Thijs Van Leer Bolero Disco Version 1980

Thijs van Leer (pronounced: /tɛis vɑn lɪər/; born 31 March 1948) is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles. In his later years, Van Leer went on to release many solo albums which were also classical music and jazz-based.

In 1980 when the film 10 with Bo Derek was a succes he made a Disco Version of Ravels Bolero!

Gazebo – The Musician and Man

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Italian musician Gazebo. Gazebo is a living legend among fans of “Italo-disco” and he has a following in many places throughout the world. Americans are beginning to discover what Europeans have known for over two decades. Gazebo is a multi-talented musician and a force to be reckoned with. Gazebo’s new CD “The Syndrone” is available HERE. Gazebo music is available on i-tunes and amazon as well.
KRS: Paul, your song, I Like Chopin sold more than 10 million copies in the ’80s and it is still going strong. Many people are familiar with and love your work. For those who aren’t yet aware of you, I’m going to ask you to introduce yourself in your own words. Who is Gazebo?
PM: Well, my real name is Paul Mazzolini, I’m Italian (from father) and have had the luck of being raised in many different countries in American and French schools, I speak and think in 5 different languages . LOL I was into music since I learned my first Beatles and Bob Dylan songs at around 8 or 9 .. But got into taking it seriously in France at around 13 when I started studying classical guitar … After playing in different bands throughout genres of music and after my two years of living in London from 79 to 81 I started doing some recordings and ended up with my first single Masterpiece in 1982.
KRS: “Masterpiece” is one of my favorite Gazebo songs. Gazebo is an interesting stage name. Tell everyone how you came to be known as Gazebo and where you got the name. It’s an interesting story.
PM: Well, the studio where we recorded Masterpiece was in a basement of a theatre where they were playing an adaptation of the movie Gazebo the one with Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds … I used the word in the lyrics (a rap part in the extended version) and decided to use it as a stage name first because I couldn’t use my name, the Italian DJs (my first target) where quite provincial at the time and anything that was produced in Italy would have sounded less appealing and second because it sounds great!
KRS: I Like Chopin was such a huge hit. You have sung it countless times over the years. Do you ever tire of singing it?
PM: Not really, the melody is so simple and complex at the same time you can’t sing it if you’re not concentrated …But if I do get tired I let the audience sing it for (with) me.
KRS: Your new CD, “The Syndrone” is beautiful on so many levels. It includes some of the classics as a lot of new material. Could you tell us the meaning of “The Syndrone”?
PM: It’s a new word I made up using, Sydrome, Syndone, Synthesizer and Drone. Basically a new expression for blues or Baudelaire’s spleen… A 21st century human condition of melancholy, uncertainty for the future struggling between worries for the environment and for the recession.
KRS: That’s very creative, Paul. I’m sure you’ve had many musical influences. Who do you like to listen to when you’re in the mood for music?
PM: According to the moods .. That would be : Debussy, Peter Gabriel, The Beatles, Ultravox and some good rock’n'roll from the seventies .. I also like the progressive scene and the new wave stuff. Many ideas come from ethnic music though…There is so much to discover from tradition.
KRS: Yes, there certainly is. Your mother was an American singer, what type of music did she sing and did she have any impact on your love of music and decision to pursue a career in music?
PM: LOL my mother was into the 50s stuff like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc… She didn’t influence my musical taste which started from where she stopped (the Beatles) but she encouraged me a lot and gave me the tools to improve…We did have a meeting point though at a certain period… That was Miles Davis Bitches Brew!
KRS: Great song! I know that your dad who was an Italian Diplomat passed away but your mother is still living. How did
your parents react to your initial success as a musician?
PM: My dad passed away in 1995 … He was not very convinced in the beginning because he wanted me to be a diplomat like him but when he realized the achievements he got very very proud I remember a party in Athens where I was the surprise guest in the embassy, he didn’t know it either and when he saw all his colleagues asking me an autograph he couldn’t believe it! LOL
KRS: LOL..I’m sure that must have been a very proud moment for your dad! You lived in many places when you were growing up. Where are some of the places you’ve lived and how did your experiences of living in various cultures affect you as a person and an artist?
