Pittsburgh: Shannon Curfman Interview by Monica L. Yasher

Shannon Curfman is an artist who is young and full of life. She means it when she laughs, and has quite a sense of humor when she thinks of some of the events in her life. I met up with Shannon this summer at the Pittsburgh Blues Festival. She was quite popular with signing many autographs and meeting her fans. As we walked to our interview spot, the fans still pursued her. And, at one point someone actually interrupted the interview. We talked about Jonny Lang, Buddy Guy, and her Mom and Dad as she had her BBQ just waiting to be eaten in front of her. Blues, BBQ, and me talking to Shannon. Here’s how the conversation went.

Monica: I’m with Shannon Curfman today. Shannon, Why the blues?

Shannon: Why the blues?

Monica: Why the blues?

Shannon: Originally I got into the blues through Jonny Lang. We are both from Fargo, North Dakota and our families grew up together. So when we both started playing… right around the same time… we both started playing guitar… and …when he started his band and got to the big bang… I guess at that point… I knew that it was possible to actually pursue something like he did at a younger age. The cycle was to always finish high school and during that time save up enough money to book a band with and start playing across the charts thing. You know that kind of thing. And then I found out the older musicians would play with people our age. So I started going out to Jonny’s shows and playing them. We both had fun discovering the different blues musicians. You know, like Robert Johnson to Albert Collins to Albert King, Luther Allison and you know we both really loved to sing kinda blues guitar. So it was actually neat to have someone… that starting at the same point…as myself. Because we were able to discover things together, and at the same time we were both a before and after. He is older than me. So you know at that age it is a pretty big age difference.

Monica: Not now, right?

Shannon: No. But, he humored me pretty well. (Shannon laughed)

Monica: Did he? Of your influences have you played with any of them?

Shannon: ½ of them are dead. Most of them are dead. (Shannon laughed).

Monica: What about like Robert Cray coming here here to the Pittsburgh Blues Festival this weekend?

Shannon: I pretty much played with all of them. I played with Buddy and BB and...

Monica: I saw some pictures of you and Buddy Guy out there. I went through your slide show.

Shannon: He says that he’s my Grandpa! (She laughs)

Monica: He’s your Grandpa!?

Shannon: He’s clearly not! (She laughs)

Monica: (I laugh) Uh oh.....I’m not asking!(we both laugh). You started off with Artista records correct? How hard was that to obtain? Was that cool? That’s huge at such a young age.

Shannon: It wasn’t something we actually ever shot for. I never even thought about being signed. Ah, it wasn’t something that we, you know, thought out. What happened is I recorded an album. ......ah from that, that’s when we decided it was time to move from Fargo to Minneapolis..just so there wasn’t so much travel and all of that.

Monica: And, your parents did that for you?

Shannon: Yeah

Monica: That’s awesome.

Shannon: Yeah. My Dad worked on the railroad and he worked from Vicksburg to Minneapolis anyway. So it was starting at one point rather than another. My Mom worked for the IRS. (Chuckles) She was ready to quit THAT. (She laughs) So, it was, you know, an easy move. My oldest sister lived there already. So we moved to Minneapolis and started playing around in town quite a bit, and that was part of it. It was too much travel. We did Loud guitars. Released Loud Guitars independently. It kinda exploded! We really had no intention, no idea of what was really going on. We started selling like 5000 albums a week. And now at this point we started to record the ....tracks..



Fan tells her she is great here.

Shannon: Thanks for coming man! Unbeknownst to us, I guess. The labels….that’s the way they find acts apparently. We were selling 5000 copies a week (she laughs), which we didn’t even HAVE in our hands. But, they tracked us down that way. And, we were just playing our normal bar gigs.. and people.. you know literally in suits, town cars, limos would come out and see us. We were like ooooohhh. And, here there were all these executives. Laughs. That’s when it started. No one ever asked. I had a manager, just a guy in Minneapolis. He never asked is this what you guys want? It was just who do you want to sign with? We never really thought about what we were doing. People just told us what to do, so we did it. I didn’t mind it.

Monica: Is there a lesson learned for a younger artist or was this a good thing?

