Little David Wilkins is an American country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. The first thing you notice about Little David Wilkins is he’s certainly not little. He is over 280 pounds of fun and entertainment. His greatest love is entertaining people, seeing them smile and making them happy with his music. Little David lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where his career started with a song, which he wrote for Brenda Lee, “Comin On Strong”. The song has been recorded by twenty-six artists and has sold over five million records and counting. Wilkins has written almost one hundred songs, which have been recorded and released by such stars as Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell, Charlie Pride, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Jack Greene, Leroy Van Dyke, Stonewall Jackson, Sonny James, Jerry Lee Lewis, Percy Sledge, Mickey Gilley, and many more.
Little David was happy writing songs and entertaining in a Nashville Nitery until Producer Owen Bradley and MCA Records offered him a recording contract which produced him four National Top Ten Hits and several Top Twenty Hits such as, “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show”, Butterbeans” and “The Good Night Special”. Little David has always attracted some of the greatest record producers, including his first producer and the father of Rockn-Roll, Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis, when David was twenty years old.
Sam Phillips discovered Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Roy Orbison, to name a few. David feels so blessed to have been put in this stable of stars. Wilkins has recorded eight albums including the CD album “Boogie Woogie Man,” a must for anyone’s music library. In 2014 JAM Record’s A&R Director, Cal Freeman, started producing Little David. The CD album “Farther Down The Road,” was their first collaboration marking the beginning of his comeback after a 25 year hiatus. The newest album “Hero,” includes new recordings of his major hits and a few new surprises including “T-R-O-U-B-L-E”, the song that was written for and about Little David Wilkins, but missing a chance to record it before Elvis and Travis Tritt, and the song “Hero” a huge pop hit originally released by Enrique Iglesias.
If another adjective were invented for this extraordinary, unparalleled performer it would have to be incredible. Incredible in performance. Incredible in creativity. Incredible in audience appeal. What else can you say about a man who has had nearly 100 songs recorded by himself and many other major stars. David has written so many hits to his credit and didn’t even start to write until he was an adult. He has written approximately 1,500 songs in his career. And what else can you say about a man who taught himself to play the piano in three days and on the third day played in front of an audience? Or a man who can elevate a dish of Butterbeans into the status of a country music, comic standard. Incredible.
The reality factor has always been an important facet of Little David’s world. His songs and performances, rich with tongue-in cheek subtleties, reflect that reality. While many artists editorialize in their music about the way life should be, Little David Wilkins sings about the way it is. “Not Tonight, I’ve Got a Headache,” “He’ll Play The Music But You Can’t Make Him Dance,” and “Motel Rooms,” all project the knowing reality of a man who’s been there. Interaction with the audience and humor, down-to-earth and close to the life styles of his audiences, also character-ize Little David’s dynamite stage appearances. Yeah, I like to talk and mingle with my audiences. We really have fun. I love it and they love it – being part of the show. You know they’ll yell for “Butterbeans” that’s always first and “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show.” It’s funny, but they’ll stop the show until I sing it.
Life and love, viewed through humor and reality, constitute the major themes of Wilkin’s work. Mark Twain once said that we speak and write best about the things we know the best. If this is so, then Little David Wilkins is eminently qualified to interpret life and love, for these are the very qualities, the substances that fill his life.
“I love everything to do with music”, he relates. “I love touring and performing for people. I love my fans and writing songs. It makes you feel good, to know there’s something you’ve created”…
His audiences sense this too. From the beginning to end, he has his audiences in the palm of his hand. It’s always a great performance. But beyond the greatness, there’s an extra-special something about Little David Wilkins that reaches out and engulfs his listeners. He is Magnetic and compelling with a fire and urgency on stage. Everything about this Charismatic performer spells out the words ENTERTAINER. Good times, forget your troubles, and follow me time. The Little David Wilkins Show is not just another performance. It’s a happening you won’t forget! Little David says all he wants to do in life is keep on doing what he’s doing, MUSIC!
MAJOR SONG WRITING AWARDS
1967 – “Coming On Strong” – Pop Award – New York City Presentation 1978 – “Georgia Keeps Pullin’ On My Ring” – BMI Country Music Award – Nashville 1977 – “He’ll Play The Music (But You Can’t Make Him Dance)” – ASCAP Country Music Award – Nashville
MAJOR SONGS WRITTEN
“Comin’ On Strong” – Brenda Lee “That’s The Only Way Life’s Good To Me” – Charlie Pride “Cry Like A Baby” – Ronnie Dove “Afraid I Want To Love Her One More Time” – Billy “Crash” Craddock “Put A Little Lovin’ On Me” – Percy Sledge “Georgia Keeps Pullin’ On My Ring” – Conway Twitty “He’ll Play The Music”… (But You Can’t Make Him Dance) – Little David Wilkins
MAJOR SONGS RECORDED
“Whoever Turned You On” “Butterbeans” “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” “Good Night Special” “He’ll Play The Music”…(But You Can’t Make Him Dance) “Agree to Disagree” “Farther Down The Road” “Hero”
ALBUMS & CD’s
“Little David Wilkins” “Little David On The Road” “King Of All The Taverns” “New Horizons” “Boogie Woogie Man” “Top Ten Hits Plus 3” “Farther Down The Road” “Hero”
AWARDS
2006 Wall Of Achievement Hometown Of Parsons, Tennessee 2007 Inductee “The International Rockabilly Hall Of Fame” 2008 Inductee “The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall Of Fame” 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Rockabilly Hall Of Fame Presentation 2012 NACMAI North American CMA Assn. International Hall of Fame 2012 George D Hay “Music Hall of Fame” Founder Grand Ole Opry” 2014 First Video to Achieve One Million Online Plays – Jam Records “I Want To Wake Up With You” 2015 “If I Can Dream/Imagine” – Performed with Rockin’ Reggie Vinson Reaching Over 25 Million Online Plays