Marie: Where are you originally from, and where are you based now?
DrmJ: I was born July 16th, 1952 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. A "steel town" with 3 rivers coming to a point. A "blue collar" city. Raised in Wilkinsburg and Monroeville, PA. Both are "suburbs" of Pittsburgh. I've traveled the USA a bit, and have lived for short periods of time in the cities of Ocean City, Maryland; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; North Hampton, Massachusetts; and Aurora, Colorado. Seems I've come full circle. Back where I started from, and content about it. Back in Monroeville.
Marie: From reading your articles, you were obviously a huge Beatles' fan.
DrmJ: Well, I'm not all that huge. But I was (and I still am) impressed with the music the Beatles cultivated and released during the early stages of their career. Say, 1964 to 1966. After that, I believe their music lost its magic. Also, my attention was captivated by the entire "British Musical Invasion" within America during that era, including such acts as the Dave Clark Five, the Searchers, the Zombies, and on and on.
All music seemed to be "special," during the mid-sixties. America was pumping out great Soul Music by the Supremes, etc.;Motown was cookin'. The USA lent quite a bit of talent to the world during that period, too. The Beach Boys, the Byrds. It was simply a worldwide "smelting pot" of great music. And the "Merseybeat" sound was pretty much at the forefront of it all, from my perspective then and now. As for the Country Music . . . well, George Jones, and Loretta Lynn were then in their prime. Yeah, the Beatles will always rate high on my scale of viable talent. But there was a lot more to it than that. Those few years were just an incredible phenomenon of surfacing musical talent. I doubt that will ever happen again, within our lifetime.
Marie: I understand you are a performer.
DrmJ: Well, there's all kinds of "understanding." No, I don't perform live. I'm a writer, and a songwriter. My focus, at one point, was to become the Snare Drum Percussionist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. I used to practice up to 6 hours per day. But somehow I lost that interest, taught myself how to play guitar, and became engulfed within songwriting. I can't read a note of guitar sheet music. However, I read, write, and play snare drum music at its highest level.
Marie: Have you ever been part of a group?
DrmJ: Part of a group of what? Sure. "Garage Bands." Years ago. I guess the best one was the "Mockingbirds." Never played out . . . could have. A 4-piece band consisting of only 2 serious members is bound to fail. The talent was there, though. But the ambition was sorely lacking . . . but not on my part. Yes, I remember it now . . . I played drums, of course.
Marie: What sort of music do you specialize in?
DrmJ: The good kind. Mostly Country. Some Top 40/Pop. Some "Beatlesque." Surprised? Good music is good music. It's the quality that counts. I draw the line at misrepresentation. If it's Country . . . call it Country. If it's Top 40/Pop . . . call it Top 40/Pop. Neither is more "evil" nor "saintly" than the other, as long as the tunes are of quality. Quality without deception.
Marie: I know Karen Cruise is going to record one of your songs.
DrmJ: Ah, yes, . . . Karen. Now there's some talent I believe in. She's a Canadian singer/songwriter/performer. She's got 2 albums out already. "For Always," and "Strong Enough to Lean On." It's strange it's taken Europe to appreciate her talent on a vast plane. And it's also strange it's taken Canada to recognize my American talent. Things seem to be going that way, more every day. Why, you ask? I suppose it's Nashville's "strangulation" of true traditional Country Music which is forcing other countries to "pick up the ball, and run with it." Yes, Karen Cruise is going to release one of my titles on her upcoming 3rd CD within the year 2000. But if I have my way, she just might release 2 or 3 of my songs on that album. We'll see. Also, there are other music publishing deals in the offing, for me. Both foreign, and domestic.
Marie: Are your songs written from personal experiences (life in general) or do you just come up with inspiration "out of the blue?"
DrmJ: Out of the "blue" what? I don't consider myself a poet or a visionary. Both are "like" creatures. Most, but not all, of my compositions are arrived at through the negative aspects of living an ordinary, human life. Certain songs have only taken me 15 minutes or so to write. One title took me 10 years to complete. A lot of it . . . songwriting . . . is simply hard work. My mind's not out in the ozone layer somewhere believing it's a "mystical, musical guru's job to solve the problems of the world." I'm a melody-maker and a lyricist . . . that's all.
Marie: Which artists/acts have been your biggest musical influences?
DrmJ: I suppose just about everybody and anybody within music of all genre have taken their toll of influence within my style of songwriting. Every songwriter is influenced by every songwriter and artist preceding them. A few of my favorite artists and songwriters include Lennon/McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Dan Fogelberg, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Vern Gosdin, Buck Owens, Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris, the Desert Rose Band, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Seldome Scene (a Bluegrass band), and, the Beatles. Just to name a few.
Marie: What, in your opinion, sets the USA apart from Britain, on the music scene? We have the talent but the media coverage over here is virtually nil. What is your perception of this?