Shannon: There is no way that I could have gotten the exposure that I got without being on a label. At least back then. Now people will actually put indie artists on their show. I never would have gotten Good Morning America, Letterman, Leno or things like that without a major. But at a certain point it ended up hindering what I wanted to do. I wanted to continue to be a blues artist or even just roots music in general. They weren’t quite for that. So that’s when I kinda disappeared for a few years and…because I was under contract, they controlled whether I toured, whether I put out music, what I put out, what kind of music they would let me record… and …so… I went to my cave. They had to let me go. There was no reason to keep me on their label, if I wasn’t going to work with them.

Monica: Let’s talk about your label now. It’s yours right?

Shannon: I started purdy records a few years ago. I don’t have arguments with the president anymore (laughs). There is just me and a few people who do everything. And, it’s been great, awesome. I love my work obviously. It’s a much smaller team. I know where everything is. I know where the money goes. I know where it’s all coming from. I can do whatever music I want to do.

Monica: Are there other artists on your label?

Shannon: No. Actually in 2007 we decided we could take on other artists or have a kid. So, we had a kid. I would never do to another artist what kinda happened to me. I would sign someone with giving them every opportunity they deserve. Just let them be themselves.

Monica: Let’s talk about your songwriting. What inspires you how do you go about it? Do you start with the lyrics first or the music? Or vice versa? Or, It’s just a song and it comes in many different ways? What works for you?

Big pause.

Monica: I know you write a lot.

Shannon: This is going to be a pretty boring answer. I write in all different ways. I guess because I play an instrument as well you know, sometimes it’s a guitar riff that I hear, sometimes it’s a piano, sometimes it’s drums. A lot of times actually it’s the drums which is kinda strange but…

Monica: No, that’s how Michael Jackson…I watched TV the other night and there was a clip of Michael and he said he started a lot of his songs with the drums-the beat.

Shannon: Really?

Monica: Yeah.

Shannon: That makes so much sense, especially being a dancer and was so percussive with his melodies.

Monica: Yeah. Not weird at all. If you made your debut at age 14 what age did you really start on your guitar?

Shannon: Ten.

Monica: So four years?

Shannon: Yep. I started play guitar at ten. A band at eleven and that was actually a pretty cool thing too. I never actually thought I would have a band. My guitar teacher at the time had a band but needed a singer. And I was a singer that loved to have a band! So we started playing together and that was kinda that.

Monica: What is the best advice you can give to someone starting out young?

Shannon: I’ll tell you what...the most important thing.. you can only say so much to a kid. But what it really comes down to is.. what will the parents...will let them do. What their parents will have them do. I have been doing this...my first paying gig I was seven but I was just singing at that point. Since then, it’s been about 15 years or so…I met a lot of kids and their parents. And the worse thing..And, it happens all the time. I sign autographs after every show and I get all these parents bringing their kid up and going this is my daughter, this is my daughter. You know they play guitar and could you tell them they need to practice more and the need to blah blah. And, I’m looking at the kid thinking are you kidding? This kid clearly doesn’t want to do what you want them to do. You know. It’s sad and the worse thing….

Monica: You loved it from the very beginning?

Shannon: I loved it! My parents didn’t really have a choice. They supported whatever my sister and I were into and I happened to be into guitar. They supported me in doing Taekwondo and all that stuff, just as much as music. But yeah. I’ll tell you what…for me. I’d rather say to the parent that don’t put out that fire in your kids. Don’t push them. That’s…I’m telling you…I don’t think ½ of these people even know they are doing it. They think they are doing something great for their kids and you know try to kill them in all that structure. They are taking that flame away from them and they will just rebel. I mean the label did that with me and I quit playing for years.



Monica: My son’s eleven and I couldn’t get him to practice. You know. He took his guitar in school for some music thing and played Ironman.

Shannon: Yeah yeah. Alright

Monica: He comes home and I asked him how did it go. And, he goes, well mom at recess all the girls wanted to be on my kickball team! (we laughed) He practices NOW. He just needed that extra spark.

Shannon: There is a certain thing. I can see now the parent side of it. A kid asks for guitar lessons and they’re paying for guitar lessons. They should be expected to practice their guitar ½ hr a day. Just don’t kill the passion. Any passion a kid has…you can put that out so fast in a kid.

Monica: What’s next for you? Another CD?

Shannon: Yeah, another CD. We’ve been taking it pretty easy on touring this year. This summer. We do tour but do maybe three shows a week or so. Then during the weekdays, I’m home finishing the album. Once that’s done…it’s more rockin’ blues. It’s not real produced or anything like that. A couple guitars drums, bass, keyboards…and keyboards are only on a couple of the songs. It’s more stripped down. Should be out in October. Once I’m done with recording. I will start really focusing on the next tour and we’ll be out all over after that.

