ohio
- Antioch College alumni
- People from Mentor, Ohio
- Vanguard Records artists
- Fast Folk artists
- A&M Records artists
- EOne Music artists
- Musicians from Asheville, North Carolina
- Songwriters from Ohio
- Guitarists from North Carolina
- Guitarists from Ohio
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 20th-century American male musicians