Dave Hollister, award-winning vocalist in both R&B and Gospel, actor and preacher, talked to RnB about he how he balances it all and where he is going next. For the first half of his career he became prominent as a background singer, most notably for Tupac and as a member of Blackstreet. The second half of his career he became a successful solo artist in R&B and Gospel. He presently balances it all, touring with Teddy Riley and Blackstreet, and creating his own music with his eighth album, Chicago Winds…the Saga Continues, which is a sultry blend of classic R&B and a strong message invested in promoting positive and loving relationships. Dave comes from a church background, his father a minister back in Chicago, where he was born and raised. About Chicago, he shared, “I don’t get there as often as I would like to, but it is in my blood. Like you see people who were born and raised in LA, they are “LA” and so proud of it, they live and breathe it. Even though I have been away from home that is what Chicago is for me.”
I asked Dave how does he keep up with so many projects, and his reply was, “having a Smartphone is a big help! Modern technology simplifies keeping up with so many projects ongoing that require attention throughout the day.” He added, “I take the time to work on each project each day, some days one thing may require more of my time, but I still take a little time out to give attention to my other projects. My main concern is family. My family comes first, above it all.”
Dave’s music, whether singing R&B or Gospel, are uplifting and inspiring, as well as his sermons at the Word Assembly in Antioch, Ca. I asked where does his inspiration come from, does the music and sermons come from the same place? Dave shared, “I consider myself a messenger, the place that my music comes from and the place that my sermons come from are the same place, from God. However, when putting a sermon together, I try not to just make it about me and what is in my heart. I look to the congregation and community, to meet the needs of the church also. It is not just about me giving my message, it is also about counseling and working with people where they are at. “
Years ago, Dave led a party lifestyle and had a horrible car accident as a result. It became a life-changing moment for him, and also gave him a chilling, yet beautiful, testimony to share with others. I asked him where he thought he would be today, had the accident not happened. “I would like to think that I still would have reached to where I am now, where I am supposed to be, but it could have taken me much longer and who knows what could have happened along the way. Everything is in God’s planning.”
I shared with Dave that I saw a pattern of him being a giver, between becoming a pastor, to dedicating a lot of music to help encourage healthy romantic commitments, to including his work with bringing awareness to the disorder sleep apnea, he is always giving. I asked if it is hard for him to be a “taker” and let others do for him. Dave laughed,” well, you got me, and it is funny you say that. They just had a celebration at the church for me, and the congregation did everything for me. They just had me sitting and enjoying things, but every time I saw something that needed to be done, I started to get up to go help or fix it. They told me, “no Pastor, this is your day, let us do it.” It continued with them bringing me things and gifts, and it was so hard to just sit and receive. I am a giver. Something to work on, learning to receive. ”
Dave shared that he is planning to work more on his acting career. “I have been involved in acting, and I want to bring that out more. With the albums, I may do another one, but I want this to be the end of the big tours, it will be easier to do the acting and movies and have a more regular schedule, so I can be there more for my family and church. I will still do a concert or show here and there, that will always be in me, but I have always been drawn to movies and making movies, in fact that is why I signed on with DreamWorks, because they did both. I had some ideas back in 2000 that were very much the same or similar to “Empire”, I went to Stephen Spielberg with my ideas, but it apparently just wasn’t the right time for that. But the time is right now, and I am anxious to get involved in some new projects.” With as much soul, spirit and heart that Dave Hollister puts into whatever he is working on, we are looking forward to seeing what is next!
