Vertice Williams

Interview 3 July 2004

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Vertice L. Williams - Music For The Heart & Soul
www.VerticeWilliams.com
www.V-DubMusic.com

Soul Brother Record Store (United Kingdom)
www.TowerRecords.com
www.TowerRecords.co.uk

www.CDBABY.com/Vertice
www.Amazon.com

Hi Vertice, how are you.

I'm well Mike! How are you?

Tell me about yourself, where you're from, where you are now, family.

Well Mike, I was born in Ft. Worth, TX (USA). When I was about 3 or 4, my mother and father divorced and my mother moved us both to a suburban city in California called Pasadena. Pasadena is the city that hosts the New Years' Day Rose Parade and the Rose Bowel games. I'm sure you've probably heard of these events here in the States. Well, after graduating from high school, I went to college at the University of California - Los Angeles and majored in Sociology of all things, then later went on to study law and work in the legal field as a paralegal.  Many times I thought about going farther in my legal studies and apply to the Bar and become an attorney.  But my passion for music was calling me loud and clear.  I currently live in Culver City, CA (USA).  Culver City is a city just outside of Los Angeles, near the major Los Angeles Airport (LAX).  So when and if you ever come to Los Angeles, CA, I'm just a hop, skip and a jump away from the airport so stop on by.  I've been married and am now divorced with one beautiful, jewel of a daughter named Marrea.  She is the very apple of my eye and I love her dearly.  Marrea is my #1 fan and helps keep me moving in the direction of my dreams.  I live to be an example to her of a woman who never gives up on her dreams because I want her to live her dreams too.

Do you come from a musical family? 

Yes, Mike.  I do come from a musical family.  My mother and her two sisters as teenagers, had a vocal group and traveled for a  time with the great Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.  I know you've heard of this great singer.  My mother sings and plays the piano, my aunt (her older sister) also sings and plays the piano, my other aunt (her baby sister) also sings, plays the saxophone, clarinet and the trumpet.  My father is not quite as musical as my mother.  Although he appreciates music, he can't carry a tune in a brown paper bag.  He tries, but I just look at him and shake my head and try not to laught too loud.  So, I got my musical influence and talent from mom.  My father tells me that the great legendary Lena Horne is a cousin of his mother, my paternal grandmother, which would make her a distant cousin of mine.  I haven't had the fortune of meeting Ms. Horne, but I hope to one day.  So, music was a major part of my developmental years.  I have exposed my daughter to ALL kinds of music too, so now she can appreciate all types of music herself.

Tell me about music through you're life, what you were brought up on, what you aspire to be, what you draw from, who your're influences are  you were singing publicly in Church from a very young age?

Wow, you ask some very good questions.  Are you writing my biography?  Music through my life - - that sounds like a good title for my next song!  I was exposed to a variety of music, art - - - just culture, in general.  My experiences were very rich as a child.  I attended the opra, theater, museums, performed in the orchestra.  I learned to appreciate other people's heritage and cultural expression as well as my own.  With that exposure, came music appreciation.  I was fortunate enough to love sacred music, soulful traditional gospel, then with Andre Crouch, the more contemporary gospel.  Because my mother also sang, she exposed me to singers like Nancy Wilson, Dionne Worrick (sp?), Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Washington, and so on.  Since I began playing the piano and then the violin at an early age (9 years old), I was also exposed to the classics of Beethoven, Bach, Brahmas, etc., performing them with the orchestra and so on.  But let me tell you, I just LOVED Earth, Wind & Fire, Funkadelic, Chaka Khan, LaBelle (w/Pattie LaBelle), The Silvers, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and oh, my goodness, how I loved me some Michael Jackson.  I was going to marry him!   

