Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Dave Hollister of Blackstreet



Dave Hollister built his R&B credentials on a gospel foundation. His gospel prowess is no shocker considering that he spent most of his time in church growing up with his eleven siblings. Both of his parents were preachers and it was at his father’s church that he received his vocal training.

Dave Hollister is best known for rocking his soulful gospel voice with music that mixes streetwise hip-hop and smooth R&B flavor. He has backed-up everyone from Mary J. Blige, to Patti Labelle, to Tupac, as well as serving as writer/producer for Tim Dog and Ray Watkins.

Hollister is cousin of musical artists act K-Ci & JoJo. He started developing fame as a musician in the early 1990s. Some of his biggest early appearances were with 2Pac on tracks like "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "Keep Ya Head Up" where he was credited on both as "The Black Angel" as well as the original version of "Don't You Trust Me." The remake of which was released on Loyal to the Game.

His next big move was when he was signed to Teddy Riley's R&B group Blackstreet in 1994. He worked with the group on their first album and then left the group to pursue his own solo career. He was signed to DreamWorks Records and began working on an album.

In 1999, Hollister released his first album, Ghetto Hymns. The album was successful, going gold, and creating one hit single, "My Favorite Girl". "My Favorite Girl" reached #10 on the R&B charts.

Hollister's follow-up album, Chicago '85... The Movie was released in 2000. The album was an autobiographical work and went gold. "One Woman Man" the album's biggest single, reached #8 on the R&B charts. Also in 2000, Dave Hollister collaborated on "He Say, She Say" with Keith Sweat on "Don't Have Me" and also was part of the "Romeo Must Die" Soundtrack with "Pump the Brakes".

For his third effort, Hollister moved to Motown Records. He hoped the new label would instill new energy into his music. The album, Things In the Game Done Changed was released in 2002 and fared poorly on the charts and radio.

As a result of the album's shortcomings, Hollister returned to DreamWorks where he released Real Talk in 2003. Following the album's release, Hollister moved to Gospo Centric.

Hollister is reportedly wrapping up his fifth album in the industry, The Book of David: Vol. 1 The Transition. The album will be coming out on September 26, 2006 from Gospo Centric.

He currently serves as Assistant Minister of Music for New Direction Christian Church satellite location in Collierville, Tennessee.

Dave has also reunited with his former group Blackstreet and will be performing with them on their upcoming reunion tour along with Guy, Blackstreet's founder Teddy Riley's other group.

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