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| Artist Statistics |
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Artistopia Rank : 107
Member Since : 3/2006
Last Login : 4/18/2006
Views : 11,554
Songs : 2
Events : 12
Alliances : 0
Releases : 2
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Artistopia URL :
http://www.artistopia.com/channels |
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| Latest Music By Earl Lewis & The Channels |
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Earl Lewis & The Channels - Ne
Published Date : 01/01/1991
Total Downloads : 50
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Browse Artist Music |
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News Article |
Artist News Home |
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Interview with you Earl Lewis & The Channels |
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| Published on 3/2/2006 |
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| By ARTISTOPIA |
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Q. At what age did you realize you wanted to become a music artist and why?
A. Earl Lewis: "Probably around 13 or 14 years old. I was writing songs as early as 10 years old and a young kid, who lived nearby, was practicing with a group which would later be known as the Teenagers. Their sound made me want to become an singer too."
Salahuddin Aziz: "I lived in New Jersey and as a teenager I grew up on groups like the Orioles and Harptones".
Jack Brown: "I grew up on Earl Lewis & The Channels!"
Joe Rivera III: "About 10 years old for me. For me there was the Jackson Five and the Temptations. When I got to high school, I wanted to make a career out of it".
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?
A. Earl Lewis "Johnny Mathis. I still enjoy listening to Johnny Mathis, he is still my hero."
Salahuddin Aziz: "Sonny Til and the Orioles were a big influence for me"
Jack Brown "My mother, she was a big inflluence for me".
Joe Rivera III: "The Temptations. I loved the idea of singing in a group, like playing on a team"
Q. In terms of the music, which major artist(s) influenced your style and why?
A. Earl Lewis: "Willie Winfield. He is such a smooth singer. Then there is Johnny Mathis, there's just something about him. Johnny is a real crooner"
Salahuddin Aziz: "I'd have to go back to Sonny Til. He was one of the pioneers of Rhythm & Blues. I'd throw in Rudy West too, another pioneer of Rhythm & Blues"
Jack Brown: "My mother - she raised me on church music and she was my biggest influence."
Joe Rivera III: "The Temptations, especially the 1964 - 1968 lineup. Their harmony was tight and I wanted to sing in a group with tight harmony... like the Channels"
Q. With so many independent artists trying to make it, what makes you stand out from the competition?
A. ALL: "Our unique style of vocal harmony where the background sings the verse and Earl takes over the bridge. We don't compete with the young folks when it comes to vocal acrobats. We keep it plain and simple. What do you call it?, KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)"
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?
A. ALL: "No, we don't compromise our values."
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?
A. Joe Rivera III: "I use the World Wide Web with our website to get our music out not only to the proper professionals but to our fan base as well. Many of those proper professionals come and thank me for keeping them updated with our monthly activities.
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?
A. Earl Lewis: "Let me say this; when I started out back in 1956, many groups blindly signed their souls to the 'man' in the record industry. My mother taught me early on to have a lawyer look over the papers and not to sign anything without your lawyer saying the papers are ok to sign. Business knowledge is a must now as much as it should have been 50 years ago".
Joe Rivera III: "This is one of the reasons why Earl is STILL collecting royalties for the songs he wrote some 50 years ago. He is one of the few artists that is collecting royalties without having to go to court, suing a record company. Today's artists, pros or indies, have to recognize that people like Earl paved the way for them".
Q. Let's fast forward to 5 years from now. What advice would you offer to struggling independent artists?
A. Earl Lewis: "Don't compromise your ethics, don't sell yourself OR your music out. Make quality music that people will enjoy... 50 years from now."
Salahuddin Aziz "Stay true to yourself. Don't be discouraged if you get turned away, not only the first time, but the second, third and even the fourth time. Keep on plugging and always find ways to make yourself better"
Jack Brown: "Make music that your mother wouldn't be ashamed of. Don't sell yourself out to make a quick dollar and receive nothing in the long run".
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?
A. All: "Some type of Cancer Society or Organization. Each of us lost a loved one to some type of cancer".
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 easya> bilification unstudied generic sildenafil
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| Article Credits and References |
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| No Credits or References were provided by publisher |
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