Table of Contents

Story and Photos
by Mark Proksh

When legendary songwriter Cole Porter, began his illustrious career, which spanned over a half a century and included 800 songs, many people were shocked and appalled by the subject matter that he wrote about. Much of his music was considered far too taboo, if not vulgar, at the time.

The author J.D. Salinger was considered by the general public to be a corrupter and agitator of the young minds who absorbed his writings. The expressionist painter, Jackson Pollack, was considered, by many art critics, to be a charlatan and his work an insult to the world of art.

Hindsight is 20/20, however, and today all three are celebrated as pioneers of their movements. With such antagonism, how were they able to continue with their work? Except for Porter, who became more commercial, they did not. Pollack, while in a drunken stupor, lost control of his car and ran into a tree. Salinger, who has retreated from most social settings, hasn't allowed any new work to be published for over twenty years. There are countless other instances in which artists have simply been disregarded or punished for their work. Local songwriter, author, and painter, David Blair, falls under this category.

I met David in the fall of 1997, when a mutual friend introduced us at a concert. At six-foot-four, 250 pounds, the forty-eight year old is a bear of a man. His beard, dark and accompanied by a bit of gray, is as long as his hair and covers his ears so that his face appears to be peeking through some sort of hair hole. His voice is soft and monotone, but his laugh is jolly and booming.

Quickly I learned that David is what one might refer to as a "work horse." He has recorded over 100 albums, and some of those contain up to twenty-six tapes full of music. The subject matter these albums cover range from bitter Communist paranoia to the seduction of young women in forests.

Born in California in 1950, David was raised in a loving and encouraging environment. His father, born in Scotland and educated in engineering, moved to America and served in the United States Cavalry most of his life. David's mother, who recently passed away, was a loving housewife and parent.

"I had a great time growing up. My parents were into the big bands, but their enthusiasm eventually wore off. They always encouraged my creative endeavors." 

Beginning in junior high, David started his musical education with drums and guitar. It was in high school that David recorded his debut album The Epic, an album consisting of twenty-six audiotapes. It also included his first song, "The Dominionship," which, according to David, could be classified as psychedelic.

Continuing with his music into the mid-seventies, David attended the University of California-Long Beach. It was here that he received his bachelor's degree in French. He then pursued post-graduate studies at the Universite De Provence in Aix-en-Provence, France. It was at this time that he postponed his songwriting and began working on his first book, Death of an Artist, an autobiographical work, which deals with the hardships of being a musician. It wasn't until his return from abroad that he continued his songwriting.

"My music has had a great transition over the years," he said, In the 1960s and 1970s it was mostly instrumental. David focused on guitar from 1987 to 1995, however, currently his music is written to fit his keyboarding skills.

David hasn't always been isolated in his songwriting endeavors. "I've been in over 100 bands from 1970 to 1980. It wasn't very satisfying; they treated it like play. I have learned that a musician has to be serious and have direction."

Though music has taken precedent in his life, it hasn't been David's only passion. From 1994 to 1997 he was the leader of the Libertarian Party, a political party, for the Chippewa Valley. This included his 1996 candidacy for the Wisconsin State Assembly-67th District. According to David, his alliance to the Libertarian party stems from his ill will for the government.

"I used to think government was the answer. But the government is the biggest problem today. Biggest problem instead of biggest solver."

Another pursuit David takes satisfaction in is his painting and drawing. Again, similar to his music, there are quite an eclectic amount of subjects David attempts to replicate through art. In his catalog, David advertises his artistic ability: Fine drawings, oil paintings, photography. Specializing in pictures of beautiful women, nudes, ladies fashion designs, European homes. Work made to order.

One is able to gather a sense of his drawing ability through his album covers. All of which he draws himself. In his house, David has exquisite oil paintings of European castles, which he painted after his return to the states.

Though David continually pursues other avenues of creativity, music has continually been a mainstay. 

When asked what led him to writing music, David responds with strong assurance, "It was a gift from God."

