Damien in the News!

Who croons with a voice that's a cross between Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra and Luther Vandross? Who sings each Friday night at the new "It's A Grind" coffee shop (located at Gilroy Crossing)? Who sings each Saturday for diners at the family-style Matxain Etxea Basque Restaurant in San Juan Bautista?
Who sings everything from "New York, New York," to "You're My Everything," to "Full Figured Woman," celebrating the beauty in each of us, no matter what size your soul is packaged in? Who makes you want to sing along with his songs?

Damien Carter hasn't quit his day job yet, but he sings every chance he gets, and his love of music comes through in every song.

Last Friday, Damien was scheduled to begin singing at 7:30pm, but so many customers had arrived that he was forced to go on 30 minutes early.

When a mom and her two small children stopped by, it was clear how much they were enjoying themselves. As Carter sang a line from the song, "Let's Stay Together," that asks "Why do people break up?" the mom sang "I don't know," right back without missing a beat.

The boy tried to act out the way Carter was holding the microphone as if he were a singer too. When he ended the evening with a soulful "America the Beautiful," the little boy was clapping and bouncing up and down, saying, "One more, one more!"

While Carter typically performs solo, he is also rehearsing with friends Ira Marshall on drums, Allen Douglas on keyboards, John Darsey on guitar, and Woody on saxophone, and plans to perform as the group "Cutting Edge." They're already starting to get bookings for future engagements, and though busy learning songs for those, they are also learning some of Carter's original compositions.

During the band's second garage rehearsal at Marshall's hillside home, the neighbors turned off their own music and used the band's rehearsal as their party music. After only four rehearsals, the group sounds as if they have been together for years. Their weekly rehearsals have started attracting people.

It's not just Carter's expertise at recreating classic oldies of yesterday that stands out, or his ability to sing just about any R&B, jazz, or top 40 song. His polite demeanor and good manners are something not found often enough today. Maybe it was being raised by a minister dad and a gospel-singing mom, but in a business often driven by out-of-control ego, it is rare to meet an artist with his passion for lifting the burdens of others through his love of singing. Whenever difficulties arise, Carter stays philosophical and his ego remains refreshingly in check. In other words, not only is he an excellent singer - but he's also a really nice guy.

When he sings, he sways everyone's mood toward the upbeat. His smile, eye contact and obvious enjoyment of what he is doing makes everyone in the room begin feeling more lighthearted. As Cutting Edge keyboardist Allen Douglas put it, "Everyone sits up a little straighter, smiles a little bigger, acts a little friendlier to his or her neighbor, and enjoys life a little more."

Carter sings at It's A Grind, Friday nights, from 7:30 to 10pm, and at the Basque Restaurant Saturdays from 7 to 9pm (call 831-623-4472). Log onto damiencarter.com/booking.html for details.



Kat Teraji
Kat Teraji is communications coordinator for a large nonprofit that benefits women and children. Her column appears every Friday. You can reach her at kattoy@verizon.net.