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- When is your birth date and where were you born?
Born August 27, 1943 in Charlotte, NC, grew up in Fort Mill, SC, and
graduated from Davidson College, Davidson, NC
- What did you grow up listening to?
I was exposed to music almost "at birth" with the
great record collection my Father had of big-band, jazz, and "standards". There
was always music playing in the house, and I seemed to "get rhythm" at a very
early age. Piano lessons followed at age 6, but it was at age 9 that I had my
R&B epiphany when I was at a friends house who had somehow gotten a hold of
a copy of "Drunk", an early R&B release by Jimmy Liggins. I had never heard
anything like it before (or since, for that matter!), and when I sneaked
downtown and brought that record home, my parents were "quite concerned". But
they let me play it, and at age 9, I was "gone". Early "Spiders" records, "I
Didn't Want To Do It" and "Witchcraft" were next, and then on to Joe Turner, The
Clovers, Dominoes, Drifters, Otis Williams, 5 Royales, etc. So by age 12, I had
some pretty solid groundwork laid that would carry me through my teenage years.
Then R&B transitioned into soul, and essentially the same experience
happened all over again.
- What is your musical background like?
In these years, I studied and literally dissected and absorbed the production
techniques and "sounds" of Stax, Motown, and Philadelphia.
Producers and writers who had great influence were, Porter & Hayes,
and Steve Cropper at Stax; Paul Riser, Wm Weatherspoon, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Harvey
Fuqua, and Smokey Robinson at Motown. The beauty of
Thom Bell's writing and production at Sigma Sound in Philly along with
the work of Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff was also a major influence.
Particularly influential was the work of Nick Ashford and Valerie
Simpson (Motown and post-Motown) and the same with Stevie Wonder. Willie
Mitchell's work in Memphis at Hi Records, and the post-Motown work of Holland-Dozier
& Holland at Invictus along with writers/producers Ron Dunbar and General
Johnson were important and also studied.
I also consumed a lot of James Brown.
Now, all that said, I listen to a great amount of
jazz/acid jazz, and classical music, and have a rather substantial collection of
both which are somehow in the mix.
- Who has been your biggest inspiration in music?.
I would count my biggest musical inspiration as my
parents for their love of music and for exposing me to "good" music at an early
age. Also, a period of personal correspondence with Nick Ashford & Valerie
Simpson when they were at their peak, and I was first starting was also very
inspirational. .
- When did you start as a professional?
I began writing and learning production skills in the late 70's, and co-produced my first record "(They Call It) Mr. Dollar's", with partner, Sandy Bell in 1979. This was the first release for our new Spirit Records label, and it became a regional hit.
- Have you ever had a memory in your career than you can't forget?
In 1987 I wrote & produced a 12" dance single on the
Spirit label, "Love Flight 109" by Sonja Grier.
It became a club hit up and down the east coast, and RCA got wind of it.
The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the 22 floor of the RCA building
in New York city and looking out the window at the Empire State Building
while their A&R head played the record - an unforgettable moment! RCA
took the record and signed Sonja Grier to a contract.
- Please tell me about the Soul Project album, the concept behind the idea
and your impressions.
Conceptually with Soul Project "Reconnection" I wanted to create a CD of
contemporary soul music that re-centered itself on the form's classic heritage,
and that would be an amalgam of all of my R&B/Soul Music influences. While
some of the songs reflect direct influences more than others, all are written and produced from the
same "well". The CD works to "reconnect"
with new music to the great production styles and "sounds" that
have been largely lost. If Soul Project were a car, it would be sort of like the new
Mustang....totally new, but you sure recognize it as something you missed and
didn't know it! In other words, music with classic design, yet contemporary
function.. So, with Soul Project, it is hoped that the listener
will recognize some new classics as the CD works in it's way to restore
some of soul's lost heritage, and to just possibly create a new music form in
the process - which we're calling "new, authentic, mainstream
soul".
- Are there artists you would like to collaborate with?
I don't think there are any better vocalists anywhere than those that
I've been priviliged to work with on Soul Project. We can get the job done quite well here in Charlotte
with this crew of singers and musicians.
- What do you think about Beach Music/Northern Soul/Charlotte Scenes?
In the 1980's it was the beach DJ's who turned many of Spirit Records'
early releases into true regional hits. In those years,
beach music was still largely R&B and Soul influenced, and it
was a great and available outlet for us to get our early music on the radio
and in the clubs. Generally, today's beach music has a more diverse audience
and a more varied musical scope.
The British Northern Soul, scene is quite hungry for and appreciative of new soul
and R&B music. There seems an undying and ongoing appreciation
of soul music old and new here. "Right Here, Right
Now" from Soul Project was just released in this market, and is
working it's way up the charts.
The Charlotte, NC music scene is quite active. There are many bands of
all genres. There has been an excellent core group of jazz musicians
here for years which Spirit Records has often tapped for studio work.
These players adapt extremely well to Soul & R&B . Charlotte
is home to one of the oldest blues clubs on the east coast, the Double
Door Inn, and we see many name players come through. Monday night
is "soul night". Downtown is vibrant with many new bars
& clubs where good jazz can be heard. A piece of soul trivia:
James Brown recorded "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" at Charlotte's
(then) Arthur Smith Studios while he was in town for a show in the 60's.
- Would you like to say something to your fans?
Thanks the world over to those who are discovering the Soul Project CD, and who "get" what it's about. We
feel like we're bringing some things back into focus with this music, and
there's more on the way!
Bill Bradford, producer Soul
Project
Spirit Records
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