Beverley Knight
We all know your a proud Wolverhampton lass representing the Midlands with Pentecostal and deep West Indian roots.What amalgamation of music was played in your house and was it as diverse as mine and many others with the inclusion of Jim Reeves and other Country and Western influences?
Oh my god Fitz you went there I love that. Definitely growing up it was gospel music mostly and we were’t allowed to listen to much else so what we got was through the radio. But what is it with West Indians country music and Jim Reeves… “I hear the sound of distant drums”?
Tell me about it.
When me and my siblings used to hear it we thought it was just too dry but you couldn’t turn it off as my dad would kill me. I can appreciate people like Johnny Cash now but as a kid I was like nah!!
What singers did you aspire to be like male and female?
In my formative years my first recorded voice I recall hearing was Sam Cooke as my mother had this album “The Two Sides Of Sam Cooke”. One was the pop side and the other was gospel. The latter was what we heard with songs like things like “Jesus Gave Me Water” and “Touch The Hem Of His Garment” which he did with The Soul Stirrers. So I grew up hearing full on gospel with all the harmonies.The other album was Aretha Franklin’s “Amazing Grace” recorded in her dads church. So Sam & Aretha I’m pleased to say were my first vocal teachers.
How did you manage to strike a deal with Peter Robinson at Dome?
It was sheer luck and I’m eternally grateful to Peter and Mark Shear at Dome Records at the time. I was just singing in a club in Wolverhampton and Mark Shear who was A&R at Dome happen to be in the club with Sinclair who had the hit “Ain’t No Casanova” which was blowing up at the time. I was the local girl on the bill and Mark showed an interest in signing me. Now I was going to do my degree and asked them if they would wait till it was done and they agreed. So I came down to London once I finished and met Peter who heard and loved what I did and signed me up
I distinctively remember the impact of playing and hearing “Flavour Of The Old School”. Coming out of the UK it was equal to what was coming out of the USA like TLC’s, SWV “Anything””, I’m So Into You”,Aaliyah “Back & Forth” and Raj- Nee-“Turn It Up”. It’s kinda ironic that that particular single almost 20 years later has come full circle as influence to your “Soul UK” CD.What was it about the old school flavour that resinated so strong to influence that mid 90’s underground anthem?
With Flavour at the time not much was coming out of the UK and in the States a lot of the R&B lyrics were and the melodies were not so great as they should be and everything was a formular without integrity. So I decided to write about the old school way of how I heard music hence “Flavour Of The Old School”. In todays climate I just felt having looked around at the music scene now, that there are a lot of kids doing well but they don’t I think realise how deep the roots go in Britain, in regards to the people who paved the way for them whom had a struggle. The light doesn’t get shone on these acts and when things were happening like when “Flavour” blew up and before that Soul To Soul and Loose Ends and Imagination, it was a little closed community who saw a little bit of sun then it would disappear again. It just felt that the time was right to show there’s a lot of British success right now but theses are the forefathers that made it happen for me and for them.
I loved “Moving On Up On The Right Side” an amazing improvisation using Curtis Mayfield’s “You’re so Good To Me” used for the anthem “Happy” by Mary J Blige. I loved Mary’s track but your vocals were typical of what we can do UK style when we are influenced by the USA. I think it’s one of your best vocal performances coz it rocks like MJ!
Yeah it has that kind of early MJ swagger about it. I recorded that song with The Ethnic Boys bad boys wicked guys. I’d done that way before I heard the Mary track and remember to this day being at the student union bar at university in Cheltenham writing the album and hearing the Mary track thinking it was me, but listening intently I realised it wasn’t. It was one of those sychronicity moments. Both Mary and I used the same sample and neither were otherwise aware (don’t think Mary’s heard mine) and I loved “Happy” and knew it was going to be a huge hit.
When did you record “Moving On Up” as “Happy” was 1995?
In 1994 whilst I was still at Uni and I recorded “Flavour Of The Old School” which blew up before its release and had to follow it up with something hence “Moving On Up” and I was still doing my distillation in my last year at Uni, but Dome needed an album. I was furiously writing songs but that track was given to me by songwriter Wesley Jones and we recorded it before the Mary’s came out…. It was crazy.
I remember meeting you at Twice As Nice at the Coliseum in Vauxhall where you did a live PA of “Made It Back” and you smash da place .It was a big tune in our playlist and remixed by Dodge what did you think initially when you heard Chic’s “So Fine” break under his funky drum looped production and how did ya pull Redman on the track?
Dodge played the loop to me and I recognized it as Chic but the way he banded up the drums that dropped in the track …it sounded to so fierce. So I thought I had to get this track right and it sounded so defiant so it need that kind of an attitude to it. In my attempt to move from Dome to Parlaphone I was frustrated as it was a push and pull deal with the lawyers. So once that was dealt with I wanted my first record to reflect that I had made it back from the wilderness and so that’s what I wrote on top of Dodge’s groove. And it was Dodges idea to get Redman which I didn’t think it was going to happen but hats off to Parlaphone they managed to get him.
Again the old school flavour runs rife with “Greatest Day Of My Life” using Fat Larry’s “Act Like You Know or Whatnuts “Help Is On The Way”. There is clearly a personal message behind the lyrics do you care to expand?
The funny thing with that song was I was with the 2B3 production crew at a studio in Brixton and it was raining hard. My head was empty and was thinking what am I gonna be inspired to write about. I looked out of the window and create a scenario of a perfect day with the sun as I couldn’t leave the studio with nothing as time is money. So for once I didn’t start with the chorus and started from the top “Its a good thing the air feels good today and it’s better that god doesn’t decide to send the rain.” Then eventually I started to get a vibe for it and had a nice verse and got to the chorus thinking “it’s a great day” eventually becoming “The Greatest Day Of My Life”…and it was a rainy day in Brixton LOL
On the flip side I loved “Weekend Thing” again working with Maestro Dodge he cleverly used one of my fave Billy Paul cuts “It’s Critical” as a sample. How did you find working with the South London Artful Dodger whose DJ,Hip Hop artist and production history is rich in talent?
Ahh bless you Dodge is very chilled and I remember going to his house over Croydon way to work with him and looking through his great vinyl collection in his attic. I’ll be writing away and he’d be doing his thing and if he’d hear something he’d go “Yeah Bev that’s happening” and his eyes would sparkle and we’d roll with the idea. Whilst he wasn’t a writer of melodies or lyrics he was great at doing was editing. He’d hear something and say thats right or not right and if he doesn’t end up running a label one day I’d be very surprised as he’s got that fantastic ear.
