Episode 29 is a special one. I chatted with my college professor, best friend, and best man from my wedding. We chat about performing, auditioning, running a marathon while drinking beer, and stories from his past that influenced the creation of his music albums.

David Bankston’s musical career began in the early 1970s when his folk-rock

band, “Manchild,” was signed to Capitol Records. The group toured the United

States performing in famous folk clubs of the era, universities, and concert

venues on the same bills with Jimmy Buffett, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve

Martin, The Drifters, ZZ Top, Edgar Winter and White Trash, Steve Goodman,

and many others.

He later transitioned into theatrical and operatic singing, performing roles with

Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Washington Opera, San

Francisco Opera, Casa Mañana, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. His notable

roles include Siegfried in Wagner’s Siegfried, Riccardo in Verdi’s Un Ballo in

Maschera, Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca, and Gaylord Ravenal in Showboat

with Van Johnson and as James in Shennandoah with Howard Keel.

He now records and performs concerts of his original compositions in the genres

of Americana, contemporary folk music and jazz. His recordings feature some of

the greatest players in popular music: Sonny Landreth, Sam Broussard, Steve

Bailey, saxophonist, Stephen Riley, Byron House, Jeff Taylor and Jelly Roll

Johnson. His albums Galvez Town and Jazz Blues Gospel Shoes can be

streamed on Spotify and YouTube.

He was educated in San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program and the Houston

Grand Opera Studio. Dr. Bankston holds a DMA in Vocal Performance from the

University of South Carolina.

He recently retired as  Professor Emeritus of Music at Coastal Carolina University. David's students

have performed on Broadway, national tours, international and regional opera.