Musician David presents an ‘evening of change’

Spark has seen him team up with global stars of Game of Thrones and Disney’s The Lion King, some of whom feature on the album and the coverage which will be shown during the concert on the night.

The recent killing of Cecil the Lion shocked the world, with over a million people signing ‘Cecil’s Law’ demanding the banning of trophy hunting. One of those signatories was David, who has gone one step further, creating an album and a ‘concert of change,’ with over 50 local performers - as well as some famous friends - helping out.

David grew up in Spondon, where his mum and dad still live, in a hugely musical family.

His grandfather, Maurice Ward, was one of the most prominent figures of the UK’s showband movement of the 1950s-1990s and the whole family were active members of world champion showband The Derby Serenaders.

David has always believed that music has the power to change lives and through a 20-year career as professional musician and composer, he has developed a brand of songwriting so recognised by its simple, powerful melodies and poetic (and often cutting) storytelling, that his songs have been used by many charities and organisations around the world to influence positive community change on a global scale.

In 2012, David met pioneering conservationist, author and CEO of the Global White Lion Protection Trust, Linda Tucker and was inspired by her work to protect this rare species of Lion only found in the Timbavati region of South Africa. Soon after meeting, Linda asked David to create a theme song for the trust to support their campaign and he gladly obliged, composing the song Children Of The Sun. This went on to become an anthem at the awareness campaigns of fashion designers during that year’s New York Fashion Week. In 2014, David was once again asked to create some music for the wider plight of Lions, this time a protest song for spiritual world leader Desmond Tutu and the Global March for Lions.

“They were looking for a protest song in a similar vein to John Lennon’s Give Peace A Chance and as a mad Lennon fan, that scared the bejesus out of me! How do you create something original when the benchmark is probably the greatest songwriter of the last 60 years?!”

David knew this song needed something special so he called his friend and collaborator, Luyanda Jezile, to the task.

Luyanda was one of the African performers chosen to sing on the Disney Motion Picture The Lion King and bring the spirit of Africa to the music of Hans Zimmer and Elton John.

David created the acclaimed song LionHearts, sung in over 65 countries worldwide, and at a march spearheaded by David’s fellow campaigner, friend and UK patron of the White Lion Trust, Game Of Thrones and Ripper Street star Jerome Flynn.

To launch the album, David decided he wanted to host an ‘evening of change’ at Derby Theatre and people were only too keen to support him.

Proceeds from the sales of concert tickets, of CDs and of download will be going to a number of charities including the White Lion Trust and the plight of the homeless in Derby.

David’s album Spark is available to order at www.davidchabeaux.com/spark

Tickets for Spark: An Evening Of Change are £10, £7 concessions. To book, call 01332 593939.