You definitely crossed over and captured the attention of the more commercial world appearing on BBC1‘s music show “Just The Two Of Us” touring with Take That and winning celebrity Mastermind in 2010. You Have an MBE won 3 MOBO’s 2 BMA(Black Music Awards)and are dedicated to working for charity. Did you imagine this could happen back in 1994?
Not a sausage..I knew I’d be making music in some way shape or form.But If you told me I’d be picking up a medal for what ya doing from the Queen at Buckingham Palace meeting Mandela,singing with Prince and touring with Take That…I’d have been like “Eh didn’t they split up?” To say I’ve done all this in my career a is shock and a joy and a privilege is an understatement. The harder times have taught me valuable lesson and the great times have encouraged and inspired me and I look back and think …”yeah that was me” .
I have to be honest in how I saw your career escalated in the commercial arena and was pleased that you “made it back” to a larger platform from where you started. I was unable to embrace the rockier pop dance music you were making as it didn’t fit with what and where I played. I got your “Soul Survivor” CD and was excited because it the same title as our magazine but unfortunately if wasn’t as I imagined it.When you were younger did you want to be a soul singer or just a singer as when most black acts these days gain commercial success , they seem to lose their identity as soul singers because the industry tends to water down the earthier music of black origin and make it more expendable to anyone from Cheryl Cole to Jedward?
Funny thing was that I felt comfortable pulling in my other influences and with people who usually talk to me in interviews from the soul & R&B world, I don’t really talk a bout loving David Bowie, Hendrix and Funkadelic’s crazier “Maggot Brain” rockier era and me being a huge Prince fan. In my head I’m emulating what they were doing but to people who don’t know that side of me it confused them. I see it as a soul hybrid and don’t see myself as a purist anything to say that my voice is anything but soul as it’s where I clearly come from and it’s my base. But I don’t think its pure but mixed with other bits and the minute you step outside whats perceived as the comfort zone or a category, people start predicting “oh here we go here we go!!” . I can appreciate that some people didn’t want to go on that journey with me but others totally did. Whats always interesting about people who’ve’ had accusations of selling out which is a horrible phrase like Diana Ross, Prince and James Brown, is people realise looking at the wider picture that its part of their progress and journey as an artist. Having said that it was difficult when I left the label, the discussions and some of the battles I had in song choices and production direction at EMI were like “if you don’t do x and we can’t do y Beverley”, and for me the situation became unattainable. 360 deals were coming in, the record company was losing money hand over fist trying to get more money out of the artists like they weren’t getting enough already and I thought the writing was on the wall and just bided my time got out and became a free agent. But if people look at the whole book and not just the chapter they’ll get the whole story.
Your new album “Soul UK” I’ve heard a few of the songs and reviewed in our June July issue of Soul Survivors.I like the take on Junior’s “Mama Used To Say”,Jameroqaui’s “When You Gonna Learn?” and Soul To Soul’s “Fairplay”. The fact that its all organically UK will be interesting to see how the Americans receive this. In your own words how important was it to document this musically?
Its so important to appreciate those who laid the path before us. It wasn’t an easy road that I had but these that came before their path was ten times worse than mine ever was. I still have a degree of spot light on me but for these guys it came and dimmed but I hope the light shines again. This is not a definitive collection of British soul as I could fit in Imagination, Linx Mica or Light Of The World. Its me telling my own story through other British acts to arrive at my point and its a way of saying thank you for the sacrifices to enable me and I’m really pleased with the project.
We just had 30 years of celebrating British jazz funk with Central Line Imagination, Beggar & Co, Junior and Incognito. And like you said earlier this generation of teenagers and youngsters have no concept of the sacrifices made so they can have artists like Chipmonk and Tinchty Snider. Chipmonk is intelligent and like you completed his university studies but a lot of the other artists who live that rock n soul lifestyle bringing certain attention to themselves in the press, they seem to have no respect for the previous history struggle including the racism whatsoever.
Absolutely this generation wasn’t born when some of this was going down and as a kid I remember coming down to the Brixton Frontline visiting my cousin Don E and my aunties and remember the whole Atlantic Avenue scenario and the racial divide in Brixton 30 years back. Junior and Central Line were making music then and struggled and broke through. Today relatively speaking it is so much easier than what those had to go through 30 years back
Thanks Beverley I think I timed that right thank you Bev
That was great Fitz serious good to see ya again
I drew this picture 1 year and four days ago, providential not coincidental sadly. “It’s Critical” that we remember Billy Paul one of the deep and philosophical “Black Wonder’s Of The World”. Billy Paul was for Philadelphia International Records what Marvin Gaye was to Motown, musical griot and deliverer of the the gospel and spiritual truth. Before Tashan kindly gave me his song “Soul Survivors” to use as my radio show theme tune, I’d previously chosen Billy’s version of “Only The Strong Survive” as my intro. I loved Billy’s voice and smoothness and he was clearly someone who was clearly proud of his “Brown Baby” heritage. I guess in right now “The Whole Town’s Talking” “Sooner Or Later” about the lost of this artist who certainly helped “Let The Dollar Circulate” in Philly. Billy was so full of “Enlightenment” and will be fondly remembered for his effort to “Bring The Family Back” as he educated many in the “Game Of Life”. Always championing “People Power” whether he was “Takin’ It To The Streets”, encouraging the population including “Me & Mrs Jone” to “Let’s Make A Baby”, identifying the phony Billy Paul “False Faces” or advising “Only The Strong Survive”. Billy Paul had style, a voice of pure “Peace Holy Peace” quality and most certainly for me was a “First Class” act, so “Thank You For (This Blessing)” Billy and Rock the mic In Paradise (R.I.P)
Here is an excerpt from an interview I did with Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff from our July 2012 issue 40 of the Soul Survivors Magazine speaking about Billy Paul :
Me: If there is one artist who always had some kind of positive unity and love message throughout his entire albums it was brother Billy Paul. On the War Of The Gods album you describe him as a prophet instrument of god bringing messages to brothers and sisters on the planet. Titles like “See The Light”, “Black Wonders Of The World”, “False Faces”, “Lets Make A Baby”, and “Me & Mrs Jones” with his serene vocals, Billy captured the hearts and imagination of many..How did you come across him and recognize his potential?
Kenny: “Black Wonders Of The World” Yeah that was a good one.”
