Talent Contest: Do you want to win them?

Someone asked me, “What is your secret to winning a talent contest?”

First of all, I lost several talent contests before I won them.

Let me tell you why.

I lost because I did not have a qualified vocal coach.

I lost because I did not have a mentor or music manager to give me constructive criticism.

Therefore, I was faced with rejection because I was unable to make the proper adjustments necessary to become a better vocalist.

Once I did make the proper adjustments, the light at the end of the tunnel became brighter faster.

It was then that I began to learn life lessons that would never fail me.

One of the most important life lessons is this: Half the people out there cannot sing as good as I do and the other half sings far better than I ever will.

This morsel of knowledge ignited a fire under me. I was fearless no matter what.

In fact, winning 1st place in a couple of talent contest is what gave me the boost of confidence that I needed to do far better.

By doing better — I mean I focused on never dressing in the same cloths as other vocalists.

By doing better — I mean I focused on never singing the same style of songs the way others sang them.

By doing better — I mean I focused on daring to be different.

Daring to be different requires team work.

I made sure I was never alone again.

Together, my team helped me create opportunities and take advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves.

To illustrate, I mean we picked out songs that were right for my vocal range and then I sang those songs like they were my own.

No matter what,  I won the respect of my peers because I was a team player.

Speaking of vocal range, here is another life lesson that I learned about making song selections.

I learned that not all songs need complex arrangements, nor belting out every note.

In fact, I realized that many people can relate best to easy listening songs with simple melodies and great lyrics.

Whenever I choose a song like that, I won people’s favor without fail.

It is at this point that I knew — I was not a mere vocalist anymore, but an artist — a recording artist.

If you want to be a talent contest winner, then I can see to it that you are surrounded by people who can mentor you until you become a recording artist that people will favor.

This will ease your fear of competing with other contestants — no matter how good they are.

My team will help you pinpoint the songs that work best for your voice.

The songs will fit you like a glove.

These songs will help you make a lasting connection with your audience.

Being ready with a variety of such songs is the BIG SECRET to longevity in the Music Business.

Once you start winning some contests, then you can concern yourself with the fashion industry and photo shoots, and making a few professional recordings for your family, friends, and fans.

Then, you will need to join several social networks like Facebook and/or Myspace to promote your songs and your biography.

My goal is to surrounded you with supporters who will make great comments about all your hard work.

Organizing all this yourself is hard if you have a job and family and other personal responsibilities.

Therefore, a team effort is necessary.

That is why I can be of service as your full-time mentor and music manager until you reach your full potential and beyond.

Who knows, I might be able to negotiate a recording deal for you that will launch your career to heights you never dreamed possible.

This is because I have surrounded myself with a team of people, who will help me to help you.

You have already received a lifetimes’ worth of information from me — Trade Secrets from a Pro.

So let me take this lesson a step further by providing you with the music industries definition of what I can do for you as your Music Manager:

Music Manager (aka Artist Manager, Talent Manager, Band Manager, or Personal Manager) The Music Manager has the most interaction with the artist and is generally the most important person in the artist’s musical life. They are involved in planning, coordinating and organizing the career of the artist. They are involved in counseling and advising the artist on all matters related to their musical careers. The personal manager should research the music industry and know all about record labels, publishing companies, producers, booking agents, promoters, publicists, stylists, photographers, recording engineers, graphic designers, video directors, music licensees, etc., and how they integrate themselves into the overall career plan. The more contacts the manager has, the more effective they will be at their job.

It is not enough that you have a good music manager, but you need one who has gone through what you are going through now.

That is why I have posted a link to a video of me singing one of those old-school songs that has stood the test of time as a talent show favorite since it was released by the Four Tops in 1983.

I first sang it in 1984 at a talent show held at Watkins Overton High School, as part of the performing arts CAPA program directed by Lulah M. Hedgeman; and, this resulted in me becoming a Mid-South Fair talent show semifinalist and winner.

This song has since been re-record several times with much success by recording artist like Whitney Houston. In this video you will see that a simple melody and great lyrics is what gives a song longevity.

Once you realize this, the sky is the limit.

