David McAlmont facts for kids

David Irving McAlmont was born on May 2, 1967. He is an English singer, writer, and art historian. He became well-known in the 1990s as a singer. This was especially true through his work with Bernard Butler. In the 2010s, he went back to studying and teaching. He worked with the University of Leicester and the Architectural Association School of Architecture.

David McAlmont's Early Life

David McAlmont was born in 1967. His mother was from Guyana, and his father was from Nigeria. His mother was a nurse, and his father studied law. David, his mother, and his sister moved to Gorleston on Sea in Norfolk, England. He went to Peterhouse Primary School there.

Moving to Guyana

In 1978, his family moved from the United Kingdom to Guyana. They lived with his grandparents in Lovely Lass Village. They also stayed with his aunt in Wismar. Later, they moved to the East Bank of the Demerara River.

In 1978, David did very well on his Secondary School Entrance Examination. He then attended Queen's College in Georgetown, Guyana.

Starting His Music Career

David continued his education in 1989 at Middlesex Polytechnic. He studied Performing Arts there. In 1992, he left school to sign a music publishing contract. Two years later, he signed a record deal with Hut Records.

His First Band: Thieves

David McAlmont first gained attention with a London band called Thieves. They released their first single, "Through The Door," in 1992. The band released another single called "Either."

However, Thieves broke up in 1994. This happened just before their first album was released. After some legal issues, the album came out as David McAlmont's first solo album. It was called McAlmont. Even though some critics liked it, the album did not sell many copies. People often talked about David's amazing voice.

Later, Saul Freeman, who was also in Thieves, started a new band called Mandalay. He and David McAlmont became friends again in 2000. However, they have not worked on music together since then.

Becoming a Successful Musician

David McAlmont continued his solo music career. He even opened for Morrissey at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Then, Bernard Butler, a former guitarist from the band Suede, asked David to work with him.

McAlmont and Butler

Their collaboration led to the album The Sound of McAlmont and Butler. This album included the song "Yes" (1995). "Yes" became a big hit, reaching number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.

McAlmont and Butler performed "Yes" on the BBC TV show Later with Jools Holland in June 1995. Another song, "You Do," was released later that year. It reached number 17 on the charts. Soon after, McAlmont and Butler decided to go their separate ways.

Working with David Arnold

The music producer David Arnold then worked with David McAlmont. They created a version of the song "Diamonds Are Forever." In 1998, they worked together again on David McAlmont's second album, A Little Communication.

In the years that followed, David McAlmont sometimes worked with other artists. These included Ultramarine and Craig Armstrong. He also prepared his third album, Be. Even though it was praised by some, his record label, Hut Records, decided not to release it. This led to David leaving the label.

McAlmont and Butler Reunite

In 2001, Bernard Butler and David McAlmont reunited. They signed with EMI. Their new album, Bring It Back (2002), had two singles: "Falling" and "Bring it Back." This time, they worked more closely with the music industry. They gave interviews and performed many public shows throughout 2002.

David McAlmont's Recent Work

In 2005, David McAlmont released "Set One You Go to My Head." He performed songs from this album at jazz clubs, including Ronnie Scott's.

In 2006, David McAlmont started teaching at the Architectural Association Interprofessional Studio in London. He is still a Studio Master there.

Collaborations and Reissues

In 2007, David McAlmont sang backing vocals for Gabrielle's album Always. He also worked with Paul Weller on a song called "Why." Bernard Butler asked David to sing backing vocals for Duffy on her album Rockferry and for Sharleen Spiteri.

A Little Communication, David's album from 1998, was re-released digitally on June 23, 2008. It became available on iTunes. He performed the entire album live at The Jazz Cafe in Camden in November 2008.

In 2009, David McAlmont released The Glare. This was a collaboration with the famous classical composer Michael Nyman. Each song on the album was based on a different news story from that year. The album received good reviews from many newspapers.

In February 2011, a live recording of David McAlmont's performance was released. It included Bernard Butler on three songs. This was available as a CD and DVD package called Live From Leicester Square.

In October 2011, David McAlmont and Guy Davies announced their new project, Fingersnap. Their first release was the Smokehouse EP. David and Guy had worked together before on the albums A Little Communication and Set One: You Go to My Head. They performed live shows across the UK in late 2011 to support the EP.

Returning to Education and New Projects

In 2012, David McAlmont decided to go back to college. He started a second degree in the History of Western Art & Architecture. He studied at the University of London's Birkbeck College and finished in 2016.

In 2013, David McAlmont led a band at a concert series called Wall to Wall: Bowie. He sang duets with Sam Obernik at London's Hideaway club. They performed classic Bowie songs with a jazz style.

In July 2014, David McAlmont performed again with David Arnold. This was at Arnold's first live orchestral concert in London. David McAlmont was a surprise guest singer. He sang "Surrender" and "Play Dead." David Arnold called him "my secret weapon."

In 2014 and 2015, David McAlmont and Bernard Butler performed live together again. They appeared on the Lauren Laverne radio show. In 2016, David McAlmont sang on the album Call Me Lucky by Alex Webb & The Copasetics. He has also worked with Alex Webb on a show about the music of Billie Holiday. In 2019, they released a new album together called The Last Bohemians.

In 2017, David McAlmont worked with the University of Leicester. They created a project called "Girl Boy Child." This project explored the lives of LGBT+ people in National Trust properties. It won an award.

In 2018, he created a performance called "Portrait of a Black Queer Briton." This was shown at the National Portrait Gallery, London.

In 2023, David McAlmont worked with Historic Royal Palaces. This led to "Permissible Beauty," an art display at Hampton Court Palace. It also included a short film that received praise.

Also in 2023, David McAlmont released an album with Hifi Sean called Happy Ending. They followed this with Daylight in 2024 and Twilight in 2025.

In 2024, the University of Leicester gave David McAlmont an honorary doctorate degree. He also helped organize the Royal Society of Sculptors Summer Show. The theme was "Reality Check." To celebrate the 100th birthday of James Baldwin, David joined Russell Tovey and Omari Douglas at a literary festival. They discussed "Baldwin versus Buckley."

Discography

Albums

Singles

See Also

• Versus Cancer