David Townsend (musician) facts for kids

David Edward Townsend (born May 17, 1955 – died October 26, 2005) was a talented American musician. He was most famous as the guitarist for the R&B band called Surface.

Discovering David Townsend: A Musician's Journey

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

David Townsend was born in 1955 in Inglewood, California. His father was Ed Townsend, a well-known singer and songwriter. Ed Townsend was famous for his song "For Your Love". He also helped write and produce "Let's Get It On" with Marvin Gaye.

David showed a strong interest in music from a young age. He quickly learned to play many instruments. These included the guitar, piano, and synthesizer.

Starting a Music Career

David grew up in Englewood, New Jersey. After college in the mid-1970s, he joined a band called Sunrize. This band was the backing group for The Isley Brothers. David played guitar for them.

Later, he formed a new group called Port Authority with David Conley. They then added Bernard Jackson to their team. The three became a songwriting partnership. They worked as staff writers for a music company called EMI.

They wrote songs for popular artists like New Edition and Sister Sledge. After writing for others, the group decided to record their own music. They chose the name Surface. Their first songs, "Falling in Love" and "When Your 'Ex' Wants You Back," were released on the Salsoul Records label.

Reaching Peak Success (1989–1991)

Surface had some success in clubs, but David felt they could do more. In 1985, he visited his father in Mississippi. His father helped Surface get a contract with Columbia. The band convinced Columbia to let them record in their own studio. This studio was built in David Conley's living room in New Jersey.

Surface's first song with Columbia was "Let's Try Again." It was a small hit. Their song "Happy" reached number 2 on the US R&B charts in 1987. It also made it to number 20 on the US Pop charts. The band's first album sold very well.

Their next album, 2nd Wave, came out in 1989. Songs from this album became very popular on "quiet storm" radio stations. "Closer Than Friends" reached number 1 on the R&B charts in March 1989. It stayed there for two weeks. "Shower Me With Your Love" also hit number 1 on the R&B charts in July. It was also popular on the US Pop charts.

Their next single, "You Are My Everything," featured singer Regina Belle. It reached number 1 on the R&B charts in November 1989. It also became popular in Britain. David Townsend also co-wrote a song with David Conley for Jermaine Jackson. This song, "Don't Take It Personal," reached number 1 on the US R&B charts in November 1989.

In 1991, Surface released the album 3 Deep. It included hits like "All I Want Is You" and "Never Gonna Let You Down." Their song "The First Time" became a huge hit. It topped the US pop charts. It also reached number 1 on the US R&B charts in January 1991. This was the group's biggest song.

After this, David Townsend and David Conley focused on writing and producing music. They helped Aretha Franklin record her album What You See Is What You Sweat in 1991. Bernard Jackson started his solo career.

Later Years and Legacy

The group Surface broke up in 1994. David Townsend and Bernard Jackson left the band. However, in 1999, the band got back together. They released their last album, Love Zone. They were planning a reunion tour. Sadly, these plans were canceled. David Townsend passed away at his home on October 26, 2005, in Northridge, California.

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 1989 (USA)
• R&B number-one hits of 1991 (USA)