David Buskin
David Buskin is a singer, songwriter, performer, author, playwright, jingle composer and girls' basketball coach. He composed numerous television and radio commercials produced in the 1980s and 1990s. He won a Clio Award in 1983 for Just Watch Us Now, NBC's signature jingle.
Biography
Buskin grew up in New York City. He graduated from Brown University in 1965 in the middle of the folk music era. After Brown, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he began to write his own brand of folk-rock songs. His brother is the writer John Buskin.Composer
After selling five songs to Mary Travers for her album, Morning Glory, Buskin toured with her for several years as her opening act and they became lifelong friends. Some of the other artists who have recorded his songs include: Astrud Gilberto, Judy Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, Johnny Mathis, Shirley Bassey, Tom Rush, Roberta Flack, Dixie Carter, and Tracy Nelson.In addition to his folk-rock music, Buskin has written numerous advertising jingles. Among others, Buskin wrote the jingle for NBC for which he won a Clio Award in 1983. He co-wrote All Aboard America for Amtrak, and did work for Burger King, JC Penney, and the US Postal Service.
He also helped create the children's show Generation O that was seen on the WB Kid's Network. He is currently working on a play to be directed by Tony Award winner and fellow Brown graduate, James Naughton.
Together with Janet Fox and Susan Hamilton he wrote a song "Every time a good time" for McDonald's.
Performer
Buskin signed his first recording contract with Epic Records in the early 1970s. He recorded two albums in Nashville and later toured with the rock group Pierce Arrow, recording two albums for Columbia Records. Here he met Robin Batteau, and the two decided to become a duo. David played guitar and piano; Robin guitar, mandolin, and electric violin. The partnership lasted until 1990. The Washington Post has described the duo as "an irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit." They appeared together, composing and performing throughout New England and New York in various clubs, including The Bottom Line.David performs with his partners, Rob Carlson and George Wurzbach in the group "Modern Man – filling the void between The Three Tenors and The Three Stooges." "With the release of their third CD, "Assisted Living," the somewhat musical group known as Modern Man continued its assault on the out-moded idea that only those persons not yet manifesting symptoms of Alzheimer's should perform in public."
From 2005 to 2014, Buskin rejoined his former partner, Robin Batteau and percussionist Marshal Rosenberg. They created a new CD and toured as "Folk du Soleil." In April, 2014, Batteau announced his retirement from performing, but reunited with Buskin starting in 2019. From 2014 to 2015, Buskin performed with his partners in "Modern Man," with a final concert in October, 2015.
Awards
Buskin received the Clio award in 1983.Buskin is the recipient of the "Kate Wolf Award" from the World Folk Music Association in 1999.
In 2002 Modern Man was awarded Backstage's "Bistro Award" for Best Musical."