Monica: I also hear your songwriting hits you up with other artists. You are having some success in that arena?

Shannon: That’s really what I did when I wasn’t touring. Writing for other artists. And writing for specific movies, television, networks. For television it was mostly HBO or the WB and movie stuff-any of the different studios. I did a lot of pop stuff. Some blues. I don’t know..Ana Popovich. I don’t really pitch my songs…But if people ask for them I have them. I write all the time so I have a million songs that I don’t use. I’ll use them at some point but it’s just a matter… I can’t just throw 11 songs on an album and they don’t fit together. We try to get it so they at least make a little bit of sense.



Monica: Well Shannon I’m sure it will make sense. Thank you for your time.

Shannon: Thanks for your patience.

You may also like to read about another great female guitarist: Ana Popovich

Copyright © 2009 Monica L. Yasher. All Rights Reserved.
Photograph Copyright © 2009 Maureen Ceidro. All Rights Reserved



To purchase the rights to reprint this article, please email info@americanbluesnews.com.

Pittsburgh: Interview with Gina Sicilia by Monica L. Yasher

Exposed to music early on by her music-loving family, Gina began singing at the age of 3 and wrote her first song at the tender age of 12. After spending her teenage years polishing her vocal and songwriting skills, Gina began singing in clubs around the Philadelphia area, and has since branched out worldwide.

In December 2007, only five months after the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, "Allow Me To Confess", Gina signed with the prestigious Piedmont Talent booking agency, which represents such legendary acts as Johnny Winter and James Cotton. That same month, Gina's impressive talent was recognized by the Blues Foundation, earning her a 2008 Blues Music Awards nomination for "Best New Artist Debut".

I spoke with Gina last week. So let’s see what Gina had to talk about.


Monica: Hi Gina. Let’s hear about your upcoming weekend.

Gina; This week I’ll be doing 3 shows opening for Joe Bonamassa.
I’ll be in Arkansas. Getting ready to head out to Evansville Indiana.

Monica: Sounds like a good time, Gina. Let’s talk about your sound. How did you get started with the Blues?

Gina; I got into it when I was…whenever I get asked this question…I can never remember exactly how I got into the music. I know that I was about 14 years old, and I think really I saw a commercial on TV for a blues compilation CD. It was like an infomercial kind of thing. I ordered it and just listened to that CD nonstop for a really long time. That was what really sparked my interest.

Monica: Thank you for your new CD, Gina. I enjoyed listening to it. And, I noticed that you have a very diverse sound with doing Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, and then there’s a big band sound. What do you think your sound is?


Gina: What do I think my sound is? I think that the CD is a representation of all my musical tastes. I love, obviously blues. I love gospel music. And, I love country music. I guess I couldn’t pick just one.
It is a representation of music I love. I did Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors because she was a big influence on me. Big influence on me. And, I think it is definitely a reflection of all the music that I love.

Monica: As an artist today, do you feel that…do they ask you to hone in on a particular sound as an artist?

Gina: No, I mean I’ve never been asked that before. I mean, you know….I can’t….Personally I don’t know if I could fully do that just because I love so much different music. So many different genres of music…and I love singing different kinds of music…and writing different kinds of music. I don’t know if personally I could do that, or if I could ever record an album that is 100 percent straight blues album or 100 percent straight country album. I don’t know if I could do that. Maybe one day I’ll be able to focus in on one kind of music and do that. But I don’t know if I could do that just yet. I’m still trying to explore the different writings of genres. I’m still pretty much the beginning of all of this. I don’t know if I can focus in just yet. But, maybe some day.

Monica: Whenever I heard your CD I thought of Eva Cassidy. ..because of the diversity of the music. Have you ever heard of her?

Gina: I love Eva Cassidy.

Monica: She was great.

Gina: She was country, blues and jazz. She was a great singer and I definitely spent a lot of time listening to her.

Monica: In regard to ….just for those people that are interested in being blues artists and getting started in the industry… is your touring band the same as your recording band?

Gina Yeah, for the most part it is. It definitely changed a little bit since I started doing this. The first band I was with, I met at a weekly band jam during college. I went every Tuesday night to a weekly blues jam at a club called Warmdaddy’s in Philadelphia. There I met some musicians and my former first band. It was there I had my first gig at this club. That was the first band . So I guess if I could suggest anything…that was a good first experience for me…go to blues jams.