Leon : “Wow I forgot about that one.
Kenny: “Billy Paul.. I new him from South Street in south Philly when he had a clothing store selling African garments and at the time I had a record shop in Broad & South and see him all the time. Billy used to sing at a club called The Sahara and he’d pack them in there. He was a local favourite like the Soul Survivors were. Billy recorded an album called “Billy Paul Feeling Good At The Cadillac Club” and we went and cut a few extra songs on there. One was called “Missing You” and “Don’t Think Twice” . Then we went to Neptune Records and Billy was part of our group. He had a good band and a unique voice and he was a great performer. When we came up with “Me & Mrs Jones” that started it even though he had an album before that called “Going East” which was an excellent album. Asking all these question draws out some energies coz your taking me way back to the early days . LOL
Leon : I remember the album cover was unique with Billy on the magic carpet ride which was actually a song on the album. Billy was and still is unique and although there’s been many renditions of “Me & Mrs Jones”… it’s Billy song.
Listen to an eclectic mix of Billy’s ill skills on the sound of Philly
Roger Prince Nelson was born June 7th 1958 apparently after his fathers Prince Rogers Trio jazz band. Growing up in Minneapolis Prince was exposed to both rock and soul which would become an advantage in addition to his light complexion in how he transcended both the black and white audiences. Prince showed promise in pursuing music aged 12 with his group of five years Champagne . Aged 17 Prince linked up with Pepe Willie’s 94 East outfit laying guitar licks on tracks “10.15” , “Fortune Teller” and five “Cookhouse 1975 sessions” “If We Don’t You See Me”, “I’ll Always Love You”,”Games” and “Better Than You Think”. Pepe saw Prince’s raw potential and years later releases the “Historical 1977 Session’s” featuring Prince on a favourite instrumental of mine “If You Feel Like Dancin”. By the late 1970’s Prince landed a record deal with Warner Brothers who afforded him what the other labels wouldn’t, the chance to produce his own albums,. This was important to Prince who as a truly gifted multi instrumentalist, played all the instruments on both his debut and follow up albums “For You” and “Prince” circa 1978 and 1979. The latter 1979 album carried “Sexy Dancer” and “I Feel For You” a song that would later be covered and taken to huge heights by label mate Chaka Khan. The single that really broke Prince mainstream was “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and this gave Prince his first performing TV performance. Prince was so overwhelmed and rendered speechless with stage fright, so much so, he vowed that would never happen to him again. Prince admittedly developed his sound in a similar vein to a hero of his Larry Graham’s Grand Central Station funk, vocal and musical ethos, when I spoke with Larry Graham 3 years back for Soul Survivors. With an incredible vocal range by his 3rd, 4th and 5th albums “Dirty Minds”,“Controversy” and “1999”, Prince remained funky producing cuts such as “Head” Controversy “Lady Cab Driver” and “1999”. He managed to masquerade a very unique dual identity persona in both his music and physical dress guises. Prince was able to flex outrageously between both the soul/punk funk world like his contemporary Rick James with equilibrium, and synonymously please the pop and rock world. However it was his risqué cross dressing androgynous sexual/kinky feline persona, wearing hi heels, suspenders, stockings and make up,and a contrasting new romantic, bohemian, Edwardian and gothic style that made him such an anomaly . Flirting with challenging political, social and sexual statements, Prince by the mid 1980’s was a visual personification of Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone , James Brown and Michael Jackson all morphed into one very fit, athletic,exciting and dynamic performer. Women drooled over him and men either envied or wanted to be like him, Prince was that charismatic . Between 1982 and 1984 Prince introduced and produced albums by Vanity 6 with “Nasty Girls” being a massive Electric Ball room classic I danced to, and The Time Band, thank heavens for “7779311”. From the Minneapolis camp artist’s Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis formally of The Time Band went on to become prolific producers in the 1980’s for Janet Jackson, The SOS Band and Change. Morris Day(Time Band) and Apolliona (Vanity 6) co starred in Princes’ 1984 semi autobiographical film “Purple Rain”. The film score was revolutionary like the name of his band, which spawned many hits including the no bass line classic “When Doves Cry” and the Academy award winning best song “Purple Rain”. Between then and 1987 with the films success Prince now had Lisa & Wendy in his band and continued his musical prowess writing a number 2 charting “Manic Monday” recorded by the Bangles. After another swift change in the line up, Prince worked with Scottish pop star Sheila Easton on “You Got The Look “and recruited percussionist Sheila E who had a club hit with “Love Bizzare”. Both featured on the 1987 “Sign Of The Times” double album. I often wondered if Ready For The World wrote “Oh Sheila” in the style of Prince because of those two ladies? “Housequake” was like Ron Seal ..exactly as the title suggests, with “Starfish And Coffee”, “The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker” and the social commentating “Sign Of The Times” propping up another great concept album. Up until that time from the early 1980’s, Prince and an iconic hero Michael Jackson were the only two black artists who were making waves in a very white dominated MTV world. Although Micheal had more kudos in the industry I’d say that Prince was the more acceptable face as a rock star, partially because his less than squeaky clean image and the fact he could dance and play his guitar with equal eroticism. Prince had his own label Paisley Park with Madhouse and Mavis Staples as signed acts and hits with “Boys And Girls” and “Kiss” covered by Tom Jones. Prince made another three films “Sign Of The Times”, “Under The Cherry Moon” and “Graffiti Bridge”. As we tail off the late 1980’s Prince’s outfit The Family had a club hit with “Screams Of Passion” and that albums “Nothing Compares To You” became a worldwide hit for Irish singer Sinead O Connor. His “Love Sexy” with “Alphabet Street”, collaboration with Chaka Khan and film score for the Batman movie starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson keep Prince relevant as a pioneering entrepreneurial artist . Embracing on occasion jazz, rap, hip hop, and reggae rhythms, Prince in his career has been nominated for over 20 Grammys and won 7, 9 MTV awards and won 4 and 1 successful Academy award. Prince is a controversial character changing his band often and his name. He’s become a Jehovah’s Witness via a huge mentor and friend Larry Graham and can announce he’s doing concert in less than an hour and sell out. After major wrangling with Warner Brothers Prince went to Sony and recorded the “Musicology” album before he gave an album “Planet Earth” with funky “Chelsea Rodgers” away free for the second time in the Mail On Sunday here in the UK. This paid off in making an 18 million dollar profit from doing sold out concerts as he forwent his 4.6 million licensing fee. 21 years after “Purple Rain”, Prince has influenced many including Melisa Morgan’s superb 1984 cover of “Do Me Baby” Ginuwine’s vocals on an almost “When Doves Cry” produced “I Owe You “ by rapper Nas and Bilal’s latest 2015 album. I conclude I saw Prince at last in 2007 at The 02 Greenwich and he was funky. He will be forever hailed as the “Extraloverable” “Royal Purple Funkness and king of the Minneapolis sound. June 2015