DrmJ: Stigmata. It's an axiom, that the USA is in charge of Country Music. The Brits are "supposed" to be in charge of the Merseybeat sound. You guys are "Beatles" . . . we're the "Cowboys." I know this is absurd. But until you can change the views of the entire world . . . I don't know what else to say. Best find an audience within your own country before you try to conquer the remainder of civilization.
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Marie: What would be your best advise to somebody over here, starting out in the business?
DrmJ: That's easy. Become the next "Beatles." Not by releasing Top 40/Pop and Rock 'n Roll, as the lads did . . . but by knocking America "off of its ear" with quality traditional (and modern-traditional) Country Music. This land is starving for such! It seems Nashville has closed its doors to anything other than its new "Hot-Pop-Junk" sound. Show them a thing or two. And don't whine about it. Just do it.
Marie: Again, from reading your articles, it is pretty obvious what you think of "Hot New Country." Having said this, there must be at least one "Star of Today" you admire. If so, who and why?
DrmJ: Yes, there are many. But not one of these "stars" are being aired on your typical USA FM radio station. The true "stars" are on independent labels . . . not the majors. The truly great talent is being squelched. It's not receiving airplay. Two prime examples are Vern Gosdin, and Chris Hillman. These 2 artists are today's stars . . . but they receive very little airplay and recognition.
Nashville seems to have gone insane, within its quest for youth, good looks, and material which appeals only to "teeny-boppers." Talent is no longer an issue, concerning commercial "Country Music." And besides, many of the "great" classic Country Music "giants" were just as greedy and self-contained as today's artists. Nepotism. Favoritism. Me, me, me . . . and mine. I have no respect, for that. Nostalgia only runs so deep, with me.
Marie: Do you have a trade, outside of the music business?
DrmJ: Writing. Photography. Communications. It's all "communications," isn't it?
Marie: Have you ever visited Britain, and seen "in the flesh" the talent we have on offer (I know you have heard some of our material)? If not, can you ever see yourself coming across the water with this purpose in mind?
DrmJ: I can't see myself coming across any expanse of water, unless it should be by boat, or by airplane. I can't simply appear. Yes, I suppose it's possible, given the proper form of transportation. I might appear on your shores one day to check out the "talent in the flesh" . . . women, preferably. Also, music.
Marie: If I asked you to pick just one artist as your favorite of all time, could you do so? If so, why did you single this person out, and what sets them apart from anyone else?
DrmJ: John Lennon. For many reasons. Yes, he was part and parcel of the Beatles . . . but that's not my reasoning behind my choice. First, Lennon was the Beatles. That's probably why the remaining 3 never got back together in a big way. They must also have known this. The man radiated talent. Lennon was a singer, a songwriter, a performer, a literary writer, and an artist of the "palette," as well as possessing quite a charming wit. He was also a comedian, in hindsight, and he was just as adept at intellectual situations, as he was within levity or musical endeavor. I believe, he was the best "melody-maker" ever to grace the planet. Throughout it all, he retained his charisma.
Marie: If you were on a desert island, what 3 things would be essential to take with you, and why?
DrmJ: A monkey, a female nymphomaniac, and a pair of earplugs. Monkeys can climb trees, and bring down bananas and coconuts . . . besides, they can be true friends. the nymphomaniac is self-explanatory. And the earplugs are for the times the female would be following me up and down the beach incessantly complaining about this or that. No guitar would be necessary, as if there's only one man and one woman . . . who needs to "croon?"
Marie: If it's not too personal a question, what are your family circumstances?
DrmJ: Married for 15 years. Divorced for 10 years. One father, one mother, one sister, one brother. No children. Quite happy, with it all. No changes necessary.
Marie: What is your most treasured possession, and why?
DrmJ: Now you are getting personal. But I'll assume you meant "what is my most-treasured material possession?" Not one thing in particular . . . there are several. My truck, "Regina" . . . my guitar, "Becky" . . . and my 1851 Navy Colt reproduction, "Rebecca Jean." I also like my boot collection . . . both "cowboy" and "Chelsea," and my collection of recordings . . . vinyls, CDs, cassettes, etc., . . . but I haven't christened those 2 items so I suppose they're less important to me.
Marie: Where do you see Country Music heading in, say, 10 years?
DrmJ: Out of the "toilet," hopefully. I'm speaking here of the crap which has been airing on many "major Country Music" radio stations within the USA for quite some time now. As I said before, you'll find some great Country Music on the independent labels today. Hopefully, that will still be the case within another decade. As for "major" labels finally seeing the light, and putting true Country Music back into Country Music . . . who knows? It could get better; it could get worse. Your guess is as good as mine. The audience gets what the audience wants, it seems. Maybe, if that record-buying, and concert-ticket-buying audience were to receive a "primer" concerning true Country Music, they'd force the "moneymakers" to provide real Country Music. Right now, the listening audience appears to be content with what it hears. Why? . . . I don't know.
Marie: What are your ambitions?
DrmJ: To disgrace my family lineage with failure. What kind of a question is this? If you have to ask me . . . why bother?
©1999 Marie Wilkinson |