Monica: I’m a fan of them myself.

Gina: That was a good first experience singing the music with a band in front of an audience.

Monica: How do you go about selecting material? Do you have an upcoming album?

Gina: I am planning a 3rd album right now. It will be a mixture. A lot of original material that I do. A lot of covers…blues covers. I don’t do too much country anymore. Maybe a song or two every now and then. But, for the most part it is pretty much straight forward blues and soul, R&B. A lot of original stuff.

Monica: Are you the writer?

Gina: Songwriter?

Monica: Yes.

Gina: Yes. I write all the material that I have recorded. The originals I write. It’s mine. I haven’t written with anyone else yet. But, I would love to. I would love to do that. I never did that. It is a personal thing. It’s sharing an experience. I would love a great songwriting partner.

Monica: Who do you think influenced you the most?

Gina: What artists influenced me the most? I’d say my singing-as a teenager-influenced a lot by Aretha Franklin. I would spend hours and hours in my room singing along with her blues stuff. Just trying to sing like her. She was a big influence on me. Now my songwriting, a lot of people. Most recently Dolly Parton, who is a great songwriter. She has written so many great songs. She is a big influence on me. Sam Cook has inspired me a lot. All around as a singer, songwriter, performer. It’s hard to name just one person because I’m influenced by everyone I hear. Everyone I hear.

Monica: What are your future goals?

Gina: Just to..every record I make to improve. Be better…better… better singer… better songwriter. I want to continue touring as much as possible. I love it.

Monica: You love it?

Gina: I do, I really do.

Monica: Any challenges with being on the road?

Gina: Of course.; It is tiring. From time to time you get frustrated. In the end I love it. And I prefer it, I think, maybe because I’m new at this. If you ask me 15 years from now if I feel the same way. I don’t know if I will. But I prefer being on road to home, that‘s for sure. Only because I’m new at it.

Monica: So how long have you been at it?

Gina: I haven’t been touring that long.. Touring heavily for about a year and half when I signed with Piedmont Talent Agency. And I haven’t been touring too much before that. But, then they started booking me heavily. So now I go on the road more. I’ve been at this for 3 years. I want to continue doing this as much as possible. I love it.

Monica: For all of those people who find you to be inspirational. How would you suggest a new upcoming artist to get an agency to sign them on? What are the things you did right to make that happen?

Gina: I don’t know if I can tell you what I did right. I can tell you, I guess…what ….I’m very persistent. Very ambitious. I would say just put yourself out there, and meet as many people as you can. Network as much as possible. Even if you don’t have an agent or manager, just try to get your name out there as much as possible on your own. Be very persistent. Don’t give up.


Monica: I know I found you even before this interview and made you one of my myspace friends. I went out and looked in Pa and blues and see who…I see you are one of the top ranked artists in the state. I discovered you long before this.

Gina: Cool. I don’t log into myspace nearly as much as I used to. I log into face book. It seems the communication in myspace has slid off.

Monica: I guess I’ll have to move. What is immediately next for you?

Gina: I would say working on my 3rd CD. I’ll start next month.

Monica: Are you in the process of writing or that is completed?

Gina: I have done a lot of writing in the past 6 months to a year. A lot of writing. A lot of original material. I write everyday. I try to come up with new ideas. I write songs everyday. Hopefully by the time I record the album I’ll have a few new ones that I want to do. Maybe do one or two covers. I’m trying to pick them. But, I want to do mostly original songs for my new album.

Monica: Do you play?

Gina: I play a bit of acoustic guitar, which I’m working on and I’m learning. It definitely changed my songwriting. So, a little bit, which I’m happy about. Very happy about. It added something.

Monica: Do you develop accapella?

Gina: That’s what I used to do. I don’t do that anymore. I guess that phase of my songwriting is over.
I come up with ideas driving in my car. I write them down and record them. Recently writing on guitar.

Monica: Do you keep a songbook?

Gina: Yeah-Always a notebook with me. Pads of paper. Big mess..huge mess actually. They are not very organized at all. I make sure I date all of my ideas. I always did that. It’s nice to look back and see when you wrote certain songs.

Monica: Is there anything else you want to share with me?