Those words of wisdom providentially were featured in Issue 60 10 months ago of “The Soul Survivors Magazine’ issue 60. This is like James Brown & Micheal Jackson on repeat for me..the last in the legacy of the triple whammy performers who could sing and dance and the same time with simultaneous and separate breathing!! I don’t want to believe it..God help those if this is a scam it’s worse than any imaginable “Controversy”!!. I’m totally speechless ..His Royal Pupleness on the Queens 90th earthday..this is providential and for me who is gonna take the baton for the all round entertainer of massive “Housequake” proportions? Lynda Cann, Josephine French and Ronnie Stephenson ..I feel your pain as true Your Royal Purpleness devotees ..Trust me ..Soul Survivors Magazine will pay homage to his Royal Purpleness Prince..I did a piece on Roger Prince Nelson in the magazine June last year issue 60 and was inspired to do this drawing a week after his 56th earthday which I’m very proud of.. He really was Mr “Musicology” and I named a night after that track back in December 2013 championed by me and Dezzi Deleone . Nuff said!!..”When Doves Cry”..this is this time to to fly to musical heaven..!! April 21st 2016
Greetings on this Froback Friday. Roughly almost to the day this 3 minute movie short footage was taken when I was invited to spend a day in the studio with Shalamar rehearsing for a date at the Purfleet Tavern in Essex back in April 2010. I had already met and interviewed Jeffrey Daniel a few year before but hadn’t yet met Howard and Carolyn. It’s where I met like the Fatback Band classic song their “Mr Bass Man” Otto and musical director on guitar in this footage Stelios. We have needless to say been “Friends” ever since. I’ve had this footage for 6 years and it gets it’s ‘Homevidwood’ film premier today because A..it’s Froback Friday and B.. I’ll be delivering some Ingram “Dj’s Delight” duties to the 02 Forum in Kentish Town from 7pm till Shalamar come on stage at 9pm for the London leg of their extensive tour. Here they are singing one of my ultimate Shalamar tunes “I Owe You One” and it just reminds me of the first time I heard that tune how those melodies and Howard’s lead captivated me back in that vintage wine year of 1979. I now they will do this tonight with some “Full Of Fire” enthusiasm. So if you’re thinking of going with your “Friends” or your “Girl”..”Make That Move” and join Jeffrey, Carolyn & Howard for the “Shalamar Disco Gardens” which for one night is the 02 Forum..Doors open a Gwen Guthrie “7th Heaven” pm if you wanna take that experience to the memory bank!!
“I Owe You One” Howard, Carolyn & Jeffrey.“I Owe You One” Howard, Carolyn & Jeffrey 15-4-2010
Here is a mix of some of my fave Shalamar songs ahead of my dj date with them this Friday at The 02 Forum in Kentish Town..so “Make That Move” now baby to get you tickets!!
Calling all “West End Dancer” personnel like Jay Hoggart! “Check Out The Groove” like Bobby Thurston this Saturday between 8pm-3am. Mike Vitti till 11.30 then “You Should Be Dancing” Like The Bee Gee’s till 3 am with a Tom Brown “Your’s Truly” Fitzroy .
Greetings on this for some a Bob Geldolf & The Boomtown Rats..”I Don’t Like Monday’s”. I woke up this morning about an hour ago and saw that Facebook was awash with proud West Indians blitzing the forum, so I had to investigate like Inspector Morse. “Bumbararss”..”Kiss Me Neck Back” and “Bluudfyaaaah” was the linguistics somersaulting out my mouth. The Windies beat Blighty in the T20 Cricket Final in some pure Jerk Chicken style. Now that game I wished I seen, 19 runs of 7 balls…. was a not so impossible mission to accomplish from the secret agent Bajan Carlos Braithwaite. He lashed in the last over four 6’s of 4 four balls, and must have had a Imagination “Flashback” injection of his predecessor Bajan batsman Sir Gary Sobers, to win the T20 for a historical 2 time. Not only did the women’s team win, lest we forget the under 19’s won too, so like De La Soul “Three Is The Magic Number”. I was proudly beaming like a Ronnie Foster “Cheshire Cat” at such an achievement and triple whammy feat.
That’s the way the mop flops in life when the so called “likkle picnniees” from the the colonised Carribean beat their coined “motherland” of the UK, especially in sport. So I watched Good Morning Britain at 6am and wait for Kate Galloway or Jeremy Kyle to see what their featured news would be, and true to form they never mentioned the historical win from the Windies. Had that been Engerrrrland beating the Windies, I’d give you odds on favourites that Kool & The Gang ‘Celebration “would have been William Bell “Headline News”.
Upon seeing that, I then had a Benjamin Button moment suddenly hit me, when I regressed back to a true ‘Jackanory’ story from the very early 1970’s, remembering a distinct conversation with some fellow white kids in my school, in between classes or in the playground, asking who I supported in the 1974 Football World Cup that was happening at the time. I naturally said Brazil which didn’t go down to well, only to be told I should support Engerrrrland because ‘I’m British’. My defence was Brazil was the best team and they were also a reflection of how I see myself as a 10 year old black boy. Different story though when it came to West Indies V Engeerland in cricket. These were the glory days of Blighty’s Tony Greig, Derek Underwood (my fave Engerrrrland bowler by the way) and Alan Knott. The Windies ‘Hot Pepper Sauce’ line up included Viv Richards, Alvin Kallacharan, Clive Lloyd, Micheal Holding and Gordon Greenidge. I’d be taunted repeatedily with “We’re gonna beat your lot today” by the same white kids..”your lot”?? Even at that age I’m thinking “So when it comes to cricket you accept that I’m Jamaican and black first, but not in the “beautiful game” of football..??Interesting”.
