Thank you for chatting with us! For newer fans, how did your passion for music and career come about? I found listening to music that it formed a connection that stamps where I was in life, what job I had, who I was dating etc. etc. I discovered long ago I wanted to create that reality for people. Through hard work and focus and combine my musical history and influences I knew I was uniquely qualified to do this.
What was the best piece of advice you've ever been given about pursuing a career in music? I was once told "This business of music is about relationships." Back in the day I sent a song to a program director who said he would listen to it. I got impatient as this was a small-town radio station called back and forth long story short we got into a heated argument. Flash forward that PD later transferred to a major market and remembered me. I thought if I had a better relationship with this guy it would have benefited my career. As it turned out he forgave me because I was just a kid when the argument happened. But the lesson was learned.
You recently released your new single, "Get The Funk," that you also wrote. Tell us about the writing process and where the idea came from. This song was almost 25 years in the making! I have spent a ton of years listening to funk music and watching artists and the public ignore Funk music. I desperately always wanted to do a funky track but as the trends went from Gangsta rap to EDM to trap etc. I felt as any artist would feel that if I did a funk track I would be outcast as an artist that does "dated music" also I wanted to sing on the track and for years there were no R&B dance tracks, any danceable song was a rap song. Enter Bruno Mars. After he opened the door for funk music again I so wanted to take a swing at what was already in my DNA.
I am a multi-genre artist. I do rock EDM and of course R & B. But I have not had a chance to do funk since forever. I have an older brother who is the reason I'm even in music I used to listen to him practice for hours in the back room of our poverty-stricken house as a kid. It was then that I learned to play bass guitar and about nine other instruments. I have always wanted to do a song amazingly with the many songs and genres I have done through the years we never hooked up. This mostly because I never felt that I was worthy as he was and still is my hero in music. My brother Freddy is also deep into his faith as well. So, I knew to get him to drop a sax solo in this song it would have to be void of any sexual stuff, or swearing etc. So, I wrote "Get the Funk"recorded it. I had my brother Freddy drop his solo remotely in part because of the coronavirus. I wanted to include as many of my childhood favorite funk and R & B bands as possible. So lyrically I mention groups from Slave to Confunkshun etc. I wanted people who hear this song who know the history of funk music to appreciate hearing the names of those artists before me. I put it together and had my brother drop his solo and the rest is history.
Is there anyone in your family that you can credit as being instrumental in your decision to go into the music field? My Brother Freddy who I listen to practices for hours on his Sax as a child.
Who have been some of your biggest musical influences growing up and do the same artists continue to influence you now? Prince, Van Halen,Hendrix,Rick James. And yes they still influence me in many many ways.
What is an example of a menu you would prepare if I came over? Homemade Jambalaya
Was there ever music playing in the kitchen growing up? Mostly church music and old R&B
What is your favorite dish to cook? Home Spaghetti
Favorite music to listen to while you cook? Old 70's Classic Rock
What is your favorite wine? White wine, any brand
How do you drink your coffee? Hot
What is your favorite breakfast? Biscuits and Gravy
What is one food that most people seem to like, but you cannot stand to eat. Squash prepared in any way ewww
What is your favorite sandwich? Turkey avocado
If you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be? and why? Patron Tequila! Because I want to release a line of shot glasses and I love to drink it!