Gina: You covered a lot. What do you think?

Monica: Well I could always ask more! OK. What was your best moment so far as a performer?

Gina: On stage some of the festivals I’ve done. They are exciting. Travel. A west coast tour this past winter. Something very exiting for me was in 2008, I was nominated for a blues music award for best new artist. That was very exciting. I just graduated from college and wasn’t touring a lot and I was very very new. One of the newest of all the nominees. It was such a big surprise. It was flattering. A big honor.

Monica: That sounds like a great ending for the interview. I know that you will be playing at the World Café. Are you excited about that?

Gina: This will be my second time there. I love that venue. It’s always one of the places I love. It has great music. It has a great reputation. A lot of great artist come through there. I was there last Valentine’s day, and this time I will be doing a co bill with Seth Walker from Austin Texas. He is one of my favorite artists out there now. I have a lot of respect for him. So, I am very excited. Very excited doing the bill with him, and seeing his show at the live venue in Philadelphia.

Monica: Well Gina have a good time, and congratulations on your accomplishments. I’m sure we’ll hear more from you.

Gina: Thank you very much.

Gina’s upcoming tour:

Upcoming Shows
Sep 5 2009 6:00P Marquette Area Blues Festival Marquette, Michigan
Sep 11 2009 8:00P World Cafe Live Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sep 12 2009 8:00P Madam’s Organ Washington DC, Washington DC
Sep 16 2009 8:00P The Living Room NYC, New York
Sep 17 2009 8:00P Hill Country New York, New York
Oct 24 2009 8:00P Americana Stage Morganton, West Virginia
Oct 25 2009 7:00P Diana Wortham Theatre Asheville, North Carolina
Dec 9 2009 9:45P Dinosaur BBQ Rochester, New York
Dec 10 2009 9:45P Dinosaur BBQ Syracuse, New York

Next Week: I had the opportunity to meet Derek Trucks, who happened to be in the neighborhood (well not really-he was sorta scheduled). I'll tell you about the show...be here...same time, same place next week!

In a Few Weeks: Nelson will be meeting up with Gina to do some photos of her performance at the Living Room.

Copyright © 2009 Copyright Monica L. Yasher. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs used by permission Gina Sicilia

To purchase the rights to reprint this article,
please email info@americanbluesnews.com.

CHICAGO: Via Kankakee Laurie Morvan

The "Freinds of the blues" main man James Walker sent an email inviting me to see Laurie Morvan at the Kankakee Elks club. She was touring in the area and FOB had caught her on a rest over night. I must admit that I was pretty tired and debated whether or not to attend. I had contacted her camp in the past, but sadly I had forgotten she was coming. I checked her website and was intrigued by her story.

Laurie is an Illinoisan that now makes her home just outside of Long Beach. She moved to California to work in the aerospace industry. She has an Electrical Engineering degree and utilized it for three years. She told me that she teaches at the College level in Long Beach. She also confided in me that the teaching job helps her with tour costs.
She invited me to a one on one sit down while she restrung (Ernie Ball.10) her re-issue 1956 Stratocaster. She is a wonderful individual to talk to and would certainly become a close friend if circumstances were different. We talked about schools she attended, Guitars and role models. I was very excited about her performance as I choose a table in back.

The people started to file in one by one and the one-hundred seat banquet room filled up quite quickly. I had chosen a table of ten and I was the only one there until Jack and Jean Miller joined me. Jack, Jean and I started to talk and it turns out we both had visited Singapore, small world. Sister Ellen Thomas sat down and introduced herself. She was not dressed as a nun so I immediately thought along the terms of the slang hip style of talking brother and sister. Not the case, she actually was a Nun. I had to watch my mouth after that. It seems that Laurie's whole family was in attendance. When they found out who I was, man oh man did I get an earful. I was introduced to Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Cousins, her Mother and Step father and on and on and on. I jokingly started a family tree with my notebook. It was a family reunion. I might add that Laurie's Mother was just as nice as she was.

Laurie took the stage and exploded into song. Her guitar work is extraordinary and her vocals, along with her backing Vocalist Lisa Grubbs, were beautifully done. Their combined vocals were song with a take no prisoners attitude. Very strong and definitive.

Laurie talked to her audience frequently. I like when an artist communicates stories about how a song was written. "Skinny Women Chicks" was written as a response to those old time blues men who beat the song "Big Legged Woman" to death.
"Kicking Down Doors" was one of my favorites.
Laurie Morvan is an unstoppable blues artist and I will see her again I'm sure. I was told that Lisa also plays bass. I got her number.

