David Pack
American musician and singer (born 1952)
title: "David Pack" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1952-births", "living-people", "ambrosia-(band)-members", "american-christians", "american-rock-singers", "american-rock-guitarists", "american-male-guitarists", "american-soft-rock-musicians", "bruce-hornsby-and-the-range-members", "guitarists-from-los-angeles", "20th-century-american-guitarists", "warner-records-artists"] description: "American musician and singer (born 1952)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Pack" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American musician and singer (born 1952) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | David Pack |
| image | DPacknew.jpg |
| birth_name | David Robert Pack |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Huntington Park, California, U.S. |
| genre | |
| occupation | |
| instrument | |
| years_active | 1970–present |
| label | |
| associated_acts | Ambrosia, Alan Parsons, Michael McDonald James Ingram |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = David Pack | image = DPacknew.jpg | caption = | birth_name = David Robert Pack | birth_date = | birth_place = Huntington Park, California, U.S. | genre = | occupation = | instrument = | years_active = 1970–present | label = | associated_acts = Ambrosia, Alan Parsons, Michael McDonald James Ingram | website =
David Robert Pack (born July 15,1952) is an American singer, songwriter, is best known as co-founder, lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Ambrosia in the 70's & 80's. Pack wrote and sang all of Ambrosia's RIAA certified gold hits including 3x Grammy nominee “Biggest Part of Me”, “How Much I Feel” and “You're the Only Woman (You & I).”
Pack also co-wrote and sang the bands first top 20 hit “Holdin On To Yesterday” in 1975 with Joe Puerta, mixed by legendary engineer Alan Parsons and was Grammy nominated.
In the mid 1990s Pack produced Ambrosia's Anthology CD on Warner Bros. (Best of) along with three new tracks. These included “I Just Can't Let Go” with James Ingram & Michael McDonald remixed from Pack's solo album in 1986 (a top 15 Billboard Hit).
Pack stopped touring with the band in 2000, after they played a concert in Atlantic City without him while he was on vacation with his family, fraudulently advertising that Pack would be performing.
Career
Songwriter: Ambrosia, Solo, Other Artists and Special Projects
Pack wrote and sang Ambrosia's #1 classic hit singles "Biggest Part of Me," (triple Grammy nominated) "How Much I Feel, "You're the Only Woman (You & I)." BMI 5 Million Airplay award winners and RIAA-Certified Gold records in 1980, plus "Holdin' on to Yesterday" (co wrote and sang) Ambrosia's first top 20 single in 1975. Pack wrote & sang title song "Life Beyond L.A." #1 FM track for Warner debut album 1978; Ambrosia's "Poor Rich Boy" with J. Puerta for Arthur movie soundtrack with Burt Bacharach
"That Girl Is Gone" & "I Just Can't Let Go" top 10 AC hits from David's Anywhere You Go 1986 Warner solo album, the latter featuring James Ingram and Michael McDonald as a trio.
"Almost a Brand New Start" w Steve Perry for Pack's "Secret of Movin On" LP in 2005 Concord records.
"All I Need" #1 RIAA Cert. Gold hit for Jack Wagner – star of TV's General Hospital (Quincy Jones' Qwest/Warner Bros. record label, 1984)
"All the Pretty Ponies" for Kenny Loggins' 2× platinum CD Return To Pooh Corner (Sony Wonder, 1994)
"Wyld Unknown" for Wynonna's Theme Song from The Other Side, RIAA Gold CD (Curb Records, 1997) plus "Why Now" on the same LP.
"Prove Me Wrong" for White Nights film by Taylor Hackford; 2× platinum (Atlantic Records, 1985) with James Newton Howard.
"Through the Test of Time" Patti Austin #1 AC hit (GRP, 1990)
"Key to You" David Benoit featuring Pack #1 AC hit (GRP, 1986)
"Our Love", "Get the Word Started", and "By Heart" co-written with Michael McDonald, on McDonald's albums and Greatest Hits: Pack & McDonald also wrote "Outside" for Inside Moves movie soundtrack; "Our Love" was featured in the film No Mercy, starring Richard Gere and Kim Basinger.