PM: From Jordan to Denmark, France, Ex Yugoslavia, Lebanon, Italy…It was quite an experience to move form Amman to Copenhagen .. We had to leave because of the war between Israel and the neighbor Arab countries, I clearly remember the bombs falling on Amman airport that wasn’t far from where we lived … I remember the days after, destruction and despair .. And then all of a sudden the snowy joyful Xmas in Denmark, a totally different civilization, the American school with kids from everywhere, my best friend was half Danish and half Shrilankan (Ceylon at the time) … These contrast and these differences are part of my cultural background and are the basics to my sensibility both as an artist and a human being situation.
KRS: What an incongruence for the mind to go from that traumatic experience to a living situation which was the the polar opposite! What was your life like as a child and a teenager? Were you happy, sad, lonely, rebellious? What was it like to be you? What was it like to be the child of your parents?
PM: I’ve always been a reactive kid, ready for new adventures, rebellious but with moderation. LOL
KRS: Tell me, Paul…how did you get your first recording contract, and how did that feel?
PM: The DJ Paolo Micioni decided to produce Masterpiece and after being turned down by nearly all the labels in Italy it felt like a relief… I was so happy of just getting the song out!
KRS: I bet! You were quite young when you made it. How did your life change after your first big hit?
PM: I’ve been quite lucky to make it that big that it kept me busy for 3 or 4 years, traveling around for either promotion or concerts, it didn’t give me the time to spend the money and change my lifestyle. I stopped cause I had to go to the army and there I got time to think on how to spend my money LOL I was lucky enough to decide to buy a house and invest in a recording studio .. Wise decision.
KRS: It certainly was. Have you had the opportunity of performing in America yet? If so, tell us about it, please. Is it a goal of yours? We would love to have you here.
PM: I was very close to make an agreement with a major at the time but unfortunately my label dropped the offer so basically I’ve never been officially released in the States! Although I won the Top European Chart Act award by Music Week for 1983 and sold multi platinum in Japan and S.E Asian territories! I came to Los Angeles for a show in a club in the mid nineties and the place was sold out … Amazingly, but unfortunately that was the only opportunity…Useless to say I’d love to come again with my band this time and check it out.
KRS: There is a very beautiful song on your new CD, The Syndrone called Man at the Window. There is an interesting story behind how you came to write this song. Would you share that with everyone?
PM: Pope John Paul II was in his final days, and I was really surprised to see him appear on his usual window on S.Peter’s Square in that state. He could hardly move, the pain was evident he couldn’t even speak yet he wanted to communicate something to the world .. His body didn’t help him so he slapped the transparent lectern with a punch … This really touched me, the man wanted to say something to all of us, he knew the cameras from all over the world were focusing on him .. His power was infinite at that
precise moment … Definitely one of the biggest media men from the last century. His unsuccessful moving attempt is what I call syndrone.
KRS: You are a very sensitive man, Paul. You’ve written so many wonderful songs. Which one are you most proud of and why?
PM: The Man On The Window is so intense with vibrating live, real instruments, it’s the soul song, Masterpiece on the other hand was so synthetic yet so typical in the description of a human state .. It’s the mind song.
KRS: Describe your process of songwriting. How did you learn your craft? Do you write music or lyrics first? What advice would you give to struggling songwriters?
PM: Normally the idea, the concept of the song comes out as the first notes start to make sense … The development of the lyrics comes after. I can’t give other advice than to listen, listen and listen.
KRS: If you hadn’t become a musician, what would you likely be doing professionally today, Paul?
PM: No idea LOL!! Maybe a literature teacher (although I’m really bad at teaching, my patience threshold is very low LOL)
KRS: LOL..Describe a typical day in the life of Paul Mazzolini. What type of work are you doing when you aren’t working with your own music?
PM: I prepare breakfast for my family, once they¹re out I’ll normally check out my mail and then head to my studio where I work till lunch. Then it’s either gym in the afternoon or more studio .. On weekends I try to keep away from work and when I don’t have gigs I like to go out in. Tuscany for a nice walk unless there are Formula 1 races .. Which is my only little sin! LOL
KRS: Thank you for allowing everyone to peep inside your fascinating mind and life, Paul. It’s been a pleasure.
PM: I enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone for buying my CD’s and supporting me.
Written by: Kate Rossi Stuart on 5 October 2009