Terry "Gatorman" Lape

PS. Writing for www.americanbluesblog.com is "Not just a job it's an adventure".















Lisa Grubbs, Gatorman, Laurie Morvan

Chicago: BLUES- PHOTOS- CHICAGO- STYLE

I thought it might be fun to post various pictures of players in the Chicago Blues Scene.

Ana Popovic at Buddy Guy's Legends. These were taken by JPK


Green Room

Green Room

Green room

Gatorman Introduces Ana to Buddy Guy

Ana Green room

Main Stage

Main Stage

Main Stage

Billy Branch at Artis's and some shots at Cool River Pro Jam session.


Nick Charles (Muddy Waters Ex Bassman) & Billy

Cool River Pro Jam session

Billy Arrives At Pro Jam Session


Next we have Smilin' Bobby. Can you tell how he got his name? Yours truly in the bottom photo with the guy in the red shirt. My 40th B-Day party at the club called Edwins , which just so happens to be within walking distance of my house. Get this Al Capone once owned it. Google Miami gardens Peotone, Illinois for more info on Edwins.


Artis's --------------------------------Chicago Blues Fest

Watseka New Years Eve 2009

Unknown

Edwin's My 40 B-day party

Next We have Wolf Recording Artist L V BAnks. All these shots were taken at my hangout Cool River Draught House and Eatery at the Thursday Night Pro Jam Session.


Tony Medina On Harp Pro Jam




Mark Keys, Chomps Drums, LV, me ,Billy King





L V with Albert Castiglia Band Friday Night

Pro Jam Session
LV BANKS - BILLY BRANCH - EDDIE C. CAMPBELL - JOHNNY DRUMMER

Cyrus Hayes and Lady Lee Pictures

Walter Scott--- Cyrus ---Darryl Wright

Lady Lee with Walter Scott

Yours Truly

"Smiling Bobby" from Jim Quattrocki on Vimeo.

If you really want to see a vast collection of Blues Artists photos go to Hampton Photos
They have over 35,000 different shots and they are all for sale.
Go here http://tinyurl.com/m9anfa

Terrance "Gatorman" Lape

CHICAGO: First Chicago Blues Couple

Photo courtesy of http://www.hampton-photos.com

I have known Cyrus and Lee for about Five years. I first met them at a jam session in Riverdale, Illinois. They hosted it every Sunday. The first time I heard them I liked them. Cyrus is a master vocalist and blues harpist. Lady Lee has one of the most riveting female voices I have ever heard. She has a very deep baritone voice that is totally unexpected.

I recently was invited to a private birthday party for Cyrus. I of course attended and was glad I did. Cyrus and Lady Lee sang a duet called "Make me Yours" by Betty Swan. It was one of the most heartfelt performances I have ever witnessed. You could tell by that one song that they are the "BLUES COUPLE". They perform many duets and are a true joy to the Chicago blues Scene.

I asked my blues buddy Jim, if we could conduct the interview at his house. He agreed. I was to meet Cyrus and Lee at a gas station around the corner from his home. We meet and they followed me to Jim’s house. Jim lives on a very prominent golf course in a suburb of Chicago. After pleasantries were exchanged we moved outside on a deck/porch that has a view of a pond with a large fountain. The fountain created a splashing sound similar to a waterfall. It set the mood for a very relaxed atmosphere. It was perfect for the interview. The evening sun was just setting and the temperature was a cool 70 degrees. We all popped a top settled in and chatted.

Gatorman: I want to thank you Cyrus Hayes and Lady Lee for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet and to answer a couple of questions. You two are a couple. Right?

Cyrus: Yes

Gatorman: How did you first meet?

Cyrus: We met in a club called Different Strokes.

Gatorman: Can you tell me a little bit about where you born?

Cyrus: I was born In Arkansas.

Gatorman: What Part?

Cyrus: Little Rock.

Gatorman: How about you Lady Lee?

Lady Lee: I was born in Lexington Mississippi.

Gatorman: What was that like, big family, small family?

Cyrus: Kind of a small family.

Gatorman: What was the first song you can remember hearing or listening to?

Cyrus: “Scratch My Back” You know Slim Harpo.

