Q. At what age did you realize you wanted to become a music artist and why?
Oh about 16 or so, when I realized I could play really nice blues solos on my Farfisa organ. After being in my first band, Lights of Darkness, in 1968-69 I was hooked.
Q. Most music artists have that special someone or thing that influenced their decision to do music. Did anyone or something in your life play a major role in influencing you to go into the music business?
I guess when I first heard Lee Michaels do "Stormy Monday" on the B-3, and heard Felix Cavaliere's booming organ on the Young Rascals' "Time Peace" album, and I realized you could rock without playing the guitar! I saw a lot of musicians (and still see them today) with less talent than I have getting rich, and saw great talents going to waste. I decided I would give it heck, and try to make a go of it.
Q. In terms of the music, which major artist(s) influenced your style and why?
After Lee Michaels, Gregg Allman, Felix Cavaliere and Brian Auger, I discovered Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Genesis. Tony Kaye and then Rick Wakeman, Tony Banks and Keith Emerson were my mentors. They all found ways to break new ground in rock. They all added the distinctive tonal colors that identified the sound of their groups. Later on I began listening to Chick Corea during his Return to Forever band period, which led me down some more esoteric harmonic constructions, but basically I've always been a "glorified blues player" by which I mean my roots are still in the blues and 60's pop but I understand enough harmony and counterpoint to bring my music up several levels.
Q. With so many independent artists trying to make it, what makes you stand out from the competition?
Well, nobody is doing what I'm doing that I can see. I'm doing what comes naturally, fusing classic rock, progressive rock, blues and new age styles into a coherent mix that is unique. And then in subtle ways calling attention to God with it. I could conceiveably be put in "Christian Rock" but I don't do what those people do. It's not "Jesus Rock." It's more like basking in the Father's love via music.
Q. Music industry professionals are quick to say that being an artist means to gracefully fit a marketable niche in the industry. If you were offered an opportunity that asked you to be something you are not, would you do it to get your foot in the door?
I've already done that. I played with Billy Falcon, a wonderful singer-songwriter, for six years, 1975 to 1981. I thought that with the interest the business had in him, he might be my best shot to make a name for myself since I had accomplished nothing when he accepted me into his band. But I had to put all my music on the shelf and by the second album he was telling me what and how to play. He brought in session players when I couldn't give him what he wanted, and I copied and learned from what the session guys did to make Billy satisfied with what I was playing. There were times when it was exhilarating, exciting, and satisfying, and other times when I was so frustrated I could have quit. I guess that if he had made it as a performer back then I would have lived with it because all I ever really wanted to do with music was make enough money that I wouldn't have to do something else to get paid. And frankly if I got offered a similar opportunity today and the money was right I would do it. We all have a price. We just don't know what it is until it's offered to us. Because in this sense, what I am is a musician. I love being in the studio, making new music and playing in front of appreciative audiences. But at my age, after 25 years away from the business, I decided it was now or never to do what I do best musically, and that's why "Starship Universe" is a reality now. I couldn't be a hip-hop artist or a reggae artist and be believeable. But anything in rock would work for me.
Q. Making music is one thing, selling it is another. What types of strategies do you use in promoting your artistic work and getting it heard by the proper professionals?
I'm learning as I go. I got on MySpace, Sonicbids, and of course Artistopia, which was actually the first website of this type that I found. The Internet is all I've got. So I'm networking with everyone I can to get myself heard and get my music in front of someone who can help me launch it. I'm heading up to Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg in June. A couple of guys in Eastern Europe are tryinng to help me. ProgressiveEars.com has reviewd the CD. I'm having it duplicated and remastered. Things are happening.
Q. In regards to wheeling and dealing, how important do you feel business knowledge is to making it in an industry filled with much heartache?
Business knowledge is learned by doing. You could read all the books and still not know what's going on. Basically you have to have a philosophical acceptance of the primacy of capitalism and understand that prosperity comes from finding a need that has to be satisfied. Sometimes a demand can be created, and that's what happens in the music business. I had a lot of heartache and dispair but at age 53 I put it behind me and I'm at it again. Besides, the business has been turned on its head by the internet and digital availability of music and the old paradigms have been circumvented. If it weren't for the Net most of us indie artists would have thrown in the towel. Especially in the prog rock field which has given artists like me our audience back when the labels had decided it wasn't cool anymore.
Q. Let's fast forward to 5 years from now. What advice would you offer to struggling independent artists?
If you want to succeed you have to be in the game.
Q. Most successful artists are involved in charitable organizations that stand for a cause that hits close to home. In that regard, once you reach success, what charitable cause(s) would you like to be involved in and why?
If I were financially able to I would give to research for prostate cancer. I believe in adult stem cell research, not in embryonic. But I would not put in with any modern liberal cause that thinks that it can change a world that is corrupted by the fallen nature of man. Nor would I become politically involved with my music in a world where most politically active artists think they can "make a difference." They can't. The world is what it is.
Well, we thank you for taking the time to interview with us and certainly wish you the best in your music career endeavors. There you have it ladies and gentlemen, an inside look into the mind of an independent artist struggling to bring their hard work to fruition in an industry where perseverance and thick skin means survival. No one said it would be easy.
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Article Credits and References
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Press Release Follow-up Notes and Amendments
Been thinking about the things I said on whether I'd compromise.... what I meant was that anything in rock that is not overly dark and negative, like death metal, or depressing grunge, would work for me. I could easily contribute to a successful and positive singer-songwriter project for example.
