David Peaston
David Peaston was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Martha Bass, a member of The Clara Ward Singers gospel group. In addition, his older sister, Fontella Bass, was an R&B singer.
While David Peaston had been a school teacher, he was laid off in 1981. He took this opportunity to move from St. Louis to New York, where he did session work.
Living in New York, he auditioned for the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night. He then struck fame by winning several competitions of the television show Showtime at the Apollo. On the show, he had sang the song "God Bless the Child" and won the audiences hearts.
Thanks to his success on the show, he landed a deal with Geffen where he released his 1989 LP Introducing... David Peaston. The album featured the R&B hits "Two Wrongs (Don't Make It Right)" which reached #3 on the R&B charts, "Can I?" which reached #14 on the R&B charts, and "We're All In This Together" which reached #11 on the R&B charts. The album's final single, "Take Me Now" was also the album's worst performer, peaking at #77 on the R&B charts.
With his rich voice, David Peaston won the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul New Artist in 1990. In 1991, he released his sophomore effort, Mixed Emotions. David's album lacked strong songwriting and so, the album failed to score any real successful hits. The album's only two charting singles were "String" which peaked at #69 on the R&B charts, and "Luxury of Love" which topped off at #41.
In 1993, David Peaston teamed up with his mother and sister to release a gospel album Promises: A Family Portrait of Faith.
Tragically, David Peaston has suffered from diabetes and has had both of his legs amputated. Nevertheless, he hasn't let this loss slow him down and, through prosthesis, is still able to perform in stage musicals. He starred in the musical "There's Nothing Like A Mother's Love" alongside Ann Nesby in 2006. During the same year, he recorded Song Book: Songs of Soul & Inspiration, which featured eight new tracks.