Environment

William Davenport Is Breaking Through

Published

11 years ago

March 11, 2014

Melodic. Smooth. Engaging. Brilliant.

These are just a few of the words used to describe the voice of 27- year-old William Davenport after a sold out performance in Oakland last week.

A native of Decatur, Georgia, he moved to Nashville to pursue a degree in Architectural Engineering. After completing four years of the five-year program he knew he wasn’t happy with the direction his life was going.

“I feel like being passionate about something is what carries you through,” said Davenport. “I wasn’t passionate about engineering, I liked the money I’d make.”

In 2009, with only 18hours left to complete his degree, he put school to the backburner and decided to solely focus on his music, performing at various places in Nashville to perfect his craft.

But by age 23 he still wasn’t signed and instead of being on BET, he was watching it. He says he was embarrassed and became extremely hard on himself. But it was this process that helped him become the musician that he is today.

“Sometimes, you make it to the level not because of praise, but because of frustration,” he said. “Having confidence and believing in yourself is only half the battle. Being satisfied with who you are can take you so many places.”

Davenport has since been featured in BET’s Music Matters campaign and has opened up for artists such as Raheem DeVaughn, Laura Izibor, and India Arie. He also co-starred in the play, “A Mother’s Prayer,” with Johnny Gill, Robin Givens, Jermaine Crawford, and Shirley Murdock, which featured on BET.

Moving forward, Davenport has teamed up with well-known Bay Area promoter Lionel Bea, who has worked with such artists as Chris Rock, D.L. Hughley and Jamie Foxx. He says his willingness to go through the process to have a music career – and not just become a one-hit wonder – is why Bea is willing to work with him. He recently opened up for Charlie Wilson at the Paramount Theatre.

And while each performance brings a wave of praise, Davenport says he feels he has yet to sign a major deal because he is unwilling to compromise.

“I want to be able to write my songs, put real music out, put songs out that aren’t two and three chords,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been given a gift” and with that gift comes responsibility.

To find out more information about William Davenport or to listen to his recordings, visit www.iamwilliamdavenport.com

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Related Topics:BAP Management Lionel Bea William Davenport

Up Next

Newswoman Barbara Rodgers Makes Her Mark in Bay Area Media

Don't Miss

Mental Illness, A Taboo That Needs to Be Addressed

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

City Government

San Pablo Appoints New Economic Development and Housing Manager

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo. Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Kieron Slaughter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Pablo

The Richmond Standard

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo.

Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Before that he was an associate planner in the City of Richmond’s Planning and Building Services Department from 2007-2015.

San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez lauded Slaughter’s extensive experience in economic development, housing and planning, saying he will add a “valuable perspective to the City Manager’s Office.”

Slaughter, a Berkeley resident, will start in his new role on Nov. 12, with a base annual salary of $164,928, according to the City of San Pablo.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Bay Area

Alameda County Judge Blasts Defendants Over Delay in West Oakland Fire Trial

Judge Kimberly Lowell excoriated the RadiusRecycling/SchnitzerSteel defendants in court for causing delays in prosecuting this case. Since the defendants first appeared in court on July 23, they have obtained three extensions of the arraignment date.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Criminal charges announced this week are related to the August 2023 scrap metal fire at Radius Recycling Inc., formerly Schnitzer Steel. Photo courtesy of Oaklandside.

Special to The Post

District Attorney Pamela Price announced that a hearing was held on October 30 in the criminal prosecution of the Radius Recycling/Schnitzer Steel involving a fire at the West Oakland facility on Aug. 9-10, 2023.

The Alameda County criminal Grand Jury indicted radius Recycling and two of its corporate managers in June 2024.

The court clarified that the defendants will not receive more extensions on their arraignment and plea.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price agreed with the court that defendants should not get preferential treatment. Price and her team appreciated the court for clarifying that future delays by Radius will not be tolerated.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) public data shows that during and after the fire, the smoke plume traveled across Alameda County with high levels of PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) detected around Laney College in Oakland, Livermore, Pleasanton, and West Oakland.

PM2.5 is particularly harmful to infants and children, the elderly, and people with asthma or heart disease.

“This fire posed a great health hazard to the people of Alameda County,” said Price. “High, short-term exposures to a toxic smoke plume have been shown to cause significant danger to human health.

“Additionally, in this case, Oakland firefighters battled the blaze under extremely dangerous conditions for 15 hours with assistance from a San Francisco Fire Department fireboat and a fireboat from the City of Alameda Fire Department,” Price observed.

The team prosecuting the case from the DA’s Consumer Justice Bureau looks forward to resolving any future motions and having the defendants arraigned in court on Dec. 9.

The media relations office of the Alameda County District Attorney’s office is the source of this report.