I Believe In You And Me

Snippets about David Fullerton

David Fullerton is a 1st tenor with phenomenal control over his soft, free-floating, airy range. Nonetheless, his angelic vocal style is easily transformed into a powerful and edgy rough sound when the occasion calls for it. Regardless of one extreme or another, the point is well proven — David is a commercially viable, unique, and bankable talent, interpreting every song in his own special way. David’s inspiration for singing started very early, as he grew up with a family of singers and musicians who were performing a broad range of styles from both gospel and secular compositions. In addition, he was taking voice lessons from exceptional teachers and acquired the services of brilliant mentors and managers who believed in him.

By the time he reached high school, he was joining up with top-notch band members, singers, and songwriters. To illustrate, at Whitehaven High School, David joined the mass choir and the swing choir under director Carol Gains-Culbreth and he also sang with the Whitehaven Jazz band from time to time. That resulted in David becoming a Tennessee All West – All State first tenor vocalist and winning several solo and group talent contest throughout Memphis and beyond. Some of those notable vocalists during high school were Jeff Smith (bass), Victor Brooks (tenor), and Cequita McKinley (alto-soprano). Notable jazz band members were Wendel Werner (pianist), Erick Werner (pianist) and Dereck Werner (bass guitar). Erick and Dereck formed the Blue Bossa Band while still at Whitehaven and David often performed as the lead vocalist for talent shows and festivals.

During his senior year, David transferred over to Overton High, a school of creative and performing arts, which maintained an internationally renowned and award-winning CAPA program for vocal performance under award-winning director, Lula Hedgeman. At Overton, David represented the CAPA program as a choir member and was also a talent show participant and winner at the Mid-South Fair. Other notable contemporaries at Overton were Melanie Johnson, Marcus Reed, Kevin Paige, Elise Neal, Anthony Truly (Trudog), Wendy Moten and Orlando Draper, among others.

During all that, his father, Jerry, was a passionate supporter. His father would take him to churches and gigs whereby David would entertain on stage with the best of people backing him up. It was Jerry who converted the garage behind his parent’s house into a makeshift rehearsal room with a huge mirror on the wall, a sound system, a karaoke recording system, an upright piano, a guitar, and plenty of space to spread out for bands and fans. David’s mother, Loretta Lutz-Fullerton was his biggest fan, as she, along with others, thought David sounded as good as anyone on the radio. It is no wonder, David was belting out the best songs from the greatest recording artist: The Imperials, Russell Taff, David Meece, Leon Patillo, Richard Smallwood, Al Green, Lionel Richie, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, Phil Collins, Hall & Oats and Elton John, just to name a few.

David proved his vocal prowess by showing he was far different from any other entertainer. That difference is why he won or placed high in every talent contest that he entered and why he was, and still is, a respected figure among his peers. For instance, at the Memphis Orpheum Theater, with a group he put together, David sang along on the song “We Will Stand” by Russell Taff’. David’s group received rave reviews from the audience and the local media. In addition, this was a special event song for the wife and children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who were sitting on the front row.

On another occasion, Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) sponsored a song writing contest in Memphis and David sang “All the Way to Love” by John Ward, which caused Ward to win best song in the Pop category and best all around song for all categories combined. David received the only standing ovation for his performance from a panel of 30 judges, who were major music moguls from all over the United States and abroad. Ward would then become a songwriter for Malaco Records and would later found Ecko Records. Since then, David has continued to prove his matchless prowess for interpreting original material from almost every genre of music.

On another occasion, at a Beale Street night club in Memphis, the radio station Magic 101 FM sponsored a contest and an all–star panel of record company executives and judges awarded David the second place cash prize for his rendition of Lionel Ritchie’s song “Hello”. The Spice Band backed David up, who themselves were award-winning musicians from across the United States of America. As a result, David sang as if the song was his own and that is what always kept the major labels interested, as they had already been calling on him and keeping up with his progress.

While writing and performing his own songs to test on small audiences and major music moguls in the industry, David made a pit stop with Sound Town Records to refine his skills. Sound Town was a local label in Memphis, TN with international appeal, whose production team and recording artists were affiliated with STAX and Malaco Records. While briefly signed to Sound Town, David was exposed to the works of recording artists like J. Blackfoot (formally with The Soul Children), Shirley Brown, Randy Brown, Luther Ingram and many other vocal legends. David was soon applying the vocal styling of these artists to that of his own material and it helped David perfect his own unique and soulful style.

