Today we’d like to introduce you to David Cole.
David, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been a musician since I was 11 years old when I started playing the drums. I grew up playing in Atlanta bands, and then touring as a drummer with different national acts (Billie Joe Royal, Paul Davis, Ringo Starr, Alicia Bridges to name a few). I did lots of studio and recording work as a drummer and singer, and I also played on an 80’s novelty record “Pac Man Fever”, which I have a gold record for. I settled back in Atlanta with my band as a house band in nightclubs through the 90’s, and became a front man and bandleader. We got out of the nightclub business when Band X started to really be in demand as a corporate party and wedding band. We now play all over the country for private events, celebrity weddings, festivals- you name it. We also do something called Party With A Rockstar which is where we back up different celebrities as well as playing all of the standard party favorites. We’ve backed up Rick Springfield, Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), Eddie Money, Jack Blades (Night Ranger), Wally Palmar (Romantics), Ed Roland (Collective Soul), Robin Zander, and Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones). Band X stays booked year round, sometimes two years in advance, and has become known as one of the country’s premier party bands.
Has it been a smooth road?
The music business is never smooth and easy, but I am very fortunate to have been able to make a living in music. It’s not even work to me, it’s who I am. We had one of our nightclubs burn down, which was devastating at the time, but it really did help us to reinvent ourselves, and it ended up being a blessing in disguise. Through it all, I am very fortunate to have been successful in a business that is a very tough one to be successful in. When you love what you do, it isn’t work. In this business, of course, when you’re younger, you’re looking for a record deal- a lot of people give up at that time. There are so many other ways to work in the music business beyond that, and I’m so fortunate to have been able to find those ways and always be able to work doing my passion.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Band X story. Tell us more about the business.
Band X is one of the country’s premiere party bands. Corporations bring us in for their convention parties to entertain their guests, and we also do quite a few big weddings all over the country.
We’ve done numerous celebrity weddings for different professional athletes, Sara Blakely (Spanx CEO) and many others. We do festivals for four and five thousand people, and we do a big celebrity show in Las Vegas every year. We are a party band and we do songs from the 60’s, 70’s, disco, 80’s, 90’s all the way to songs you’d hear on the radio today.
We are most often complimented on our very very wide variety of music and our ability to mix it up and appeal to everyone in attendance, young and old. We are very interactive with our crowds and love to get everyone involved. I am most proud of our reputation that we have.
Almost all of our business is repeat business or word of mouth. I work very hard to maintain good communication with our clients, and I’m very proud of what I have accomplished and put together. My wife and I run the business together, and we love what we do.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the music business, to me, good service never goes out of style, so that will always be my number one focus. Of course, technology is always changing, so I am always aware and upgrading my equipment and keeping it fresh. I use top of the line production equipment and am always on the cutting edge with the latest sound and lighting equipment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bandxlive.com
- Phone: 404-291-3042
- Email: info@bandxlive.com
- Instagram: @bandxlive
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bandxatlanta
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