"A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" for Disney's Cinderella, featuring Linda Ronstadt in 1986. Pack's writing turned the original 1940 animated 30-second tune into a 3 1/2-minute pop single that included arranging and co-orchestration with David Hamilton. Also collaborating with Leonard Bernstein's daughter Jamie for a Spanish version "Un Precioso Sueno" Ronstadt also sang.
Songs with Alan Parsons: "OH LIFE (There Must Be More) based on a true story; Clive Davis proclaimed Pack's lyrics as one of best ever. Also "I'm Talking to You", "The Three of Me" for Try Anything Once Arista LP and "You Can Run" for Parsons' 2004 A Valid Path LP.
Co-wrote "Where We Begin" with Chicago's Robert Lamm for Chicago 17, added as a bonus track on re-release
Pack co-wrote and produced "Thank You Billy Graham" with Pat Boone and Billy Dean—the story of Reverend Graham's life in song and video, featuring Bono, TobyMac/DC Talk, Leann Rimes Billy Dean, Andrae Crouch and many others.
"Remember the Magic" Pack wrote for Disney's Music of the Parks LP featuring Bryan McKnight 1996 and produced it. Celebrating 25th Anniversary of Disney World.
For the Manhattan Transfer "A World Apart" with Janis Siegel and Michael McDonald.
For Jennifer Holliday Pack wrote " He Aint Special" with Michael McDonald.
Pack co wrote songs for Goldie Hawn's Wildcats soundtrack for Mavis Staples "Show Me How It Works" plus "Hard to Say" for James Ingram and "Don't Wanna Be Normal" Randy Crawford and "Love Lives Alone" for Tata Vega, with James Newton Howard, Hawk Wolinski, and Pat Leonard.
Solo
During the 1980s, Pack enjoyed moderate success as a solo artist with the release of his Anywhere You Go LP in 1985. The album generated three charting singles, the greatest of which was "I Just Can't Let Go" (US AC #13), a collaboration with Michael McDonald and James Ingram. In 1988, he recorded a duet with Bette Midler titled "I Know You by Heart", which was featured in the film Beaches and on its soundtrack.
with Alan Parsons
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Dpackamb3.jpg" caption="David Pack performing with Ambrosia"] ::
David and legendary artist-engineer Alan Parsons o.b.e. have had a lifelong friendship while making music together since 1975. Parsons mixed Ambrosia's Grammy nominated first LP and hit song "Holdin' on to Yesterday" then Produced and Engineered the 2nd LP "Somewhere I've Never Travelled" also Grammy Nominated Best Engineered Record of 1976. Pack then introduced Alan to 20th Century Fox Records Pres. Russ Regan, persuading him to sign Alan to make his own album. That record became The Alan Parsons Project Tales of Mystery and Imagination Edgar Allan Poe with Ambrosia playing on "The Raven". Segue to 1993 and Parsons Arista album "Try Anything Once" Pack co-wrote and sang three songs: "The Three of Me" , "I'm Talkin to You", and "Oh Life (There Must Be More) also playing guitar. The same year Pack as music director introduced Parsons at the Greek theater "Children of Bosnia benefit singing "Oh Life" for it's debut live performance. In 2004 David co-wrote & sang "You Can Run" for Parsons' "A Valid Path" LP. Prior to that he joined Alan for 2001 Beatles tribute "A Walk Down Abbey Road" tour of America & Japan that included Ann Wilson/ Heart, Todd Rundgren, Jon Entwistle/ Who. David performed triple duty singing Alan's songs, his own songs and Beatle songs, while playing guitar in spectacular 3 hour tour de force evemt in major concert venues. Then Pack sang "I Won't Be Led Astray" with Joe Bonamassa on guitar, for Parsons 2022 "From the New World" LP.