40 plus years later that same bittersweet taste still rears it’s head in the difference of cultural appreciation but at least it makes “Headline News” in my blog. Being of dual nationality heritage it does sometimes cause “Controversy” like Prince but I’ll say this, it’s unfortunate Engerrrrland lost and Ben Stokes feels like he’s got a Facebook poke, but Buddddrrrrruuuuppps to Carlos Braithwaite for being a Tony The Tiger “GRRREAT”.. Step sah like Buju Banton and “Walk Like A Champion”
Have a not so Bangles classic “Manic Monday”..Enjoy Fitzroy
Candi became a musical child prodigy in the gospel world recording at a very young age with some pretty impressive future secular performers. Meeting many hurdles in her personal and professional life, and as each decade unfolded, Candi gave us memorable and pioneering recordings with her voice of distinction. As much as she is revered, her story is enlightening and typical of the preconceived ideas we have of the artist we adulate from afar.
Tell us about life growing up in Alabama with your sister Maggie and Naiomi Harrison whom you formed the Jewell gospel group as teenagers and touring the gospel circuit.
It was a family affair, my mother had separated from my alcoholic and gambling father . My oldest brother Sam moved to Cleveland Ohio and got married and asked us to relocated. Bishop Jewell had a church on Kinsman Avenue which we regularly attended on Tuesday nights, where they would have a contest I guess the American Idol of its time. Aged five my sister and I had a vocal group called the Golden Echoes and we knew how to sing together and made an impact. Bishop Jewell who had a chapel at the school was so exited that she teamed us up with her granddaughter Naiomi Harrison who was 9 at the time, I was 11 and my sister was 13. With our mothers blessing we attended the chapel and would perform to screaming kids. As we rehearsed more songs Bishop Jewell named us The Jewell Gospel Trio and took us around her 30 churches she used to oversee. We were hardly in school but got tuition from Bishop Jewell and Naiomi’s father Lorenzo decided to get us a recording contract. Our first song was done in LA and we went on the road with other singers and our music was being played on the radio. We then signed to Nashville records and recorded 7 records and were hailed as being the bomb of the day so everyone was interested in us. We worked with The 5 Blind Boys, Lou Rawls, Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers and became a top of the line group till I was about 17. As teenagers we learned and saw that things weren’t right with the finances. My sister got married and I left after a while, graduated and married a local boy and started having children. I thought my singing career had ended and stayed married for 7 years. Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls started singing secular music and I went to one of their concerts in Alabama. They both said they could get me signed to Capitol Records which planted a seed for me to do that, but my husband was very jealous and controlling. I’d lead a sheltered life, he was abusive and I was very afraid of him and didn’t know how to get away from him. My brother was a bully and so he made sure my husband didn’t get in the way so I finally managed to get out and recorded a song called “Upper Hand” in Birmingham Alabama, which didn’t do anything but its now pretty hard to get. Apparently it goes for a lot of money apparently as there were only about 1000 copies made. My second record was with producer Rick Hall of Muscle Shoals after meeting Clarence Carter at a club in Birmingham. Clarence asked me to open for him and introduced me to Rick who was looking for a new vocalist as Etta James had just left him. The first night he heard sing three songs “I’d Rather Be An Old Man’s Sweetheart”, “Never In Public” and “For You” during that session at Muscle Shoals studio. He decided to shop a record deal and thats how I got started.
Wow ok that’s some introduction, so after your solo career took off you did a cover of Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” which was kinda funky with a Gene Chandler “Duke Of Earl” flavour. You also covered Elvis Presley’s “In The Ghetto” which I discovered a version with you and Elvis singing alternate lines and its amazing. I don’t know how they managed to do it but its really good. I’ll send it to you
I didn’t know about that..how real..Sounds a bit like what they did with Nat King Coles and Natalie..That’s amazing..Thanks I look forwards to hearing that.
Sorry we digressed slightly, how did you come to record “In The Ghetto”?
I was pregnant at the time and I was married to Clarence Carter now and he was doing a follow up studio session after recording a huge hit “Patches”. I was present and Mack Davis the writer of “In The Ghetto” was present with myself and Rick Hall just observing. I was minding my own business reading a magazine when Mack said to Rick he had an idea that a woman has never sung “In The Ghetto” and suggested I do it. Rick wasn’t too keen and asked what would Clarence say, Mack said “I ain’t telling him”. After speaking with Clarence cause they didn’t wanted to interrupt his session, they called me down and said lets do it. They asked the musicians to change the key of the song and I found the right key, they canned it and then went back to doing Clarence’s session and thats how I got to record that song. On my next session they put it on my record.
That’s kinda cool(It is ain’t it?) Moving along to 1976 you’re now working with Dave Crawford on “Young Hearts Run Free”. I happen to know it was a bitter suite record for you, expressing an experience you had with someone you shouldn’t have been with. It was also abusive but the song became an number on US hit. I spoke with Linda Clifford who got no credit for writing “Runaway Love” which was based on her personal experience, so my question is did you know at the time of penning the song it would have so much impact?
I didn’t know it would last this long but I knew it was a hit when I heard it. David told me he had written a song for me that would last forever and I couldn’t understand what he meant . He looked kinda rough having fasted for 30 days before he wrote the song and I told him he was wasting away, but he said he’d eat once we did the session. It was a like spiritual thing as once I heard the music I got what he meant.
You also did a cover of “Nights On Broadway” and ended up working with Patrick Adams on the “Chance” album. I really like “Rock” but the big one was “When You Wake Up Tomorrow” and also a silent sleeper was “Me & My Music” both co written by Patrick. What was it like to work with him?
It was great and I really enjoyed it. The reason why David didn’t do the next album was because he was unpredictable especially in his emotional state. David was angry that “Young Hearts Run Free” became so big as he wished he’d sung it being an aspiring singer. Warners contacted him to produce the “Chance” album and he refused and cut his own album. Warners would take it, in-fact no one would and it got shelved after he tried to put it out himself and really it was a wasted moment which made me angry. He called me a couple of years later to go back in the studio and I couldn’t trust him and refused so that how Patrick came in. Also Bob Monaco came in as a producer who worked with Chaka so some of my stuff sounded like hers, so to be honest it was a time where my fans were unsure of my direction. David and I did record “Victim” about three years later and had that come out after “Young Hearts” we would have had a smash hit. We did get some attention on it but nothing like “Young Hearts”.
You went back to your gospel routes and recorded “You Got The Love” with Source in 1986 but it got remixed in 1991. This catapulted you into the mainstream again , but I’d like to know what you thought of Paul Simpson and Adeva’s “Musical Freedom” which was lyrically based off that song?
