Dave Hollister

David Le Chaine Hollister (born August 17, 1968; Chicago, Illinois) is an American R&B and gospel singer, songwriter, and record producer who found fame during the 1990s as one quarter of the R&B quartet Blackstreet.
 

Early Life

Hollister was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, in a household steeped in gospel music and biblical teaching, his father having served as a minister. He began singing in church as a young boy, and his vocal talent became apparent early on, shaped in part by the competitive local gospel scene on the city's South Side.

He is a cousin of fellow R&B artists K-Ci and JoJo Hailey, as well as Calvin Richardson and Fantasia. As competition among singers at his church grew, he found himself drawn increasingly towards secular opportunities, gradually building a name in Chicago's music circles.

Career

Hollister's professional career began before his time with Blackstreet, with an early credit as featured lead vocalist on Blakk Society's "Just Another Lonely Day," a house production by Larry Heard, released in 1989. He went on to sing background vocals on sessions for Father MC and Hi-Five, and appeared on the "Boyz N the Hood" soundtrack as a member of the group Force One Network. He was subsequently heard, credited simply as "Dave," on 2Pac's Top Ten R&B/hip-hop hit "Brenda's Got a Baby," and also contributed to "Keep Ya Head Up."

In 1993, producer Teddy Riley recruited Hollister for the newly formed R&B group Blackstreet, alongside Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little; the group's self-titled 1994 debut album achieved platinum certification, and Hollister's voice featured prominently on the hit single "Before I Let You Go."

He departed the group at the end of 1995 to pursue a solo career, signing with DreamWorks Records. His debut solo album, "Ghetto Hymns," released on May 25, 1999, in collaboration with Erick Sermon's Def Squad imprint, achieved RIAA gold certification in March 2000. He followed it with his best-known solo work, "Chicago '85... The Movie" (2000), also certified gold, which produced the hit singles "One Woman Man" and "Take Care of Home."

He moved from DreamWorks to Motown Records in March 2002, and continued releasing R&B albums before undergoing a significant career shift toward gospel music, releasing several albums as a Christian artist, including "The Book of David, Vol. 1" and "Witness Protection," the latter reaching number two on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart.

He also collaborated on the critically acclaimed gospel project United Tenors. Across his career, Hollister has released around ten studio albums spanning R&B, hip-hop-infused soul, and gospel.
 

Personal Life

Hollister has spoken publicly about a dramatic spiritual experience following a car crash, which prompted his return to gospel music and church ministry in 2006. He has described his decision to leave Blackstreet as shaped in part by internal tensions within the group, and has continued to speak candidly in interviews about balancing his gospel roots with his years in the secular music industry. He is now a gospel singer and preacher, and his journey from Chicago's South Side gospel circuit to R&B stardom and back to ministry has become a defining part of his public story and legacy within both genres.

Current Activities

Hollister continues to perform and record across both R&B and gospel, with confirmed 2026 tour dates in the United States, including a scheduled performance at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.