This belief is evident throughout his work. On his 53rd album, Sir Blaire of Rothes, David conveys his views of society with regards to the book of Revelation, in the song, "The Antichrist:"

"When our society comes to a point/ Where it doesn't know the difference between right or wrong/ Good or evil/ It is then ready for a totalitarian leader/ An evil man like Hitler or Stalin/ And their sickness/ 1991/ how soon before the antichrist takes over/ Before Devil worship has a heavy metal pastime/ Becomes love, of the Antichrist?"

With the vast amount of albums David has recorded, one can correctly assume that his religious convictions are not the only subjects he dwells in. For instance, another subject he covers is his disenchantment with the music industry. This bitterness is addressed in the song, "This America:"

"American record companies don't want songs that convict people of their sins/ Radio stations don't want songs that make people think/ The record companies, the radio stations, the DJs, the publishing companies/ Are the same people that bring you cocaine and heroin/ They're the Mafia, the drug pushers, the scum of the earth."

As one can see, David doesn't restrict himself to what others may regard as socially acceptable in his lyrics. This is quite evident in David's work, which focuses on sexuality. 

In "Melissa's Hot Spot," a song that deals with a husband's intrigue for his wife's genitalia, David attempts to convey the fascination between the sexes.

"[He] sat their for hours in the bedroom/ Melissa's legs were spread/ She was shaving/ He stared between her legs for hours/ Not saying a word/ studying every detail of his wife's genitals..."

One need not mention that this is not subject matter that Casey Kasem will be introducing to the airwaves anytime soon. In fact, for the most part, David has had little success at all in reaching the general public. He hopes this will change as soon as his Web page, which is being constructed at the time of this article, is finished. Here he will be selling his tapes, books, and art. It will also give information on the progression of his weekly recording.

David's unique albums are coupled with the unusual way in which he records and performs them. Instead of playing merely one instrument at a time, David plays three.

Towering over his drums, he balances the guitar on his lap, while the keyboard rests in between the snare drum and the floor-tom. A pilot in his cockpit, he is perhaps the last one-man-band.

The day I came over to hear him play, David surprised me with homemade pizza. After the fulfilling dinner, which included wine, we went up the stairs to the small, cubicle-like area of the hallway where he plays and records in. He has to hunch over to fit under the slanted ceiling. He prepared his instruments and sat on his stool, which gives him the presence of a proud lion. It is evident that he is at home here.

He begins by strumming the guitar rapidly, while slamming his foot down on the bass drum pedal. The beat is primal and clustered. He stops the rapid strumming of his guitar and begins to play the keyboard. Switches back to guitar, which creates a whirling dervish musical performance.

The notes were random, there seemed to be no apparent structure to the song. Nor to the next one, nor the next. Continually switching between instruments, it became overwhelming until I realized that there didn't need to be structure; the music was moot. It was merely a vehicle for David. One in which his frustration, his confusion, and his fantasies are fulfilled and clarified. 

As of late, David has taken a break from his recording. "Since my mother died a little over a year ago, I have only recorded four albums."

He lived with his mother for over twenty years and has had trouble with her death. He expresses his grief in his book entitled Mother. According to David, Mother deals with the importance of caring for parents, and their care for us. One excerpt from the book reads:

"Mother just lay quietly now, then as she was wiping her mouth with her left hand, her right hand, which was resting on the bed, twitched, she said, 'An angel just touched my hand.'"

Despite his loss however, David seems to be slowly recovering. He is working on a new album and is quite active as a libertarian. He also is preparing, spiritually, for a series of events, which he feels, will be the beginning of the end.

"I've done enough studying on the Y2K problem that I think it will bring society down as we know it. And it will just be the start of our sorrows. I think after the great problems caused by computers, we will see the Book of Revelation fulfilled. I think the only way to avert this would be for everyone to repent and turn to God."

His convictions are as strong as his will to persevere. Continually banned from local radio stations, David has had a couple songs played on air. His first is in 1987 on WUEC, when the song, "Victim System" was played. Again, the song was eventually banned. With such rejection, David has found comfort and satisfaction in giving the occasional performance for friends.

So will we eventually associate David Blair's name with the likes of Porter, Salinger, or Pollack? Chances are no. However, this is not due to a lack of talent or conviction, merely location.

The outlet for an artistic pioneer is slim to none in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. So instead of glamour and glitz, David will have to settle with leaving his mark on a certain few that won't forget him anytime soon.