Ha Ha I didn’t think much about it. The Gospel message should be preached by whoever puts it out. “You Got The Love” has a great message as we all get there wanting to throw our hands up in the air. We get discouraged and disappointed as human beings as its a sore spot in all of our lives. It’s an emotional area where we know someones trying to get money from us or we gotta face our bills or some of our friends talk negative of us. So when we get moments like that we “throw our hands up in the air and say lord I just don’t care..’you got the love’ I need to see me through”. If we didn’t have the love of god to see us through I don’t know what we’d do.
To be honest I really liked Paul Simpson and Adeva’s take on it because they made it about musical freedom. Did you know there is a version with your vocals on it using the “You Got The Love” accapella on Paul Simpsons production?
No I didn’t right..I’d love to hear that too.
Candi Staton is appearing at Under The Bridge in Chelsea SW6 15th of June 2016 and Fitzroy of The Soul Survivors Magazine will be djing. For tickets click this link Tickets to see Candi
It was truly a pleasure to share the same humble space of the “Astral Traveling” Lonnie Liston Smith, an icon who has influenced so many with not just “Expansions” but countless other songs filled with love peace and unity. He has been headhunted by some heavyweight giants including Roland Raashan Kirk, Art Blakey, Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis as well as introducing bassist supremo Marcus Miller to the recording world. For the best part of 50 years he’s been twinkling our ears with some of the most sublime vocal and instrumental compositions and taking us like one of his titles on a “Journey Into Love” with his ideas and “Visions Of A New World” with his “Cosmic Funk” and music full of “Exotic Mysteries”..a true soul survivor!! Lonnie emailed me after the interview and said this was one of the best interviews he’d done and that I should share it on the internet. So humbly here it is in it’s entirety.
How expanded was your mind from a very early age in West Virginia with your father being a member of The Harmonizing Four who sang at the late president Roosevelt’s funeral and with people like Sam Cooke frequenting your home?
It was a great experience with my father and the Harmonizing Four. He had a beautiful tenor voice and played a four string guitar. Both my brothers Ray and Donald inherited my fathers tenor voice with me only being able to do the bass part. There was music from day one with all these gospel groups coming through town and mum doing all the cooking. Back then they had gospel festivals like we have the jazz ones, so Sam Cooke and The Soulsters would often pass through. My dad although he was primarily gospel also appreciated all types of great music.
What was it about Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Mile Davis, Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson that captivated you so much?
Before that I was singing in doo wop bands on the street corners and also played in R&B bands. Then I heard Charlie Parker and though what in the world is that because he was playing all this improvised jazz. Thats when I decided I knew what I wanted to do and started searching. I came across Miles, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Fats Waller then Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Also the Jazzy Philharmonics would be on tour and I’d get to see them in Richmond at the Moss Theatre in person.
What Charlie Parker record was it you heard?
It was called “Just Friends” from “Charlie Parker With Strings”, they use to call him Bird cause he was just flying through the air and he was phenomenal.
How do you move from working with jazz vocal giants Betty Carter and Joe Williams to relocating to New York and becoming one of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers?
After I finished high school in Richmond I went to Morgan State University in Baltimore which had a great jazz scene and Gary Bartz was born there also. We got together and started jazz sessions jamming together and Gary’s father had a club called North End Lounge. So we’d get to see people like Ethel Innis and years later we became Betty Carter’s back up band when she came to Baltimore. When I got to New York I worked with Betty and started getting known hence Joe Williams asked me to be his musical director. I later got a call to work with Art Blakey and Chuck Mangione is on the trumpet.
By now you were coming through the ranks with another up and coming soloist Gary Bartz and James Mtume was he around that time?
Mtume was much later and we met at a place you’d have loved in Brooklyn New York called The East. It had brothers and sisters in there eating vegetarian food and the audience brought their own percussion instruments. Mtume was a part of that so thats how we met and worked together with Miles Davis.
You were approached by drummer Max Roach and record two albums with Roland Rahsaan Kirk .
“Please Don’t Cry Beautiful Edith” and “Here Comes The Whistle Man” were the two albums. Rahsaan was interesting because he played three horns simultaneously and had a nose flute. Working with Max he really was a master drummer experimenting with time and thats not easy as most of the time we playing with four four, three four or six four bars. I could manage five four but then Max was into seven four and nine four.
How did Pharoah Sanders realise your potential in the late 60’s and choose to work with you after having served under the late great John Coltrane?
I heard him with John Coltrane and thought wow as he was playing two or three notes simultaneously which worked but you not suppose to be able to do that. At the time I only played the grand piano and wanted to use more than my ten fingers to create more sound. So I started using my elbows and Pharoah noticed that difference about me like I did him on the horn. Then we heard Leon Thomas yodeling and eventually all got together. We didn’t rehearse that much, we just played and expanded.
What kind of consciousness were you experiencing to be able to create that astral spiritual esoteric soulful jazz embraced by many whom you’d work with like Norman Connors, Gary Bartz, Doug and Jean Carn and other outfits like Earth Wind & Fire who would integrate cosmology and Egyptology which was a very specific thing at the time ?
That’s right and a good point as we were all studying. I was studying everything the Rosicrucian thing, Theosophical Society, sophism which was very interesting and I was trying to come up with this universal sound concept. Thats why I wrote “Expansions” and “Give Peace A Chance” as if you studied all these religious things and everybody was saying the same thing I questioned so why we fighting? There was a bookstore called Wasners who had every philosophical and religious books and you’d walk in and see Sun Ra reading books in there.
Whats the story I read about you discovering the Fender Rhodes whilst working with Pharoah and Cecil McBee and instantaneously creating the song “Astral Traveling”?
Now if people like history they should go by the record “Thembi” by Pharoah Sanders. Now we were on the road in California and as we entered the studio the grand piano was already there so I didn’t have to do anything. Cecil, Pharoah and the others started unpacking their instruments and I’d never seen a Fender Rhodes before and asked the engineer what it was. He told me so I started experimenting with it and this song just came to me organically like it came from the creator. Everybody came running over asking what I was playing and I replied I don’t know I’m just writing it and they said we gotta record this now. They asked me what I was gonna call it and because I was studying astral projection where you leave your body,I said It felt like I was floating in space so hence the name “Astral Traveling”. I wrote a 12 bar 21st century cosmic blues song.
How valuable was the experience of working with both Gato Barbarei on a few albums and then Miles Davis on his legendary “On The Corner” album?
