David Porter

David Porter, born November 21, 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, is an American songwriter, music producersinger and businessman. David is an extremely versatile American artist who has enjoyed considerable success in various areas of the music industry. He is best known for his outstanding collaboration with the songwriter Isaac Hayes. Together they wrote numerous hits for well-known artists such as Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave and Otis Redding. Their best-known songs include “Hold On, I’m Comin'”, “When Something Is Wrong with My Baby” and “You Don’t Know Like I Know”.

Another important aspect of his career was his close connection to the legendary soul label Stax Records. Porter worked there not only as a songwriter, but also as an A&R manager and was instrumental in shaping the label’s characteristic sound. Porter also proved to be a clever businessman and took over the management of the label’s relaunch for some time after Stax Records went bankrupt. In addition to his successful work as a songwriter and producer, Porter also appeared as a singer and released his own works, which established him as a versatile talent of soul music-scene.

David Porter – A life for soul and Stax Records

As the ninth of twelve children of James and Corean Porter, David Porter discovered his passion for music at an early age. Even as a child, he sang in churches, at school parties, events and competitions, often together with his close friend Maurice White, who later became known as the founder of Earth, Wind & Fire. During his school years, Porter worked in a grocery store across the street from Satellite Records. There he inquired curiously whether the label was also interested in soul music.

Through his contacts with Chips Moman, Porter was able to gain a foothold as a songwriter at Satellite Records. He also brought friends and fellow students such as Booker T. Jones, William Bell and Andrew Love into the studio. Shortly afterwards, the label was renamed Stax Records and dedicated itself entirely to soul music.

As the first songwriter at Stax Records, Porter also took on the role of A&R manager. He promoted talents such as The Emotions and The Soul Children and brought Isaac Hayes on board as a songwriting partner. Together, Hayes and Porter created numerous classics for Sam & Dave, including hits such as Soul Man, I Thank You, When Something Is Wrong with My Baby and Hold On, I’m Comin’. They also composed for Carla Thomas(B-A-B-Y), Johnnie Taylor(I Got to Love Somebody’s Baby, I Had a Dream) and The Soul Children. From the end of the 1960s, Hayes devoted himself increasingly to his own music career, which led to the end of their collaboration. Depending on the source, they wrote between 200 and 300 songs in total.

Porter then began recording his own albums for Stax. His single Can’t See You When I Want To reached the top 30 of the R&B charts in 1970. He also released on other labels under pseudonyms such as Little David and Kenny Cain.

Porter later worked with songwriter Ronnie Williams and took over the management of the short-lived revival of the Stax label in 1978 after Fantasy Records acquired the rights to the bankrupt company. In 1999, he and Isaac Hayes received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

In 2005, Porter was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside greats such as Bill Withers, Steve Cropper and the Sherman Brothers. In 2012, Porter founded the non-profit initiative “The Consortium MMT” (Memphis Music Town), which is committed to promoting and training musicians in Memphis in order to establish a vibrant and sustainable music industry in the city.

Studio albums by David Porter

• 1970 Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin’ It
• 1971 …Into a Real Thing
• 1973 Victim of the Joke? An Opera
• 1974 Sweat & Love