Emmy Award-winning actor, singer and voice artist Keith David will perform at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 20.
David, who will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2026, has released the first single "Old Devil Moon" from his debut jazz album.
WBGO's Doug Doyle spoke with David about the album and his amazing career.
Keith David's first love is jazz.
"It really is. Growing up my father was a big jazz enthusiast, a lot of avant-garde jazz and a lot of instrumental jazz. So growing up, jazz was in my household. As I think about, jazz has always been in commercials and movie themes. It's always been in the fabric of our society. I particularly love the Great American Songbook. My early hero was Nat King Cole. Seeing reruns and watching Nat King Cole came out on a black stage and that spotlight would hit him and there he is that sharkskin suit or a tuxedo and I'm, oh my God, I want to look like that. I always felt that he sounded like I felt inside. Every feeling I ever had there was a Nat King Cole song that fitted that feeling."
David portrayed Nat King Cole in Too Marvelous for Words: A Celebration of Nat King Cole.
Jazz fans also know David for his work that led to a Tony Award nomination for his role as Chimney Man in Jelly’s Last Jam. He also starred in Seven Guitars on Broadway. He's narrator of Ken Burns 2001 documentary Jazz and many others including Burn’s 2021’s Muhammad Ali.
He also wowed everyone with his portrayal of Dr. Facilier in Disney’s Princess and the Frog, especially singing "Friends on the Other Side."
"It was great fun for me. A red letter in my career. Funny this is that one of things that made me sure that I wanted to be an actor was when I saw Hans Christian Anderson with Danny Kaye. Very purposely, I auditioned with "The Ugly Duckling" song for the role of Dr. Facilier and I got the job. When I saw Hans Christian Anderson I knew I wanted to be an actor. What Danny Kaye was doing is what I wanted to do. I wanted act, sing and do that stuff."
Singing at this year's Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival is special for Keith David.
"Pittsburgh is one of my favorite towns. I have a lot of connection with Pittsburgh. Back in the early 80's I did A Midsummer Night's Dream there. I played Othello there. When I did Othello there in the mid 80's it hadn't been done since Paul Robeson had done it in Pittsburgh. It was thrilling to me. A couple of my best friends I met in Pittsburgh. Plus, Seven Guitars is one of my greatest experiences on the stage and August (Wilson) is from Pittsburgh and he writes about The Hill District and I've spent some time there. I've pumped some iron you know."
Keith David is also pleased with the reception he's received about his new single "Old Devil Moon", especially when he first heard the tune on the radio.
"It's great when you see your work out there and see other appreciate it. It's a wonderful feeling.
You can SEE Doug Doyle's entire interview with Keith David below.