Gatorman: Yeah sure, How about you Lady Lee? Do you remember the first song you listened to? I want you to go way back. 6, 7, 8 years old.

Lady Lee: I wasn’t into music.

Gatorman: Really, not at all?

Lady Lee: No, not at all. (laughs)

Jim: When did you become interested in music?

Lady Lee: Aw, when I came to Chicago.

Gatorman: Which was?

Lady Lee: I used to, aw, in 1970. I used to like to write. I still do. I like to write music. And I didn’t get into music until I meet Cyrus.

Jim: Love at first sight?

Lady Lee: (Glances at Cyrus) No…..Not at first sight. (laughs)

Gatorman: So you came to Chicago in 1970 then. Why did you come to Chicago?

Lady Lee: Well…..I had to leave there my Grandma kicked me out.

Gatorman: What about you Cyrus? When did you come to Chicago?

Cyrus: I was up here with a Band. We tried to make it here in the recording business. We lasted a little while, but some of the guys, their wives called them back home so I stayed up here.

Gatorman: What was the name of that group?

Cyrus: The name of the group was (long pause) "The Click."

Gatorman: The Click. What year was that?

Cyrus: That was in 1987.

Gatorman: When did you first start playing? When did you decide this is what you wanted to do?

Cyrus: When I was about 12 years old.

Gatorman: What year was that 1960 or so.

Cyrus: I did a lot of talent shows, schools and I won every talent show I was in.

Gatorman: What kind of type of performance did you do? Vocals or…

Cyrus: Vocals and piano.

Gatorman: I know you are a keyboard player.

Gatorman: How about you Lady Lee? Who influenced you to start singing?

Lady Lee: Cyrus.

Gatorman: Did you have hard time getting on stage initially?

Lady Lee: Yes I did. He used to throw me up there. I used to goof up all the time. (laughs) He would make me get up there and sing anyway.

Gatorman: It is a good thing he did, for us.

Lady Lee: Yes, a good thing he did.

Gatorman: Who are you listening to currently?

Cyrus: I listen to a lot of Albert… Yeah Albert King. Yeah I did a show with Albert in like 1989

Gatorman: I didn’t know that.

Cyrus: Yeah,,,I opened up for Albert King,,, it was in Little rock. Down by the community center.

Gatorman: Very cool. How about you Lady Lee, who do you, listen to?

Lady Lee: Denise Lasalle.

Gatorman: Cyrus when did you start on the harmonica? Were you 12 or,,,,,

Cyrus: I started when I was about 6 or 7.

Gatorman: Wow you were a young child when you started.

Cyrus: Yeah. I started fooling around with a harp.

Gatorman: Where did you get the harmonica from?

Cyrus: My dad.

Gatorman: Your Dad Played.

Cyrus: Yeah he played a little bit.

Gatorman: How about your mother did she sing?

Cyrus: Yeah she sung.

Gatorman: You came from a musical background obviously.

Cyrus: Plus I went to Philander Smith College for voice lessons.

Gatorman: Did it do any good? (Lady Lee and I break out laughing)

Cyrus: (busts out laughing) Yeah man.

Gatorman: Just joking Cyrus.

Cyrus: Did me a lot of good. If hadn’t been for that I would not be where I am today.

Gatorman: All kidding aside you are one of the greatest vocalists I have ever heard. Both you and Lady Lee are terrific. Lady Lee you just started singing when Cyrus forced you onto the stage?

Lady Lee: He forced me

Gatorman: He forced you huh.

Lady Lee: Yeah he really forced me yeah.

Gatorman: Can you remember the very first place that you played and got paid? The very first paying gig?

Cyrus: Yeah this club in Little Rock called the “Rocket 88 Club”

Gatorman: Rocket 88. How old were you at the time?

Cyrus: About 14 or 15.

Gatorman: How much did you make back then?

Cyrus: 20 or 30 a night.

Gatorman: For the whole band?

Cyrus: Just for one guy.

Gatorman: What was that 1964-65?

Cyrus: Yeah around there.

Gatorman: That was pretty good money back then. In 1960 the average salary was 2.50 an hour.

Cyrus: Yeah

Gatorman: What about you Lady Lee? The first time you performed was it with Cyrus?

Lady Lee: First time performance was with Cyrus.

Gatorman: Where was that performance?

Lady Lee: It was on the West side. I forget (Directed at Cyrus) wasn’t it a small club?

