Lawrence Welton
Interview 25 January
2007
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Name : Lawrence Welton
City: Chicago
Age: 49
Style: R&B, POP, SOUL, SMOOTH JAZZ,
Tell me about
yourself, where you from, background, family
I grew up in Chicago Illinois, I am the fifth child of six
siblings, I graduated from South Shore High School in 1976, after that i
studied
Music theory & Harmony, and Percussions, at Malcolm x College
in Chicago. I then moved out to Los Angeles California where i got a gig
playing drumset with blues great Vernon Garrett, i also did some writing and
producing with a recording group called (Catch) who had a deal with
Columbia/Sony records..
Do you still live there, if not where are you based
Right now, i am based in Chicago IL.
What are you working
on now
Currently, i am working on a compilation CD, that features myself
and Multi-talented Singer/ Songwriter/Producer (Derwin Davis),
Vocalist Esha, Marsha Lynn Smith, Celeste Harrell, Antoine Smith,
Tareska Medlock and Sybil Johnson...
Do you have a CD out
or when can we expect it.
My curent debut
release is entitled (RSVP) on my own independent label, Ensight Records...
My CD is available on my website at www.Lawrencewelton.com..
How’s it going down
– what tracks can we look out for/do you like.
Its going very well,
thanks to radio stations (Starpoint Radio,( DJ Dave W)
Jazz Syndicate Radio (Mark Gentry) and Solar Radio (Paul Phillips)
and all the Dj,s in the UK, i have people from so many countries,
Japan, Italy, France, buying my CD. So, i would like to thank
everybody who supported my music, i am so thankful..... My favorite song
is "GET AT IT". It's so Groovy.....
Did you write the
songs:
Yes, i wrote all the
songs with some help from Lyricist, Beverly Joyce Thomas (RSVP), Yolanda Welton
(GET AT IT).
and my brother Lamont Welton (GOOD LOVING) who also plays
Bass Guitar on that track....
If so tell me about
the writing process:
I have no set way
that i write, sometimes it could be just a groove and then i'll build from
there,
or it might be a melody that that i hear in my mind, or just a
drumbeat that gets me inspired....
And production?
I usually sequence
my music with a MPC 3000, and record it in to Protools, then record all the
Lead and background vocals in Protools..
What instruments do
you play: Drums, guitar, Keyboards, Bass Guitar:
Where is it
obtainable from:
Friends.........
Tell me about your
style, what you do and what do you add to the rest of the stuff out there:
My style is very diverse, I try to blend
the Old Skool music with the New skool and i,m always searching for new and
exciting ways and sounds to create music......
Whats your show
like, what gigs are you doing.
Currently i am
forming a group to do live gigs, looking forward to engagements come Spring
2007. As of right now, i am only doing performances utilizing CD tracks. Stay
tuned at www.Lawrencewelton.com
Do you use the same
people live as on your recorded material.
Yes and NO
Do you write your
songs, if so what do you draw from:
Yes i write songs
from some from my personal experiences as well as from other experiences of
someone else......
Tell me about the
team of people around you.
My team mostly
consist of long time friends that i have built relationships with and i know i
can trust, starting with my wife juanita, she tells me the truth, if my music
sucks, she,ll let me know, Monika Bourgeois, does all my graphic arts work, My
personal manager is longtime friend, Reginald Wright and i also work with
the Nitelife Record Pool ( President Gerald Jones) of Chicago, and a host of
musician friend that i can call at a moments notice.
Whats it like
getting yourself heard, and getting stuff down as an independent.
Its the greatest
feeling in the world to hear your music make it on the radio. I get a sense
of satisfaction to know someone appreciates the hard work you do. Being
an independent is my way of making a way when there was supposed to be no
way....
Who are your
influences, currently and from back in the day:
Currently, i like
John Legend, Brian Mcknight, Kem,. Back in the day, it would have to be Stevie
Wonder, Rick James, james Brown, Earth wind & fire, The Temptations, Nat
king Cole......
Who else have you
worked with,
I worked with a band called the (chosen
few), Razzmztazz, Smoke City, a latin group called Panama, Al Mckay, former
guitar player with EW& fire, Keyboardist, Bernard Wright (Cameo), Vocalist
Warren Bailey, and Currently i play Drumset with a group called Windycity...
What else have you
done, how have you got where you are now:
I also do mixing and mastering, i mixed
70% of (RSVP) and mastered the whole Cd..... i got where i am
now by experience, watching people, listening, practicing and persevering,
prayer and asking questions...
Has music always
been in you from an early age:
No. My first love
was baseball, i love all kinds of sports, basketball, football, hockey,
boxing,
swimming. Music was a gradual kind of thing for me, but once i
grabbed it, now i don't want to let it go.....
Are you in it full
time:
No. During daytime
hours, i work in freight services for Fedex, it will be 19years for me in
August..
What other
independent artists are you feeling.
CDbaby have some
very talented artist coming out every week. I like Costie Payne, William Scott
lab addicts, Geno Stanley, Jazmin Sky, and my homie, Brown,s Bag
from Chicago IL.........
What’s the scene like
where you are.
You Know Chicago is
always Live, Whatever style of music you want, its right here....
What is your
following like locally.
I have lots of
friends here that bought my CD, a big following with my Fedex family, but as a
whole, the city of chicago does not know me
that well, i looking forward to getting out and performing and hopefully
getting some airplay from the major stations here.
What do you know about other markets, UK, Europe, Japan etc.
I only know that they have a love for real music, a lot of soul
music, and they are very supportive of not just music of today but music of
yesterday as well.
How do you see Soul
Music right now:
Soul music will
always be special to me. That's what i grew up with and i will always cherish
it.....
What are your
ambitions:
To be a great
Songwriter/Producer/Singer/ Entrepreneur
Whats happening next
:
I have a 15 year old
niece that is soooo talented, Her name is (Andrea), be on the lookout!
Is there something
adventurous you might like to do
but haven’t yet with your music:
I won't give away my
secrets..ha! ha!
What do you enjoy
most about what you do.:
the freedom to
express myself musically without ever having to say one word.
What other things do you like to do.
i like dancing, barbecuing, traveling, fixing cars, playing cards
(Black jack), spades,
A few random one
word things:
blessed, Hopeful, Perseverance, Peace,
Love...
Favourite artist: I
don't have one favorite artist, there are so many, Male: Stevie Wonder. Female:
Chaka Khan
Film: The Ten Commandments: Starring Charlton Heston
Actor/Actress:
Laurence Fishbourne/ Halle berry
Food: Blackened
Catfish/Spagetti
Drink: Mogen David
Red wine
City: Los Angeles CA
Country: USA
Holiday Vacation :
Jamaica/Caribbean
Sport/Team: The
Chicago Bears
Anything else you’d
like to say:
Yes: I would like for you and the
world to pray for Peace in the midst of the war in IRAQ...
Thanks, Lawrence Welton......
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