As far as what I aspire to be . . . I aspire to share my gift of song, lyrics, my heart and soul with the world.  I want to give the world good music again.  Music like I used to listen to and appreciate when I was growing up.  Songs with a good melody and great lyrics that actually said something.  I want to go back to the time, when songs gave only a hint of seduction, not an outright invitation to knock boots.  If you know what I mean.  Real love songs that are tender and soft.  I also want to show women (especially single parents) and the world that no matter where you are in life, no matter where you come from, no matter the hand your life has been dealt, you can get back on course and achieve your dreams and fulfill your God-given purpose and destiny before your last breath.  We all have a purpose to fulfill on this earth and I want to somehow be a beacon of hope to those who have lost their way or have gotten side-tracked, or just plain given up.  Why?  Because even though I raised my daughter as a single parent and had to take time out to provide for her needs (gladly, I might add), I NEVER gave up on my dream.  As a matter of fact, my daughter was the inspiration I needed to make me more determined to fulfill my dreams.  My daughter Marrea is also a dream come true for me and now she's fulfilling her own dreams.  So, I have nothing but time and opportunity to return to fulfilling my other dream - music.

Having said all of that you want to know what I draw from. 

Well, that's a book in and of itself.  Not only did my mother expose me to a variety of cultural experiences, but she gave me a deep, rich, solid spiritual foundation as well.  She taught me young who God is, how to trust Him and how important it is for me to acknowledge God in all that I do, and to recognize God as the source of all my strength, talent and wealth.  That's a great legacy.  The best legacy any parent can give a child and for that I'm thankful!

My musical influences are as diverse as the music I perform and write.  I love Jazz, so I'm influenced by the legends of  Ella Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughn, Nancy Wilson.  I love Gospel so I'm influenced by Andre Crouch, Tramaine Hawkins, The Winnans, Richard Smallwood, and the like.  I love soulful R&B so - Pattie LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, etc.  I also love the softer side of R&B hence, Minnie Ripperton, Angela Bofield, Phyllis Hyman, Anita Baker.  It's funny because people tell me they hear a little of all of these people in my voice and I'm honored by that, because that means I'm in good company. 

So, since my first public performance at the age of 2 in my little church in Ft. Worth, TX, I've been singing and can't imagine my life NOT singing.  To this very day, I'm active as an assistant musical director at my church!  Always hold to my roots!

And at what point did you know that this was what you wanted to do. When did you start playing and writing? 

I can't remember NOT knowing that this was what I wanted to do.  I just couldn't figure out how to do it.  But time and opportunity made it a possibility. 

I started playing the piano and the violin when I was 8 and 9, respectively.  Then when I was 13, I picked up the acoustic guitar.  Although I didn't play the guitar as long as I did the violin.  I played the violin all the way through my college years.  The piano was something that I have never forgotten and obviously use to help find keys for my songs, and pound out melodies, etc.  I won't accompany myself though.  I leave that to the masters. 

I've been writing lyrics since I was in Jr. High School.  So, I have a lot of songs to get out!

Do you do anything else? 

 What else is there?  (Joke).  Like I stated earlier, I am the assistant music director at my church, which keeps me very busy as well as run my company - - V-Dub Music & Entertainment Group, which handles my record label, booking, publishing, and everything else related to my career as a recording artist, etc., and that keeps me busy as well.  I am also working on a big Hollywood movie as Music Supervisor.  So I'll be producing the music score, writing a lot of material, including the title song, etc., for this film as well as working with other writers. So, I have my hands in the film industry as well.  I am also writing some songs for another female artist in France named Ashley Autumn, and I look forward to that as well.  Needless to say, I am a very busy person woman.

How longs the album been out now, how's it going down, and what about the different marketplaces, local, national and international. 

 My debut album has been released now since January 2004.  Since then, as a independent artist, I think I've done pretty well with all the work being my own.  And boy am I tired, but I'm loving it!  I have limited distribution  right now in a few stores here locally in Southern California, of course I have distribution with CD Baby.com, Amazon.com, and on Tower Records.com.  In the past week and 1/2, I now have Soul Brother Records on board there in the UK.  I know you know about them and prior to them Dean Johnson at Expansion made my CD available to your market as well.  My music is being played in Germany, the UK, Australia, Spain, France and various cities in the U.S.  So, I've done a lot on my own.  Now there is a major company in the U.S. who wants to talk to me.  We'll see what they have to say!

