TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
I was horrible but he would let me fail in front of my peers on the weekly,” David said. “David was a joy to have in our youth group at FBC,” said Carson. “He was in the youth band, on keyboard. He was kind to everybody and respected as a Christian. We loved his family. They were huge supporters of our youth ministry. When he graduated from high school, he traveled with me for a couple of summers doing camps. He really began to grow as a musician. He went off to Baylor, and
classroom was open. This girl walked by wearing a green sweater and a blue-jean mini skirt and that was it.” David recalls. “I asked the guy sitting next to me, ‘Who is that?’ He told me, ‘Toni Brine.’ Turns out, one of my best friends, Bryan Poe, was dating one of her best friends, Robin Cope. There was a Valentine’s banquet at the church, and I worked up the nerve to ask her to go. I borrowed a friend’s car because I didn’t have one. It was a Toyota Celica, and I felt so cool picking her up in it. I guess it worked because we had a
second date. That was a hayride to a campfire, and we kissed. It was awesome.” David unknowingly began his music career way back in the early days with the piano lessons his mother insisted he take. “I grew up playing piano, mom taking me to lessons. I hated it.” But he admits, “Mom always knows best.” It wasn’t until college David began learning to play the guitar. “Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Widespread Panic—these were the college type bands popping. It was a great time to be learning how to play guitar. I
God really blessed his talents. We have been so proud of the success he has had. I drop his name everywhere I go.” Carson bragged. “I am amazed every time he comes out with a new record or every time we get to hear him live. He is our favorite artist for sure. So proud of him and Toni. She deserves a lot of credit for his success.” Though obvious now to his fans, that success came as a total surprise to David. There is a scripture in Proverbs 16:9 that says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” David’s life seems
Give yourself fully to where you are right now. You bloom where you’re planted, so sink roots in, take from the soil, give it right back, and hopefully flourish. ”
—Crowder
still consider my primary instrument piano (thanks mom), but I now poke at anything with strings. If you can string it up, I’ll give it a go.” With David’s developing musical prowess, what better place to debut his skills than to the youth group of FBC? They became the perfect first audience for this someday star who would eventually play for thousands. “I have always loved music, but it was our youth director at FBC, Dan Carson, who gave me an outlet for it.
to be a picture-perfect example of this truth playing out. What an incredible thing it is when a person stumbles upon a path that has been divinely cleared. “I never considered [music] as a real career option,” he said, “nor would anyone else who heard me back then. What I wanted to do was work for my dad. He had Dan Crowder Insurance Agency right on Richmond Road. As previously stated, I thought
Toni and David Crowder at the Pleasant Grove prom in 1990
David and Toni Crowder on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards
David and Toni Crowder in Italy at Lake Como
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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