David, the youngest son of six children of the late Bishop Thomas O. and Missionary Vivian L. Manigo, being inspired by his older brother Leonard, started his career at the age of ten by playing the trumpet. At fourteen, he began playing the organ at his father’s church.
In 1971, while in high school, David arranged pop tunes for the marching and concert band, rapidly arranging on a second year college level. He received his first of several music awards from his band director for his first arrangement. He continued to arrange for the marching and concert band throughout high school. Other awards received were: Outstanding
Teenager of America, Who’s Who-Most Talented Senior, Music Achievement Award and Certificate of award for Jazz presentation.
In the fall of 1974, David was admitted at the University of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina College campus in Conway, South Carolina. He attended school for two years studying piano, theory, arranging and singing in the concert gospel choirs.
In the spring of 1976, David toured the East Coast with a soul rock group, AMIDA Band of Charleston, South Carolina. The AMIDA Band has appeared in concert with Cameo, The O’Jays, The Manhattans, Parliament, Funkadelic, Mothers’ Finest, Kool and the Gang, Skyy,
New Birth, James Brown, Peabo Bryson, Natalie Cole, The Spinners, and they were the original “Double Dutch” band for Frankie Smith. In 2008, David performed with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in New Berry, South Carolina.
In 1981, David on several occasions played in New York with three friends (originally from Trinidad) he met in Myrtle Beach, SC. Together they formed a group called “THE CARIBBEAN PLAYERS”, performing every summer, May thru September at the Myrtle Beach Hilton.
In 1991, David returned to the University of South Carolina, and in the fall of 1994, he earned a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education (specialty area History) with a minor in Music (specialty areas: voice; piano; instrumental band and theory). He is presently employed
with the Horry County School System. He was voted “Teacher of the Year” by his peers at Whittemore Park Middle School 1996-97 teaching South Carolina History. In 2000, David earned his “Master of Education” from the University of South Carolina in Administration. He now serves as a fine arts specialist at Horry County Schools.
From 1992 to present, he serves as the music/choral director of the Coastal Carolina University Gospel Choir (CIA).
In 2012, he founded “Thee Gote Production”, a music production company that specializing in single artists/small groups and re-recording lead vocals and solo instruments. Now over forty years of professional music recordings/mixing/mastering lab with an imitate home studio atmosphere.