Gato heard me with Pharaoh at a famous club in New York called Slugs which all the real creative artists including actors would congregate and it was also were Lee Morgan’s wife shot him. Now Gato is from Argentina and I listened and tried to see where I could fit in with how he played and I traveled all over the world with him. When we hit London I was introduced to Bert Luigi as they were getting ready to work on the film Last Tango In Paris. Working with Miles is a whole different experience. With Miles when I first walked into the studio, there were three electric piano’s and I thought I had to wait my turn. Miles came over cursing what the freekin…?? I explained I didn’t know I was just suppose to play. Herbie Hancock was on one ,another guy Williams was on another then me and I’d never worked with two let alone three keyboard players. We just had to listen so we didn’t get in each others way and Miles put the band together with Dave Liebman on sax, Mtume on congas, me on keyboards and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Working with Miles is great as he’s real and candid all the time on and of the stage and everybody who worked with Miles has formed their own groups. Miles is gonna make you strong one way or another.
Producer Bob Thiele signed you for a series of albums on Flying Dutchman affiliate with RCA with your Cosmic Echoes where by on the second album your brother vocalist and flautist Donald Smith sang lead vocals on “Cosmic Funk”. What was that feeling like to get your first record deal and to have some artistic control over your new found direction as jazz was definitely changing rapidly in the early to mid 70’s ?
I’ve been blessed as everything has happened to me organically. I was still working with Miles and was happy but Bob called and said everyone all over the world was asking about me doing a solo album. So I flew back to New York after a break with Miles and did Astral Traveling using the tablas,tambura’s and trying the universal sound thing. I went back to working with Miles meanwhile Bob had put the record out and wanted me to start supporting it . I didn’t want to leave Miles’s band and Miles just laughed saying that, that is how the the music business works. By the time we get to the “Expansions” album I remembered that Miles had these pedals hooked up to to his trumpet so I tried it with the electric piano and it worked.
It was the 3rd “Expansions” album that catapulted you into the main stream and as a serious composer musician. When you wrote “Expansions” originally is it different to how it turned out as its hard to imagine where the vocal and musical direction came from as it upon first hearing it such an inspirational piece of music?
It was the first time I’d ever written lyrics and after all that research and seeking via philosophy and religions it made me want to give people some positive lyrics. On that record everyone was as straight ahead jazz musician and I discovered that people realised I was on electric piano but thought that Cecil McBee was on an electric bass but it was an upright bass. It was just meant to be as Donald had that beautiful tenor voice like my father and we all liked the funk fusion flavour but wanted to maintain the jazz.
Who directed the artwork on those fantastic Flying Dutchman gatefolds?
The artist was Jack Martin from New Jersey and he listened to the album and came up with the concepts as I wanted the covers to go with the music. The original paintings which I bought off him were better than the covers. He did a beautiful African mask on the top of the keyboard which you would lift up and RCA got nervous and said we couldn’t use the mask.
They are such amazing covers and they invite you to what you are about to listen to.
Donald’s voice became so distinctive on many a composition with a deep haunting yet soothing karma about it on whatever tempo he sang on. He was different to Leon Thomas and Andy Bey who also that spirit of singing but Donald would hover over a plethora of music like an Arabian Knight on a magic carpet. As well as being a gifted flute player how integral was Donald in interpreting your musical visions?
Remembering my father’s tenor I knew that Donald could do it my middle brother Ray already exposed it with a hit you’ve all listened to but not realised was him. Remember the song “A Little Bit Of Soap” (will wash away your tears) by The Jarmells ? (Yeah ) That’s Ray Smith the middle brother and had a hit way before we did and got out of the music business as he was frustrated. So it was easy to choose Donald.
One of my fave albums is “Visions Of A New World” as well as “Devika” and “Give Peace A Chance” in particular “Visions Of A New World Phase 2” which was jazz funky like “Expansions” without lyrics shorter and instrumentally spiritual. How did that album fare after the success of “Expansions” ?
Oh yeah I haven’t played “Visions Of A New World Phase 2” in a while. Those albums were just flowing and when we did Visions part one with Donald and myself in the studio, we couldn’t get the beat together for part 2. Now there was a little drummer called Wilby Fletcher who just popped by with someone and he just walked over to the drums and started playing and we said thats it and he was only 16 years old.
I love the concept of “Renaissance” and it It seems more experimental than the previous albums. It really does paint an astrological picture with instrumental greats like “Mongotee”, the latin dancer “Mardi Gras” and an enchanting “Space Lady”. You seem to flex with ease between the acoustic and electric keys on various tracks and Donald excels vocally on the title track. At this point did you feel you now had the winning formular?
Yeah actually I didn’t realise that you all were dancing to “Mardi Gras”. I knew about “Expansions” but nothing else. It was all done in the creative flow of the cosmos.
“Reflection Of A Golden Dream” was the last collaboration with producer Bob Thiele with some special moments , you singing “Get Down Everybody” and Donald on “Beautiful Woman” and the reggae tinged “Peace & Love”. What led to your vocals being on “Get Down” and how did you sum up that 6 album relationship with the gifted Bob Theile?
Bob suggested I should sing it as it didn’t need an amazing vocal to do it and it amazes me how many people like the song “Get Down Everybody”. Working with Bob Thiele was great because he produced John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong’s greatest hit “Wonderful World” which I was in the studio when that was recorded as everyone wanted to meet Louis Armstrong.
Before I move on to the CBS catalogue with a different line up you recorded “Summer Nights” and “Shadows” from your expansion albums on “The Mysterious Flying Orchestra” album with Bob Theile and brother Donald quite differently. Which versions do you favour of each?
Bob asked someone to do the arrangements and I liked the versions of my songs but I prefer my original versions. But you like to hear people interpret your compositions like when people sample your music, they are really just re arranging it.
The move to CBS is not far production wise from where you left Flying Dutchman as heard on Loveland but definitely more jazz fusion and funky epitomised especially on “Sunburst” and “Explorations”. I’m passionate about “Bright Moments” as it’s so uplifting and Donald reigns supremely vocal on “We Can Dream” and “Journey Into Love”. The latter two written by a new addition to the group a 16 year old bass playing boy wonder Marcus Miller. How did you come across him and what kind of immense talent did he have at such an early age?
I was in Jamaica Queens and all these musicians Tom Browne, Lesette Wilson were all neighbours and we ended up in a jam session. I was jamming with the bass player who was 16 and has his hat turned around. He was good and when we took a break he came over to me and said he’s got a song for me. In my mind I’m looking at a 16 year old kid and I kinda accommodated him. He sits at the electric piano and plays a groove and I’m listening thinking …ok . That track was “Journey Into Love” and it reminded me of how Miles would listen to what would be music of the future when he was around younger musicians so I took Marcus into the studio. Columbia got upset of me bringing in someone so young but once they heard him they changed their attitude. The first record Marcus produced was for me.
