b. David Porter, 21st November 1941, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
David Porter was born in Memphis, 21st November 1941 and raised in the McLemore Avenue area.
He is best known as the songwriting and production partner of Isaac Hayes at Stax Records during the 1960's.
David and Isaac first met up when he attempted to sell Hayes life insurance.
David was present on several early Stax Records sessions.
He later became a Stax recording artist himself.
After recording some sides on Golden Eagle, Savoy ('You'll Pay' as Little David) and Hi ('Words Can Never Say' as Kenny Cain), he relocated to Stax Records from the outset as he worked locally.
with isaac hayes
As well a songwriter and producer with Isaac Hayes, David was an excellent singer in his own right.
The Hayes / Porter songwriting team penned well known hits for for Sam And Dave, including 'Hold On I'm Coming', 'Soul Man' and 'When Something Is Wrong With My Baby', also writing hits for Carla Thomas ('B-A-B-Y) and Johnnie Taylor ('I Had A Dream').
Starting in the late '60s, Hayes became increasingly involved in his own recording career, eventually leading to the end of the partnership.
David subsequently relaunched his solo career and in 1970 had a Top 30 U.S. R & B hit with 'Can't See You When I Want To' (from 'Gritty, Groovy and Gettin' It').
In 1971 he released three albums 'David Porter: Into A Real Thing' and 'If I Give It Up, I Want It Back', followed by 'Victim Of The Joke? An Opera'.
His only other chart entry came in 1972 when 'Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)' was a minor success.
Credited to 'Isaac Hayes And David Porter', it belated ended their songwriting collaboration.
His last solo album release on Enterprise/Stax was 'Sweat and Love' in 1973.
David began working with songwriting partner Ronnie Williams, and later went on to engineer the brief relaunch of the Stax label in 1978, after the bankrupt label's assets were acquired by Fantasy Records.
On the 9th of June 2005, David Porter was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, John Fogerty and his songwriting partner Isaac Hayes.
The Isaac Hayes - David Porter duo composed 200 songs during their collaboration.
Albums:
Gritty, Groovy And Gettin' It (Enterprise/Stax Records 1009 - 1970)
David Porter: Into A Real Thing (Enterprise/Stax Records 1012 - 1971)
Victim Of The Joke? An Opera (Enterprise/Stax Records 1019 - 1971)
If I Give It Up, I Want It Back (Enterprise/Stax Records - 1972)
Sweat and Love (Enterprise/Stax 1026 - Records 1973)