David would also work closely with Sound Town producers and songwriters Homer Banks (If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Do Right — Luther Ingram & Barbara Mandrel, and TAXI — J. Blackfoot). Homers highly talented and infamous partner, Charles Brooks, also mentored David. As David began learning the ropes and perfecting his craft, Chuck had decided to introduce David to another record producer, Chips Moman. Moman had worked with Elvis among others and was highly impressed with David, but got too caught up with legal turmoil over the Ringo Star project. Thus, Moman was never able to serve as co-producer of David’s first CD project. With that said and done and Sound Town beginning to fold, David would not seek to lend his voice to any major album project ever again, but he did continue to write and sing songs for small audiences. David returned to his gospel music roots.

In fact, Art Gilliam, owner of the Memphis Radio Station 1340 WLOK, invited David and a band of his choice to sing a full set for the annual Stone Soul Picnic celebration. As a result, David has performed on the same stage with Leon Patillo (formerly lead singer for Santana) and Shirley Caesar, among others. David also joined gospel groups like Marvin Grant and Friends, who supported a short tour with the Clark Sister’s and Commissioned.

Grant and Friends received enthusiastic reviews on their short tours. One of the group’s songs that stood out most was “Choice to Make”. In fact, this same song was later re-recorded on Daniel Winnans album and he received a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album of the Year. Grant and Friends remained faithful to their objectives, and they put together a group from the most respected professionals in the music industry like pianist John Scott and soprano, Wendy Moten, who later sang, “Come On In Out Of The Rain”, a #5 smash hit on Billboards Adult Contemporary chart, and like baritone Michael Adrian Davis, an infamous gospel music DJ in the Memphis Metropolitan area.

David also teamed up with his classmate, Victor Brooks Jr., son of a well-known Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) minister, who founded Youthville USA in Memphis. Victor was singing with the likes of Andre Crouch and wrote songs for Brian McKnight, among others. Victor introduced David to the SDA faith shortly after high school. David would then support the SDA music ministry by performing live at many church related concerts. David also signed a management contract with George Edwards, a spiritual mentor and head deacon for New Covenant SDA church and who was also affiliated with Three Angles Records and the 3ABN TV network. Under George’s direction, David supported the gospel group, A Special Blend, in a concert and he received enthusiastic reviews for both his original and cover material. Of course some members of A Special Blend later became Members of the 18-Grammy-Award nominated group Take 6, the most nominated Gospel, Jazz, Pop or R&B artists in Grammy history. Thus, David has had more than his fair share of rubbing elbows with the rich and famous.

Stay tuned into whatever David is working on because you never know when he is going to release a break out project worthy of mention.

David has never been the type of person that does not have something going on in the background. As he has many other talents in addition to his singing voice and song writing abilities. In fact, David has completed a dual B.A degree from the University of Memphis in the fields of anthropology and political science. He has also earned a Master’s of Public Administration from Walden University. His pursuit of higher education allows for him to expand far beyond the music business whereby David specializes in various other interests, such as nonprofit management and leadership throughout in the Mid-South Region and beyond.

To illustrate, David wants to leverage combined experiences to become an employee or consultant for a growing organization whereby the organization can benefit from his current academic prowess and specialization in nonprofits; comprehension of business models, methods and processes and entrepreneurial experience, creative insight, and market intelligence; experience as a government liaison; and, the competence to work across all three sectors on a wide rage of projects and programs with face-to-face and virtual teams; and, all of which will have a positive affect on an organizations bottom line.

To Illustrate further, David’s areas of interests are as follows:

• Formation of joint ventures and partnerships between advocacies, grant making, and civic organizations and corporations and government.
• Government affairs, political advocacy, government relations; and, monitoring of legislative and political activity.
• General and operations management, Information systems and e-services; and, public relations, marketing research, and communications.
• Customer service representation, planning special events and fundraisers; and, providing entertainment, amusement, and motivational speaking for most any occasion.

David Fullerton and his affiliates are available for your special event.