For the past few weeks now I have literally run into David Ezell in just about everyplace I have been to such as Papa Sams 24/7 breakfast nook, Nu-way Lounge, The Peddler Steakhouse or Brickhouse Pizzeria. I am starting to believe it was for a reason for the run in’s with the much respected Singer/Songwriter. If you are unaware of who David is then allow me to enlighten you on a Spartanburg treasure. For the past three decades Ezell has been what many call a Thinking Man’s Songwriter. This is very much the truth after having many wonderful conversations with him over the past few weeks run ins. He has the ability to break a song down mathematically and make you feel the song in another light.
“When I listen to music, I have to give it my undivided attention.”
With a weathered, raspy, seen it all, done it all, sensitive soulful voice and the cleanest guitar picking this side of the Mississippi. Ezell’s song topics range from storytelling,spiritual,soulfly and to grandest topic of all in that being love songs. Timing, tough decisions, a thin line between high personal standards and self-doubt have prevented him from ever releasing a album of his own collection of original songs. Despite that he is still well renowned by such greats as songwriter David Olney who has had songs cut by Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Linda Ronstadt,Tim O’Brien, and Del Mccoury. Peter Cooper who is now a well renowned author/musician/journalist asked David to be in his Hub City Music Makers, which has became a cult piece of literature on the great musicians of Spartanburg such as The Marshall Tucker Band, David Ball, Singing Billy Walker, Matthew Knights, Albert Hill, Pink Anderson, Marshall Chapman, and many others.
He feel like he didn’t need to be in print due to never having an album of his own out and felt like it was the best decision. Again for the past few decades he has had a ear for just about every type of American popular music playing in new-wave punk bands in the 80s to doing an entire gig of Bob Dylan songs recently at The Peddler. He is a student of music and invest a lot of time studying with full attention. He has done great things in Nashville TN along with in Charleston SC and now has came back home to Spartanburg to display his talents. He played with the Marshall Tucker Band’s Toy and Tommy Caldwell before they formed Marshall Tucker and has recorded with Champ Hood.
I have gotten to know him a lil bit and consider him a great friend who is full of wisdom. He speaks highly of his music peers such as Marc Higgins, Faysouxx Mclean, and Brandy Lindsey and the Punch. Ezell is his own worst critic on nights where you are blown away and moved by his performance. He will tell you he felt he could have done that better or should have done it in another key. This is the way a thinking man songwriter works. I really enjoy hearing his tales at a gig before a song. It adds much debt and breathes new life into songs. He is quite the collector of songs and has turned me on to many. This town is so fortunate to have one of the most well spoken professional enigma of a songwriter. Some folks say he sounds like Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Kristofferson, and such. Those folks are all wrong for he sounds like David Ezell a one of a kind limited edition god’s own prototypes.