Cyrus: Wood’s Lounge

Gatorman: W-o-o-d’s Lounge?

Cyrus: Yeah, over by the Delta Fish market.

Gatorman: (towards Lady Lee) How did you like performing?

Lady Lee: I didn’t like it at the time. (laughs)

Gatorman: No. You didn’t like it?

Lady Lee: No. Not when I started out.

Gatorman: You like it now?

Lady Lee: Yeah in the last couple of years I’m beginning to like it. Before that I never cared for it that much.

Gatorman: Now that’s amazing given the talent that you have.

Lady Lee: Yeah I just started liking it for a couple of years now. I’m taking it serious.

Jim: Cyrus plays the keys. Lee are you getting into playing the keys?

Lady Lee: You mean the keyboards?

Jim: Yeah.

Lady Lee: No. I don’t mess with the keyboard. I play the harmonica now.

Jim: Oh, do you?

Gatorman: I saw them doing a duet.

Lady Lee: I play a little harmonica now.

Gatorman: Can you tell me the size of largest audience you played for and where?

Cyrus: Aww…… It was in Little Rock. About 5-6,000.

Gatorman: How about you Lady Lee?

Lady Lee: The most I played for was at the fest.

Gatorman: Chicago Blues Fest?

Lady Lee: Yes.

Gatorman: How hard is it for you to keep a solid band together?

Cyrus: It’s very hard Terry. I call the guys Mo.

Gatorman: You call them what? Say that again

Cyrus: I call them mo, because they want mo money.

Gatorman: They all want mo money don’t they?

Cyrus: The gigs don’t pay that much and they still want mo money. I have to fiddle around this and that in order to keep things going.

Gatorman: Everybody thinks you’re making a million bucks. Don’t they?

Cyrus: Yeah making a million bucks.

Gatorman: I saw you a couple of weeks ago at the cool river club. The band you had was one of the best bands I ever heard. That was one hot band. I mean it was really good. Walter Scott on Guitar, Darryl Wright on Bass. Cyrus I hope you don’t mind this next question, what’s with the bird calls?

Cyrus: What with the bird calls? Just something to enthuse the audience.

Gatorman: It does, it really gets their attention! It really works and it’s pretty cool. Lady Lee how did you develop the baritone voice?

Lady Lee: The Baritone?

Gatorman: Sing so low.

Lady Lee: Oh I don’t know. (laughs) It’s just natural.

Gatorman: Did Cyrus encourage you in that range?

Lady Lee: No, Cyrus likes that sweet sound.

Cyrus: She just bought out that range.

Gatorman: She just laid it on, ya! You didn’t know that was coming did you?

Cyrus: No! It’s like a hurricane coming through the wind.

Lady Lee: He likes them little sweet voices.

Gatorman: You both recently played the Chicago Blues Fest on the Gibson stage. How did you like that? How did you feel about it?

Cyrus: I feel great about it. That was my second time. Both times was on the Gibson stage.

Gatorman: You really had a good crowd considering the weather.

Cyrus: It was about the same as last year.

Gatorman: How did you like it Lady Lee?

Lady Lee: I loved it, I really loved it.

Gatorman: There are a lot of people around the world that will read this interview and the Chicago Blues Fest is considered the ultimate fest and place to play. Do you feel it is?

Both Cyrus and Lee: Yeah it is.

Gatorman: What can we expect for you both next. What’s new what’s going to happen?

Cyrus: We going to try working another album.

Gatorman: You do have a CD out already, what is the name of it?

Cyrus: Mr. President.

Gatorman: You wrote the title track. Mr. President didn’t you?

Cyrus: I did.

Gatorman: Why did you write that particular song?

Cyrus: Well, because we are all dealing with hard times and it seems like everybody is going through it today and people getting laid off the job.

Gatorman: It is a very difficult situation out there for everybody.

Cyrus: Sure is!

I looked at the time. It was time to wrap it up and we had to get going to The Cool River Club. The pro jam was just about to start. We all got in our cars, Jim in his Porsche, Lady Lee and Cyrus in their Concord and I followed lastly in my 37 miles to the gallon, 1995 Saturn. Considering the current economic conditions times I really do love my car.

Blues Me Or Lose Me,

Terrance " Gatorman" Lape

Copyright July 2009 Terrance B. Lape

If you want a cd email Americanbluesblog100@gmail.com