Welcome to the Official Site of David Paton!

The name David Paton doesn't conjure up images of Grammys, glitz, or gyrating hips. His face may never have appeared on the cover of the Rolling Stone and he hasn't headlined the half-time show at the Super Bowl. Yet, David has left an indelible mark on the Rock and Pop world. Clearly one of the most respected, underrated, and versatile musicians in the business, David Paton has been writing, singing, and playing great music for over a quarter of a century.

Early on in his music career, David's talent as a songwriter was quite evident. His catchy pop tunes Magic and January propelled his band to the top of the charts. There were few bands soaring as high as PILOT in 1975. Unfortunately, some crew changes, poor management, and the demand for the individual members as session players ultimately led to the band's grounding in 1977. But a legacy of hit singles, 2 charismatic tours, and 4 remarkable albums proved PILOT wasn't just some fly by night teenybopper band. The band took its music seriously and it showed.

As a singer, David is equally as impressive. The appealing melodies and distinctive harmonies he displayed with PILOT complimented each other and commanded your complete attention. As David moved on to other bands such as THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT and CAMEL, his vocals continued to captivate the ear. While most people are familiar with his Project vocals, some of his more obscure vocal work is worth noting. His vocals on "Heroes" from CAMEL's 1982 album Single Factor are simply mesmerising. Once they get in your head, the haunting melodies may never leave. His vocals on his own traditional Scottish albums bring out the best of his versatility and ability to write in a particular style and arrange pieces of music by the likes of Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.

As a player, whether in the studio or on the stage, David is up there with the best. His bass licks on ELTON JOHN's tunes such as Nikita and live performances with Elton were simply brilliant. His classical guitar work with RICK WAKEMAN is equally as memorable. The list of artists he has worked with is long and diverse ranging from the Hard Rock of JIMMY PAGE, to the Progressive Rock of FISH, to the traditional Scottish tunes of such artists as PHIL CUNNINGHAM and DICK GAUGHAN.

When one sees David play live, you really see what he is all about; straight forward, no nonsense, passionate music! David is too modest about his accomplishments and the last person inclined to herald The Alan Parsons Project anthem of "Let's Talk About Me". So if you want to know more about his accomplishments and current work, click away and experience the MAGIC of
DAVID PATON!

David Paton – Communication – CD

Available now for Pre-order - Release date 20th October 2024

Communication is an album I am delighted with. The songs have been written, produced and played with great attention to detail and only the best of my current songs have been selected.

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

All I Need

No Words

Raindrops

Heartbeat

Before I Let It Go

Communication

Madelyn

Out Of My Senses

Daydream

I Will Be A King

It’s a pleasure to receive contributions from a few of my musician friends, and I sincerely hope that listeners enjoy the music as much as I enjoyed making it. Thank you for all your support.

David

Magic – The David Paton Story – Paperback

When I discovered The Beatles at the age of fourteen, I had no idea that one day I’d work with Paul McCartney in Studio two at Abbey Road; or that I’d write a number one worldwide hit; or that I’d spend three years touring the world and recording as bass player with Elton John, including playing in his band at Live Aid. These achievements were well beyond my imagination – yet I did them. Making music is a joy and a privilege, but my career as a musician has made it possible for me to meet and work with some of the world-famous artists that I idolised.

I am the singer, songwriter and bass player with the group Pilot. I wrote the worldwide hits ‘Magic’, ‘January’ and ‘Just a Smile’. I was a member of The Alan Parsons Project for ten years. I have done session work with The Pretenders, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Chris De Burgh, Chris Rea and Jimmy Page, to name but a few.

This book gives an insight into the life of a successful songwriter and session musician. I have a lot to say, but as well as telling my story, I also offer a valuable insight into what to do – and what not to do – should the reader be interested in pursuing a career in music.

David Paton first gained recognition as the lead singer and writer of the group Pilot, writing their hit songs including ‘Magic’ and number one ‘January’ in the mid-1970s. He then went on to collaborate with various major artists such as Kate Bush, The Alan Parsons Project, Elton John and Paul McCartney.

He has always had a genuine passion for writing, playing, and producing all types of music, with an emphasis on collaborating with other musicians. Still active in music, he lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Pilot – The Magic Collection – CD

Because of lockdown, I’ve spent most of my days in the studio recording and experimenting with ideas. This is where the recordings for The Magic Collection began.

It has been a very productive time for me, I felt very at home with the Pilot songs and spent a lot of time listening to the albums and picking out my favourites.

I’m really delighted with the end result and I believe that the music has adapted well to a more modern approach. Pilot music does have a timeless quality to it so reworking the songs has been a very enjoyable task.

I hope Pilot fans are happy with the new interpretations. Thank you all for your continued support.

David