An Aussie for all seasons

Young Chang

David Campbell has been in a mellow mode lately. Performing and

traveling has allowed him downtime at airports, where the self-proclaimed

gypsy likes to sit back with “crap magazines” and be “airport Zen.”

The Australian native is just as relaxed about his rapidly rising

singing career, which lands him at the Orange County Performing Arts

Center this weekend.

Campbell, 27, began working professionally about five years ago. Since

then, the cabaret, pop, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz and swing performer has

grabbed the attention of musical theater legends like Barbara Cook and

Michael Feinstein.

Campbell met Cook at a master class she taught in Australia. She then

turned around and told others in the theater world, “This guy’s really

good.” Campbell had never heard that before.

“I’m grateful,” he said. “I definitely think there are moments in your

career, in any career, where a great shift happens.”

But sudden fame is not what Campbell wants. He doesn’t think

recognition is the sort of thing you plan. You do your best at work and

try to get something more from it than just a salary to pay the rent.

Campbell said he works in music to satisfy a need.

“Some of us need to do it because you can’t do anything else,” he

said. “You feel like it’s gonna complete you to perform and express

yourself in that way.”

But it’s difficult to classify what he does. People try to typecast

him as a cabaret or musical theater star, Campbell said, but he would

rather not be categorized.

“Bobby Darin or Sammy Davis Jr. or Costello -- they did everything.

That’s the kind of career I admire the most,” he said.

His theater credits include the role of Marius in “Les Miserables,”

“Hey, Mr. Producer: The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh,” “Saturday

Night” and “Babes in Arms.”

He recently appeared in a joint concert with Andrea Marcovicci in San

Francisco, made a guest appearance with The New York Pops Orchestra and

recorded songs for DreamWorks’ “Joseph: King of Dreams,” the animated

prequel to “The Prince of Egypt.”

Campbell is the singing voice for Joseph, which is played by Ben

Affleck. The movie, which will go straight to video, premiered this week.

He also recently performed with Cook at the Sydney Opera House. The

audience responded warmly to their patter and connection, Cook said from

a hotel in New York.

“One of the things that’s unusual, particularly in someone his age,”

she added, “is his ability to communicate. Usually it takes someone

longer to do that.”

Campbell said he got a “nice circular feeling” from the experience.

His awards include the MACC Award from the Manhattan Assn. of Cabarets

and Clubs and the Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Still, there is more he’d like to try -- like acting and writing.

“I think I have things to say. I’ve had an interesting life,” Campbell

said. “I think the more personal you can make your songs, the more you

can connect with people.”

His stories may be about how his father, Jimmy Barnes, is a rock star

in Australia comparable to America’s Bruce Springsteen. Or about how he

learned one day that the woman he thought was his sister was actually his

mother.

“It sounds pretty funny, but it’s a pretty common thing, illegitimate

children,” Campbell said. “My grandmother adopted me. I was lucky to be

kept in the family.”

His first love, though, will remain performing music. It’s what he

does for work as well as for play.

Friend John Bucchino, a songwriter who Campbell met about five years

ago, said the two hangout by staying in, ordering food, playing piano and

“goofing around musically.”

Bucchino, who wrote the songs in “Joseph: King of Dreams,”rallied for

Campbell to be hired to sing the part.

“We really do have a mutual admiration society,” Bucchino said. “It’s

not often that one comes across someone as musically talented and

charismatic as he is, and I’m not just saying that ‘cause he’s my pal.

I’m a pretty harsh critic.”

FYI

* WHAT: David Campbell headlines the Orange County Performing Arts

Center’s Cabaret Series.

* WHEN: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday

* WHERE: Founders Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center,

600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

* COST: $45 and $49

* CALL: (714) 740-7878