Pack & Parsons continue to support each other with Pack having introduced Parsons to Leonard Bernstein in the 80's, and Parsons introduced Pack to Sir Paul McCartney in 2023. Currently they are working on an EP of Beatle duets with "If I Fell" being played regularly on Sirius XM Beatles Channel. Pack asked Parsons to return to Abbey Road in Summer of 2023, where he engineered orchestra sessions in Studio two for Pack's upcoming album.
Guest appearances
Pack guested on lead vocals on the song "Ground Zero" for Kerry Livgren's 1980 solo album, Seeds of Change. He then performed on Kansas' Vinyl Confessions album in 1982. He would later contribute guest lead vocals on the track "Shine On" off of the album It's a Jungle Out There! by Mastedon, one of two Mastedon albums written and produced by former Kansas lead singer John Elefante and his brother Dino Elefante. He also Appeared on Chet Atkins & Friends (1987) on Cinemax as guitarist.
As producer
Pack has worked as producer for Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Loggins, and Wynonna Judd. He has also produced music for Chet Atkins, Patti Austin, David Benoit, Natalie Cole, Chick Corea, Andrae Crouch, DC Talk, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Bruce Hornsby, Jennifer Hudson, James Ingram, Patti LaBelle, Little Richard, Branford Marsalis, Bette Midler, Michael McDonald, Brian McKnight, Olivia Newton-John, The Pointer Sisters, LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, Brian Setzer, Mavis Staples, Take 6, Steve Vai, Trisha Yearwood, and CeCe Winans.
David produced, conceived & arranged the 1995 BMG/ Sony Tribute to Leonard Bernstein: "The Songs of West Side Story" benefiting Bernstein Education Through the Arts (BETA) Fund & Grammy's Music in Schools, RIAA Certified Gold album. It featured 27 superstar artists including Aretha Franklin, Phil Collins, Natalie Cole, TLC, Lisa Left Eye Lopes, Brian Setzer, Chick Corea, Toto, David Paich, Sheila E, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Bruce Hornsby, Patti Austin, Steve Vai, Little Richard, Take 6, Mervyn Warren, Def Jef, Paul Rodriguez, Jerky Boys, All-4-One and the late Selena's final performance featured in the film Selena soundtrack. This project included Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim allowing David to add lyric variations and rap improvs to songs " Officer Krupke" and Little Richard's "I Feel Pretty". Sondheim voiced his approval to Bernstein son Alexander in a note saying " To my surprise, I rather enjoyed both "Krupke" and "I Feel Pretty".
David served as Music Director & Co Producer of Pres. Clinton's Inaugural Arkansas Ball in 1993 and again in 1997 featuring "David Pack's All Star Dream Team band: Michael McDonald, Bruce Hornsby, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, Greg Phillinganes, Nathan East, Steve Ferrone and others. Pack got Pres. Clinton to play sax on Loggin's "Your Mama Don't Dance" at '93 Inaugural that made headlines around the world. In 1997 David Music Directed "The Presidential Volunteer Summit" in Pa. with Oprah, Colin Powell and all living Presidents. Performing stars included Wynonna Judd, Bela Fleck, John Secada, John Travolta.
In 2000 David Co-Music directed & performed for Yamaha's Millennium Lifetime Achievement Concert honoring Michael McDonald at Shrine Auditorium hosted by Jeff Bridges. The concert included performances by Ray Charles, Christopher Cross, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs and marked the debut performance of "Maria" by Michael, David, and James Ingram" from the Songs of West Side Story album In 2005 David produced and music directed the World Aids Day concert at Saddleback Church in Orange County, featuring artists ranging from Wynonna Judd & DC Talk's Michael Tait to Country star Jimmy Wayne helping "Purpose Driven Life" Author Pastor Rick Warren. Previous significant events David Music Directed include 1992 Aids Project LA feat. Elton John, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Eddie Van Halen Produced by Bernie Taupin; AmFar's Elizabeth Taylor tribute to Madonna; Avon Voices with Fergie, Dianne Warren; California Aids Walk 2010 Greek Theatre feat. Sheila E, Steve Lukather, Alan Parsons, Siedah Garrett.
