Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kater.
Hi David, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into the arts started at the age of 6 or 7 years old. I remember sitting on the couch with my parents and watching the TV show “Fame.” There was a scene of one of the main characters tap dancing with a young person and for some reason, I just knew that I could do that. I turned to my mom and simply said, “I can do that!” I remember the perplexed look my mother gave me as she asked, “Do what?” “That!” I said and pointed to the kid on TV, who was tap dancing. That was the cue, and my mom picked up on it and took me to the local dance studio near our home, where I took my first tap class. The teacher of the class came up to me after and asked where I used to take dance from, and I told her it was my very first class. That started it all.
From that first tap class, I was addicted to dance until the opportunity came around to audition for a performing group where I would have to also sing. I was around 9 years old then, and I remember the audition song I sang was “Tomorrow” from the movie musical “Annie.” I auditioned, and the owner of the dance studio was less than encouraging and told me that I should never try to be a singer and to stick to dance. Well, what should have killed my spirit, lit a fire and I began to sing and booked more gigs that were focused on vocal talents. My first professional job was singing in the children’s chorus of the L.A. Opera, where I performed on stage with the legendary tenor Placido Domingo in multiple productions. A Disney commercial and some recording gigs later, including singing on Randy Newman’s album and song “Four Eyes,” I was presented with the opportunity to audition for Disney’s “The All New Mickey Mouse Club” on Disney Channel, where I landed a spot in the cast, being a recurring role and an original member to start the MMC phenomenon.
After leaving the show after one season, it took a toll emotionally on my young 13-year-old mind as I went back to school and became a normal kid. Not for too long, though. I was asked to enroll into the Los Angeles HS for the Arts, where I would learn a great deal of what it took to be on the top of your game as a young artist and also where I would meet lifelong friends that I consider family. While finishing my senior year, I was casted in the cult classic movie “Sister Act 2 – Back In The Habit”, as part of the main cast of kids. This year is our 30th reunion of the movie, and the way that it has inspired people to this day is amazing.
After that amazing experience working with so many top-tier talents and future big celebs, I was casted in the touring company of “Miss Saigon” as part of the ensemble, where after six months on the road, I was cast to be the “Lun Tha” understudy for the Broadway revival “King and I.” There were a few differences with how my arrival to that show should have gone, which caused me to exit the show before even rehearsing, but it was a universal plan that way as I was re-cast to join the tour of “Miss Saigon” but this time as the co-star role of “Thuy.” After years on the road with the show, I ended up in NY performing here and there on the Broadway stage, both in ensemble roles as well as the role of “Thuy.” It was in NY that I became heavily involved into music making and production as well as refining my chops as a recording artist.
After living in NY for a year, I understood that I needed to be back in LA to chase my dreams due to the support system I had back home. It was then, musically, that my career as both a producer and recording artist became not only a reality but a passion. I had a brief stint in a group called Unity that had a song in the pop parody movie “2 Gether,” and then soon after left that group to join another in Atlanta that was produced and lead by the amazing Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, who produced “Break My Soul” for Beyonce, “Umbrella” for Rihanna, and a lot of other hits.
Spending time in the ATL learning and absorbing would set the next journey to make my own mark in the music world as a music producer. Just being in the room with a major music mogul/hitmaker gave me a lot of insight into what I needed to do to perhaps one day have some success of my own. This led to me having hits globally in Asia for Kpop and Jpop artists, creating original songs and music for over 30 TV shows and films to date, being featured as a vocalist on countless TV, film, and recording projects, and continuing today with creating music for various domestic and Kpop artists being released this year. Writing with talented producers and writers, including songwriter Tricia Battani and producer G’harah “PK” Degeddingseze and singer-songwriter “Kiyone'” as well as MMC sister Rhona Bennet of Envogue.
The journey from that 6- or 7-year-old tap dancer to now has been a wild one with many ups and downs and all around, but the best part of this whole journey and the achievement I am most proud of is becoming a family man and a father to my daughter.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been a lot of obstacles along the way. Being a young performer there are always deviant people with hidden agendas all around you. My story is not unlike some of the trauma the kids from the new expose’ series “Quiet On The Set” went through. Mainly for me, it was the adult manipulation from outside the circle, causing preteen life to be harder than it ever had to be. Also, being a mixed-race kid in a predominately Caucasian environment, being told I was inferior to that visual type. It caused a lot of internal self-deprecation as young teen to young adult. Being told I was too dark, or not Asian enough, or that I sang amazingly in Pop and R&B genres but that I’m Asian and not marketable. This was in the 90s and 2000s, and now we see an emergence of Asian artists dominating charts globally, which I am so very proud of. I’ll leave it that it was by no means an easy road.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a music professional and a creative artist who is also in many facets of other business, including real estate and finance. I love to stay busy and learn new things and love to find solutions to problems as well as help people. Musically, I am known as an actor, singer, music producer, and singer/songwriter known for many projects, including hit songs with K-pop artists Shinee, Wheesung, and Seven, and music in movies on every platform. I’m known for being versatile vocally, as well as having a very big imagination.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My family and the ability to still relevantly continue my art and passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dkater.com
- Instagram: @davidkateroffical