What was the vision for the album,

My vision was to share and express my artistry with a listening audience that was starving for good music.  I wanted to bring back beautiful, sweet melodies and true musicianship back to a time when this was the norm.  and how long did it take to put together.  It took a lifetime to get things to the point of actual production.  At that point, the production took about 6 months, in between every other demand in my life.  Who do you use to help put the thing together.and Jarrett (Michaels) tell me about him and how you work together and how he helped with the album.  Well, I had a couple of great talents help me produce this project.  First was William Bryant.  William is a dynamic pianist, writer and producer who just so happens to play with my band.  William produced Give Me Your Love and You.  William toured with the legendary Marvin Gaye until Marrvin's death, Robert Palmer, Pattie LaBelle, Frankie Beverly and Maze and so on and so on.  Jarrett Michaels was another God-sent talent to help me get this project off the ground.  Jarrett was a staff writer for EMI, he was also the energy and force behind Brandy's career, He worked with Rick James and Teena Marie and the one and only King of Pop, Michael Jackson. I don't know if you are familiar with an artist named Marla Glenn - well he also launched her career in Germany!  So Jarrett was a great help and inspiration as well.  He and I collaborated on a number of songs on the CD.

You wrote or co wrote most of the album, how do you write youre songs and what do you draw from. 

Well, Mike, if I'm collaborating with someone and they have music that's in need of lyrics, I generally listen to the music and allow it to take me away, so to speak.  I allow the music to stir a melody an emotion and those emotions or feelings, can sometimes cause me to remember experiences, conversations or some other person's experience, etc., to find a subject to write about.  From there, the lyrics.  I am a warm and loving individual so I find that I write a lot about that subject matter and anything surrounding love!   When I don't collaborate and just do things myself, I could be driving down the street without the radio on and all of a sudden, a melody and lyric come to mind.  I try to keep a pencil and paper and a tape recorder handy for moments just like those.

There's a good deal of variety on there Soul old (What's it gonna be) and new (This Ish), Jazzy (you  excellent stuff) , and some newer R'n'B like -Just like me, which I kinda like. How do feel about the overall showcase,

I love the "showcase" because I call my style kind of a pot of gumbo.  A pot full of stuff, you know?  So, I don't just do one kind of music, I find that I have crossover appeal and can perform a variety of styles.  However, there are styles of music I prefer more than others.  I love soul R&B, jazz and gospel.  Does it reflect what you do and what you feel.  Yes, it no doubt reflects what I do and feel.  I'm beginning to work on my next project and that project will have a lot of surprises and you'll get to see another side as well.  Where do you feel yourself going?  Anywhere I want and everywhere God leads me!!!

And Gospel and the church is important to you? 

How did you know?  (a little humor there).  It's not just the Church and Gospel music that's important, but my relationship with God is of great importance to me.

How difficult is it to put something like this together as an independent? 

This has had to have been one of the hardest, most challenging, growth inspiring, completely fulfilling, most rewarding experiences I have ever had in my life, and I'm so glad that I'm doing it this way.  You can't always wait for things to come to you, you have to get out there and make your opportunities.  I'm responsible for what happens in my career, succeed or fail, it's all up to me.  That's with anything in life.

Oh and what do you think of the forum! 

I think the forum is a great idea.  It brings artists, D.J.'s, record companies, etc., together from what appears to be all over the world.  There is a lot of mutual support from the members.  You were even going to call into a radio station I was being interviewed in her in Los Angeles, CA.  When I saw your e-mail letting me know that you were going to call in, my heart melted.  I thought that was so sweet of you.  Thank you!

Do you do much live work? 

I do tons of live work.  That's what I love.  I love the energy I get from my audience and I give it right back.  My band, the audience and I just have a love fest!!  What's you're show like.  My shows are interactive, live, exciting and energetic.  My band and I have a synergy that I have been told is "electrifying"!

What's happening next? 

 My management and I are working on touring Europe as we speak and you must know that you will know as soon as everything is confirmed.  So, keep your ears and eyes open.

What other things have you done in the past.  You've done quite a lot of live work in bars around California.  What kind of things. 

 Mike, I don't work in bars!!  I do, however, work some extremely popular supper clubs and auditoriums and some of the local music festivals, private parties, corporate events, etc., her in Los Angeles and other parts of the Country.   