Grammys
David won a Grammy for producing Patti Austin's "But Who May Abide" on Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration "Best Contemp Soul Gospel LP 1992 " and a second Grammy for producing finale "To God Be the Glory" for "Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album 1997".
In addition, David has been Grammy nominated for co-producing Kenny Loggins "Return to Pooh Corner" 1994 "Best Musical Album for Children". He's received five Grammy nominations for Ambrosia: "Best Pop Vocal Group (for album One Eighty)", Best Arrangement for Voices "Biggest Part of Me (1981), Best Arrangement Accompanying Voices "Biggest Part of Me (1981), Ambrosia first album for Best Engineered Recording (non classical), and Ambrosia's "Somewhere I've Never Travelled" (1976) Best Engineered Album (non Classical ) engineered by Alan Parsons.
All told David has won 2 Grammys and been nominated 6 times.
He also sang on the 34th annual Grammy telecast in 1992 performance of "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration in an all star choir with Quincy Jones conducting that included: Patti Austin, Daryl Coley (lead vocals), Andraé Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis, Marilyn McCoo, Stephanie Mills, Jeffrey Osborne, David Pack, Richard Smallwood, Sounds of Blackness, Take 6, Tevin Campbell, Vanessa Williams, and Chris Willis.
Discography
Ambrosia
Main article: Ambrosia discography
- Ambrosia (1975)
- Somewhere I've Never Travelled (1976)
- Life Beyond L.A. (1978)
- One Eighty (1980)
- Road Island (1982)
Solo albums
::data[format=table]
| Year | Album details | Chart peak positions | Certifications | Notes | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Anywhere You Go | — | |||
| 1997 | Wynonna LP The Other Side | — | Pack Produced "The Wyld Unknown" & "Why Now." | ||
| 2004 | Unborn | — | |||
| 2005 | The Secret of Movin On | — | |||
| 2014 | David Pack's NapaCrossroads | — | |||
| 2018 | The Purpose of Christmas: Rick Warren | — | David Produced & Arranged | ||
| A Tribute to Andre Crouch | — | ** Grammy Winner Best Contemporary Gospel | |||
| Cece Winans: His Gift | — | ||||
| Thank You: Billy Graham | — | ||||
| Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration | — | ** Grammy Winner Best Contemporary Christian | |||
| Wayne Watson: Field of Souls | — | ||||
| Lisa Nevill: Love of Heaven | — | ||||
| Brian Duncan | — | ||||
| :: |
Solo singles
::data[format=table] | Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications | Album | Notes | US | US AC | AU | CAN | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1985 | "That Girl Is Gone" | -- | 16 | — | 93 | | Anywhere You Go | | | | 1986 | "Prove Me Wrong" | 95 | — | — | — | | White Nights | | | | "I Just Can't Let Go" | — | 13 | — | — | | Anywhere You Go | | | | | 1987 | "The Key To You" | — | — | — | — | | | Duet with David Benoit | | | 2005 | "You're The Only Woman" re-make | — | — | — | — | | The Secret of Movin On | | | | "Biggest Part of Me" re-make | — | — | — | — | | The Secret of Movin On | | | | ::
Movie soundtracks
::data[format=table]
| Year | Album details | Chart peak positions | Certifications | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | White Nights | — | ||
| 1986 | Wildcats | — | ||
| 1988 | Beaches | — | ||
| 1995 | The Music of Cinderella | — | ||
| 1997 | Selena | — | ||
| 2015 | Gallows Road | — | ||
| :: |
Record producer highlights
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | White Nights film Soundtrack | Various | RIAA Platinum (Atlantic) |
| 1990 | The Real Me, Patti Austin | Patti Austin | |
| 1991 | Carry On | Patti Austin | |
| 1992 | Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration | Various | "But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming" - Patti Austin / Grammy Winner |
| 1994 | Return To Pooh Corner | Kenny Loggins | RIAA Platinum Grammy-Nominated |
| Disney's Cinderella feat. Linda Ronstadt & others | Linda Ronstadt + various | Co-writer of "A Dream is a Wish" | |
