The sweet sounds of success.

Epic Records executive David McPherson is a musical genius in his own right

David McPherson's talent has rendered him an icon within the music industry. No, you won't see him on TV crooning soulful ballads or performing the latest dance craze in a sequined outfit. Indeed, McPherson is musically blessed in another sense--he has the uncanny ability to discover and nurture superstars.

His harvesting skills have earned him widespread respect in an industry where recognizing talent is an art unto itself. "You have to be able to identify artists that can potentially sell a lot of records, and possess some level of good taste--that of the person who is going to buy the record because they hear or see something that they love. You have to have that common touch," he says.

In addition to signing artists as the executive vice president of A&R (artists and repertoire) for Epic Records, he simultaneously oversees all of the marketing', promotion, artist development, and publicity as executive vice president for Epic's Urban Music group. He is the only music executive to hold two such job titles. His musician roster includes Jill Scott, Ginuwine, 3LW, and Jon B.

Earning a cool, six-figure salary with a plush office in the Big Apple, McPherson is enjoying the fruits of his labor. But his ascent to the upper echelons of the music industry was no cakewalk.

* Doing his duty: The St. Louis native's love for singing and writing music manifested itself during a four-year stint in the Army. "I always wanted to touch lives and make people feel good, feel how I felt when music touched me," says McPherson. "When someone's listening to [a] song [you wrote] for those three minutes and 35 seconds, you've given that person an escape, a place to go. That's what it's all about for me."

Later, as a student at William Paterson University, in Wayne, New Jersey, he began researching the music industry to find his niche. After one year at William Paterson, he landed internships at Elektra and Mercury Records, and took a job with the latter in the marketing department. Once in, he set his creative sights on A&R.

* Groovin' on up: A year later, he was promoted to A&R manager at Mercury, where he worked with such artists as Vanessa L. Williams and Brian McKnight. He moved on to Jive Records, and in 1994, dared to challenge the dominance of hiphop and B&B by signing a white pop boy band--the multiplatinum, megastar group, the Backstreet Boys. He also signed R&B crooner Joe, and R&B group Ruff Endz.

In 1998, McPherson signed on at Epic Records as senior vice president of Urban Music, which, in June 2000, segued into his current dual position. His first artist signing was Mandy Moore, a 16-year-old pop singer whose first album went platinum.

* Breaking in is hard to do: It takes a lot of heart to survive in the music industry. "You must possess a love and passion for the music because this business can be difficult" he counsels. Breaking in--whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes, like McPherson--hinges heavily on two things: networking and experience.

"You have to do your homework on the people in the business that are doing the job you want to do" asserts McPherson. "The most common way to enter the business is to intern--that's how I got to where I am. I've never worked with an intern that really worked hard and didn't wind up getting a job in the music business. Not one."

* Fast forward: Though he's enjoying his time at Epic, McPherson keeps his sights set on the future. "You plan as much as you can," he says. "I'd like to maybe run my own record company one day."

Name: David McPherson

AGE: 33

TITLE: Executive vice president of A&R and Urban Music for the Epic Records Group

COMPANY: Epic Records Group

EDUCATION: William Patterson University Wayne, New Jersey

FAMILY: Wife, Virginia