In his own words David Kersh's first single "died a miserable death on the charts."

But he's "Breaking Hearts and Taking Names," as that ill-fated single says, since his second and third releases, "Goodnight Sweetheart" and "Another You," broke the Top 5 on Billboard magazine's country singles chart. Though the 27-year-old from Humble, Texas, may be the latest in a slew of up and coming young country solo artists, Kersh's concerts are known on the dance hall circuit for their intense spontaneity and energy.

"I've always been moved by music," says Kersh, who jumps in the middle of a screaming pocket of female fans just for kicks. "My response is one part a reaction to the music and one part energy from the crowd. I just can't keep myself still."

Kersh is calling from a cellular phone in the Nashville airport before boarding a plane for Tulsa, Okla., and a concert at a club called Tulsa City Limits.

When he's not on the road or in the air, Kersh is screening music for a new album with his band, Morning Wood. The tentative release for the untitled work is March 1998.

The crazy schedule leaves little time for a personal life.

"I'm very single, but I'm always looking," Kersh says, laughing. "It's the perfect way to be when you're on the road 240 days out of the year. Right now I just want to have fun."

After more than a decade touring the back roads and byways of the Southeastern dance hall circuit, Kersh deserves a little fun. But currently, he is completely focused on his budding career.

"What I really want is to hook up on a tour with a big artist for some major exposure," he says.

Ideally that exposure would be with superstar Shania Twain, but there have been no plans made for such a show.

"For some reason it's so much better for males to go on the road with females," says Kersh. "Also, I think our fan base is similar."

That fan base is predominantly young country fans, many of whom aren't old enough to get into to clubs where their favorites perform, such as the Country Rock Cafe where Kersh performs tonight.

"I think it's really important for an artist to connect to the young fans now," Kersh says of his teen-age fans. "They will be my fans in 20 years and I want to be a part of the artists bridging the gap between the old and new country music."