| 1996 | The Songs Of West Side Story | Various | |
| Tribute: Songs of Andrae Crouch | Grammy Best Contemp Gospel Album of Year | ||
| 1997 | The Other Side | Wynonna Judd | RIAA Gold / "Wyld Unknown" "Why Now" |
| Ambrosia Anthology | Ambrosia | Greatest hits + 3 new songs | |
| 1998 | His Gift, CeCe Winans | Various | Dove Award-nominated |
| One Heart At A Time Cystic Fibrosis | Featuring Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton John | ||
| 2000 | Michael McDonald's Blue Obsession | Michael McDonald | Performer on "Ain't That Peculiar" (track 11) |
| 2002 | Psalm 23 project 9/11 Children of Victims NY American Bible Society | Various | |
| 2014 | David Pack's Napa Crossroads | Feauting Doors’ Ray Manzarek, Todd Rundgren, Alan Parsons, Bela Fleck, David Benoit, Rooney Robert Schwartzman, others | |
| "Thank You Billy Graham" | Various | Single / featuring Bono, Leann Rimes, TobyMac, Andrae Crouch | |
| Purpose of Christmas | Featuring Sarah McLachlan, Vince Gill, Rick Warren | ||
| :: |
Film & TV
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Inside Moves | “Outside” co written with Michael McDonald |
| Coast to Coast | ||
| 1981 | Arthur | “Poor Rich Boy” co-written w/ Burt Bacharach - Movie Soundtrack |
| 1986 | No Mercy | Co-writer “Our Love” with Michael McDonald |
| Wildcats | Four songs with James Newton Howard incl. Mavis Staples “Show Me How It Works” & Randy Crawford “I Don't Wanna Be Normal” | |
| 1987 | White Nights | |
| Chet Atkins & Friends - HBO special | ||
| 1988 | Beaches | |
| 2002—2003 | Roseanne | Composed all music |
| 2004 | A Gathering of Friends - Michael McDonald PBS TV Special | With McDonald, David and James Ingram performing songs as a trio |
| 2007 | Knocked Up | |
| 2016 | Tammy -Melissa McCarthy | |
| 2017 | The Big Sick | |
| 2023 | Sometimes When We Touch-The Rein, Ruin & Resurrection of Soft Rock Paramount Plus | |
| 2024 | The Last Showgirl | |
| Yacht Rock Dockumentary | ||
| *David -TV Host - Time Life/ Star Vista Greatest Soft Rock Hits 70's & 80's’’ * | ||
| :: |
Other projects
- Symbols of Tyme
- Beato Band
References
References
- https://www.classicrockhistory.com/complete-list-of-ambrosia-band-members/
- https://www.davidpack.com/
- Whitburn, Joel. (1993). "Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993". Record Research.
- https://www.davidpack.com/
- https://www.davidpack.com/
- https://www.davidpack.com
- https://www.sessiondays.com/2018/11/1996-various-the-songs-of-west-side-story/
- "Archived copy".
- https://www.latimes.com › archives › la-xpm-1995-01-21-ca-22545-story.html
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-20-ca-769-story.html
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-21-ca-22545-story.html
- "David Pack {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com".
- https:www.davidpack.com
- https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Wynonna+judd&ti=The+other+side&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section
- [https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0698&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0698.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0698 ''RPM'' 100 singles]
- https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=&ti=White+Nights&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section
- https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Bette+Midler&ti=Beaches+&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section
- https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=&ti=Selena&lab=emi+latin&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section
- (2017-09-21). "Child refugee from Cuba, now 65, recalls his past and bares his soul at high school reunion concert".
- "Concert of the Century with Beato Band".
- "Cuban Americans Await President Obamas Visit to Cuba".
- "Beato Band {{!}} David Pack and Fred Beato".
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