And concertwise you've worked with or for a number of known artists and personalities.  Tell me about some of them and how they came about. 

 Well a lot of those opportunities came through my work with several agencies around town.  One particular celebrity you might know of, is California's new Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger where I performed at a graduation party for his daughter.  Yes, I got to shake his hand and actually meet him.  I don't know if you're familiar with the box office hits "Ghost Busters" and "Animal House" and "Evolution", but I entertained the guests at a private house party for the producer of those movies, Ivan Reitman.  I've had the chance to perform in front of Howard Hewitt and more recently open for Ronnie Laws.  Wow!  What a blessing!!

Tell me about the work you did with Leonard Caston. 

  As you  know, Leonard Caston is the "Keep On Truckin" man with Eddie Kendricks (The Temptations).  He wrote and produced material for Minnie Ripperton and Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire) and a number of others.  I worked on some projects with him doing background vocals and a couple of commercial jingles with him as well.  And for the record, he and his wife and family are my God-family.  He and his wife Carolyn have known me since I was 13 years old.  They made me a part of their family and have watched me grow into a woman and have helped me, encouraged me, trained me in the industry and continue to pray for me.  I love them dearly.  They tell me how very proud they are of what I have accomplished with this project.  Leonard has given me his seal of approval.  That means a lot!!  Is that still an ongoing thing?  Yes and I'm waiting for him to write a song for me.  But in the meantime, on my next project, I'm going to cover a song he did for Minnie Ripperton called Give Me Time.  It is such a beautiful song.   

Does he live by you? 

For all the years I've known him he lived in the Hollywood hills, but about 5 years ago, they moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  I've been there to visit them and they come here often and we get to spend time every time they come out to California.  As a matter of fact, they were just here in April for Easter and we had a chance to spend some time together then. 

He did some pretty major things with Motown and was heavily into Gospel too wasn't he?

  You are so right.  He and Frank Wilson teamed up a lot and he and his wife Carolyn have a number of Gospel projects.  They go by the name of Caston & Majors.  Frank Wilson is also very much a Gospel producer now - The Mighty Clouds of Joy and the like.

I don't know Juan Tuys tell me about him? 

Juan Tyus is another great producer and bass player as well.  He and I did a number of gospel projects together and performed together.  We have a little-known Christmas project with some really good contemporary Christmas songs and some really good arrangements of traditional Christmas songs as well.  I'm thinking about getting with him to re-release it for the coming season. 

Tell me about some of the other people you have worked with. 

I've worked with some really great people over the years.  The musicians in my band have got to be the greatest musicians in the WORLD!  Of course, I think so.  My keyboard player, of course, is William Bryant.  My drummer is Gary Henry who has played with everybody from Aretha Franklin to well . . . me!  My regular bass player, Kenny Gray, plays with the Emotions the majority of the time, so when they call him he has to go and I have to find a substitute for him.  Then my guitar player, David Scott, who is absolutely the most level headed man I know.  He also plays with Howard Hewitt, Dela Reese, co-wrote some tunes with the late great Miles Davis.  There are just too many people for me to name without leaving someone out and I don't want to hear anybody say, "Vertice, you forgot all about me."  So, to all of those that I have worked with, they have ALL been great and thank you!! 

What do you like to do  you have children, how old? 

For relaxation I like to do a number of things.  I love to travel, watch movies, see plays and just enjoy the company of my close friends and family, and oh, yes, don't forget about SLEEP!  I love to sleep every chance I get.  Yes, I have an only child; my daughter Marrea.  How old is she?  Well, she's not telling her age these days, because she's trying to keep my age a secret!  But everyone thinks we're sisters!!!!!  Shame on you Mike for asking!!!

Anything else you'd like to add.

Just a huge thank you for taking the time out to draw attention to my efforts and to interview me.  It is an honor and a privilege to  have the world interested in what I'm doing.  I am humbled by this.   Thank you Mike and again, when I get to the U.K., you're one of the first ones I'll be looking for!  So, clear your calendar because we'll have to at least have lunch and share a few laughs together!

Good luck and thanks for your time. 

No, THANK YOU!!!!!!

Mike

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