I love the smooth jazziness of “Quiet Moments” and the intricacy of “Magical Journey” but the one that rocked everyone was again written by Marcus Miller “Space Princess” . I remember the first time I heard it its sounded incredible with Donald like we’ve never heard him before. How did you find that transition moving into disco and fusing jazz?
It was like “Expansions” in keeping the jazz element except we had to find the balance of the pretty jazz chords and the predominant disco beat. Burt came up with the strings and the middle section with the percussion it just worked. We wanted to elevate the disco thing above just being emphasised on the beat.
I knew James “Crab” Robinson from working with Norman Connors on his “This Is Your Life” album . How did you come across him and what happened why Donald no longer involved?
James was from Mount Vernon New York and sounded like Donald who left to do his own thing. James took over from Luther in Change and people recognised his potential. Donald was also a piano player and wanted to pursue other avenues. I felt Donald had a unique voice that was more powerful but he had to go through what he went through.
With Donald and Marcus no longer on board you enter a new realm with “Love Is The Answer” on of my faves for sure with “Bright Moments” part 2 “In The Park” (That’s A Groove) an updated and uptempo’d “Give Peace A Chance” and the most improvised and prophetic cut “Speak About It” co written by the vocalist James Robinson. As a final album and now having done four CBS albums what led to you leaving and what pasture new lay ahead?
It’s like whats going on now, there are a lot of changes at the top. I remember there were new deals made and then a new crew comes in who are not responsible for unsigned contracts. Its like sport when a new coach comes in and bring his crew.
How did you become involved in the New York Jazz Explosion tour with Roy Ayers, Jean Carn and Tom Browne amongst others and how successful was that?
We sold out at the Hammersmith so many shows and Paul Zuzzaski came up with the concept and it took off in the States and everywhere we went around the world. It was easy as everyone used the same rhythm section, I’d do four songs then when we changed there was a natural flow and people loved it.
Like Bob James and Ahmed Jamal you are regarded as one of the forefathers of “Smooth Jazz” that also dipped his toe in hit making machine like your success with “Never Too Late”. How were you finding not being on a major label?
It wasn’t that bad as Bob Thiele would always end up calling as he was great at getting record deals and was still connected at Sony and RCA. So when he set up Dr Jazz we naturally went with him.
I loved the production with Larry Joseph on the Hitman 12 “Say You Love” me experimenting with jazz and electro early house productions. How did you hook up with Larry Joseph?
I forget who set that up but it worked.
Many other musicians like Charles Earland were experimenting with the astronomy and cosmology concepts on the album covers and within their music. Was it just a certain type of musician that would tap into this or was it a passing fad that many touch and then left?
Everybody had their own way of expressing how they felt as we were all searching and creating.
You’ve been sampled by Stetsasonic for the amazing “Talking All That Jazz” also by Digable Planets using “Devika” and Guru had you on his Jazzamataz album on “Rap Meets Jazz”. How do you deal with the adulation from the younger generation and how do you feel about the state of music today?
The young kids a re discovering jazz through the samples who then go and buy the originals. I’m meeting young 16-18 year olds who tell me “Garden Of Peace” is a beautiful song which makes me wanna re record it. The sampling works as a re arrangement so its beneficial.
How much fun was it to work with Brian Jackson at the Hideaway last year and how was Ronnie Scotts this weekend?
That was something as I haven’t seen Brian Jackson for years and we used to tour together when we both had hit records in the 1970’s. Mark suggested putting three keyboard players together and we went to Atlanta at Clarke University and then we came here at the Hideaway in London. At first when looked for the venue we couldn’t find it, then when we saw the entrance we got nervous but when we got inside we loved the vibe of the club.
I think it’s called the Hideaway for a reason(Both laugh)
You seem like a gentle soul and very humble in greeting fans like me when we met at Hideaway. How do you maintain that over more than 40 years in this sometime scrupulous business as your karma is so tranquil?
The music is more important than all this craziness. When it comes to business and money greed takes over in which ever business and that is a universal problem. When I became a Hebrew Israelite and my Hebrew name is Yehuwdah I started feeling much calmer. I heard someone say don’t let your past destroy your future and I believe in karma anyway.
We are such die hards over here that we will buy a record even if you are featured on someone else’s album for one track. Apart from “Expansions” we danced to “Space Princess”, “Visions Of A New World Part 2”, “Get Down Everybody”, “Bright Moments”, “In The Park”, “We Can Dream” and “Speak About It”..
Wow I didn’t know that and that’s why I appreciate London cause one time you had it all with some great radio stations which I understand no longer exist in providing that platform. You had Greg Edwards Robbie Vincent and Gilles and I’d hear a record and not realise it was an American artist and it all sounded great. I hope you don’t lose that.
What it is, is many people of mixed cultures grew up with the music in the 70’s and things were slowly changing in many ways . Like me many young black teenagers were slowly being allowed into clubs as there was prior a lot of segregation. At the time in certain clubs it was white Dj’s playing black music to a predominantly white audience who liked jazz funk and disco. (We didn’t know all that)Prior to my generation my parents and their peers were only able to go to local house parties within the community and also church halls and town halls because of the level of racism that didn’t allow them to mix like we were able to by the late 1970’s. Everyone started discovering through music the messages in records like “Expansions”, the Philly stuff and artists like Roy Ayers. We were connecting to it via dancing and subliminally taking it all in. With all these intricate new sound and new genres jazz fusion soul funk disco, we discover musicians like Chic Corea and Herbie Hancock. We danced to it even though it was too fast for some but it was somewhere we felt we had some kind of complete autonomy .
That impresses me..You know something when I was with Max Roach we’d listen to Charlie Parker, DIzzy Gillespie, Charlie Mingus on bass and Bird on piano and we’d say listen to that music. Max would say they were playing for dancers, ..it was fast but they could dance to it and thats what you’re doing now.
Thanks Lonnie it’s been inspirational
Thanks Fitzroy I enjoyed meeting you again
Lonnie Liston Smith is appearing along side Roy Ayers on Sunday Bank Holiday 29th May @ Ashford School Kent for tickets and info click this link Lonnie Liston Smith & Roy Ayers Event