1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for
themselves when they knew
they wanted to be a singer.
For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,
to another generation it was the
Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.
Is there such a defining moment for you?
As a songwriter, it would The Beach Boys, at least at the
beginning. I had never heard such
harmonies fit so perfectly with words crafted to match so seamlessly, all from
Brian Wilson alone in his room less than ten miles from the ocean. So I joined our high school glee club and a four-kid
group called The Informal Vocal Culture Society. (I was the Josh Turner-type voice.) In my 20s, when my interest turned to country,
I suppose the crafting of words and music inherent in that genre drew me to
composing in that style? Great way to
tell stories and the words really do count for something!
2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who
are some of
your favorites?
For someone who has written mostly country, I really like
Brad Paisley, the Zac Brown Band and Keith Urban, currently. Long-time favorites include Kenny Rogers,
Kentucky Headhunters, and, most of all by a mile, Waylon Jennings. And in the summer, at a live performance in
Simi Valley, California, I saw Jamestown Revival for the first time. These two guys from Texas will end up in the
Country Music Hall of Fame someday, you wait and see! Texas country at its coolest. But I gotta’ tell you, the Beatles had a big
impact in my musical direction. You can
hear it in two of the album cuts – “One More Night with You” and “When I Walked
with You.”
3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an
artist, either on record
or live?
The greatest moment is from idea generation to hearing the
end result. Since I composed the songs and produced them working closely with a
top-notch arranger I met at The Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase, it’s when I
would hear the master tape for the first time after all the production elements
were put together into the mix that the public would hear. No more changes because none were needed!
4. Do you believe
music can change the world or is just something to listen
to?
How much can music influence current events?
I can’t think of any songs that have changed the world, but
John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” was certainly the musical benchmark of my
generation and still gives me pause when I hear it. I really do hope that “Bushwacked
(Bewildered, Beat-up Bad and Broke) will become more than just a song, but will
rally people to be more active in demanding change in government and finance to
fix our economy. I would like listeners
to think and act. This thoughtful,
simply sung composition is not entertainment, by any stretch of the
imagination. It’s kind of like when
“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” made people listen in the Great Depression and
know they were not alone being down and out.
The most touching reaction from a listener to BBBuB&B has been – “I
feel this song is written for me and all the others on the ropes and when I
listen to it, each time it helps to take
the edge off, even if just for a little while.” We must have done something right in the early
stages of the album launch as BBBuB&B now sits in the website devoted to
the song made famous so many years ago by Al Jolson. From my point-of-view as the songwriter, that
says a lot.
5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected
your career as a musician?
Thankfully, it has been a game-changer for songwriters and
performers. No need for publishers or labels now. We do that. No need for fronting heavy CD, jewel case and
packaging expenses either. Thanks to Internet radio, we are being played in 25
countries in just four short weeks. The big challenge that still remains for Indies
like us is getting airplay on traditional AM/FM stations. But I think that will change when listeners
catch on that, no matter the station format, they are hearing the same 15 or 20
performers in rotation, over and over and over again, with commercials all or
most of the time. So now, all our music, in this album and hopefully another in
2012, will be heard around the world.
Wow!
6. Now for my Barbara
Walters question: If you were a pair of
shoes what type of
shoes would you be?
Deck shoes. Easy to
put on, pretty wear resistant, comfortable and just right for where I live in
Los Angeles, near Marina del Rey. If I ever walk along the docks in cowboy
boats, my wife assures me you will be the first to get a photo of me falling in
the water!
