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David Robert Hemingway (born 20 September 1960) is an English musician and songwriter, best known as avocalist for the Hull based bandThe Beautiful South until they disbanded in 2007. Previously he had been a member ofThe Housemartins.
Hemingway was born inHull,East Riding of Yorkshire, to Harry Hemingway, a lorry driver and local comedian on the club circuit, and Flo Hemingway, who was one of Hull's best-known barmaids.[1] In Hull'sHenry Cooper School, Hemingway was in the same class asThe Housemartins' futuredrummer,Hugh Whitaker. The two shared an interest in drumming.[citation needed] Hemingway followed Whitaker into bands, first the Newpolitans withDave Rotheray onbass, and then the Velvetones. Whilst at university in London, Hemingway was the drummer and a founding member of The Shoppers, a post-punk band.[citation needed]
His break came when he got a call from Rotheray telling him Whitaker had left The Housemartins. Rotheray recommended him to Housemartins guitaristStan Cullimore, who phoned him. He was working as apurchase ledgerclerk at the time for the Crystal Motor Group. Hemingway quit his job on 6 March 1987, and soon found himself in thestudio, recording the band's secondalbum,The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death.
After the Housemartins disbanded, he and Housemartins founderPaul Heaton put together The Beautiful South, featuring roadie and bassistSean Welch.
Hemingway's firstsolo album,Hello Cruel World, was released as adownload only oniTunes. The album's title was inspired by Hemingway's experience recording in the capital.
After forming "The South" in 2008, Hemingway along withAlison Wheeler from the Beautiful South line-up, released their first album since 2006 entitledSweet Refrains. The album, featuring songs written by keyboardist Damon Butcher and guitarist Phil Barton, was recorded and released in 2012.[2]
After leaving The South in 2017, Hemingway formed a new band called Sunbirds with former bandmate Phil Barton, drummer Marc Parnell and vocalist Laura Wilcockson. In 2020, Nectar Records released the first single by Sunbirds. Titled "Meet You on the Northside", the song is from the band's debut album,Cool to Be Kind.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