Jeanne Shy

Jean Shy is an internationally acclaimed Soul, Blues, Jazz, and Gospel Singer; Songwriter, Music Producer, Actress, and Author. With four Top Ten Hits under her belt, the 2009 Blues Music Award Nominee for Soul Blues Female Artist Of The Year, is definitely a multi-talented, truly unique Artist, and audiences are overwhelmed by her powerful vocal delivery, and entertaining Show.

Born in Chicago, Jean's vocal background had it's beginning in Gospel Music. Elvis Presley was her first inspiration to become a professional Entertainer in commercial Music. Later she was also greatly influenced by Mahalia Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, and others. Jean was already receiving awards for her musical talents by the time she reached High School.  At the age of twelve she was signed by Leonard and Phil Chess to the legendary Chess Label in Chicago. The release of  “Spring Fever” by Tim & Jean became a Regional Hit.
 

Just before leaving High School Jean was signed by Carl Davis for Brunswick Records. With various regional Record successes she toured as an Opening-Act with Otis Leavill, Tyrone Davis, Barbara Acklin, The Chi-Lites, The O'Jays, Al Green, The Stylistics, and  Jackie Wilson, gathering a tremendous  amount of Stage Experience.  Jean wrote her first Album which was produced by Hense Powell; Executive Produced by Emerson Featherstone. One Single from  that  production Speak Talk About It was signed by Jay Butler to Playboy Records.

Jean Shy was later produced by Harvey Fuqua who was the founder and lead singer for seminal R&B/doo wop group The Moonglows. He was an early mentor of Marvin Gaye, (co-producing "Sexual Healing" and Gaye's hit duets with Tammi Terrell), helped to develop several Motown acts, and helped to launch the careers of '70s soul-pop group New Birth, and disco superstar Sylvester (Disco Heat, You  Make Me  Feel  Mighty  Real).  The Songs  Harvey produced  on  Jean were released on Honey Records, and a few others in conjunction with Fantasy Records.

Jean and Harvey Fuqua

Jean and Carlo Bohlaender

In 1978 Jean branched out and went to Europe. Soon after she arrived in Frankfurt, Germany she performed at the famous Jazz Kneipe owned  by  Musician  Wolfgang  Dosch.  There  she  met Dr. Carlo Bohlaender one of Europe's acclaimed Jazz Critics, Trumpet Player and Book Author who introduced her into Frankfurt's Jazz Scene as well as to one of Germany’s Top Jazz, Blues & Gospel Booking Agents Dieter Nentwig. Carlo included Jean in his series of Jazz Encyclopedias as the youngest Jazz Vocalist, which Jean is very proud of.

After the performance of a few Jazz Concerts the Cultural Department sent Jean as a cultural Ambassador to represent the city "Frankfurt am Main" in the Partner City Milano, Italy, with an Open Air performance in front of the world famous Skala which Jean performed with one of Frankfurt’s Top Jazz Bands Herbert Christ & The Jazz Babies. Shy met Chilly Producer Bernt Moehrle (pictured right) in Frankfurt who produced two Singles Layla, and Do The Locomotion on her, which were released on Polydor Records.

Soon after Jean signed a contract with Al Coury, President of R.S.O. Records through her Business Manager Nick Sevano, who also managed Artist such as Glen Campbell and Julia McGuinnes. Producer Bob Esty was brought in to produce Shy while he was working on Albums with Barbara Streisand and Cher.    The release of this  now considered  "classic"  12" Single  production of the Song Night Dancer, written by Bob Esty, and Michael W. Brooks, brought Jean her first national Record success in the US. It became a #9 Hit  in  the Billboard  Top  100  Disco Charts.

"Night  Dancer" also was one of the Soundtracks in the Movie Roller Boogie starring Linda Blair.  The B-Side  was the  classic Jazz Song That Old Black Magic which made it to #13 in the US Dance Charts. After her success with R.S.O. Jean returned to Europe making Germany her second home. Soon after, she signed an exclusive Booking Contract with the Dieter Nentwig International Musikagentur. Because a well known Colleague had to cancel a  performance at the Lahnstein Blues Festival  presented by  SWF  Radio,  Jean  was booked to perform with  The Frankfurt City Blues Band,  this concert,  which   was

also recorded and  broadcast  by SWF Radio, exceeded all expectations. After that, countless performances at national and International Jazz & Blues Festivals with The Frankfurt City Blues Band, and other known Bands such as The Blues Company, The Barrelhouse Jazz Band, The Climax Band Cologne, and JBBO (Jazz Band Ball Orchestra) followed. Since 1982 Jean has been working with the German Label King Edward Records. Her first Album Maze (I Just Wanna Escape) was released in 1983. Believing in Jean Shy in every aspect of her musical Talent  the Label  has supported her diverse  Music Styles, therefore releasing various Cd’s by her over the Years, which, just like her Concerts, range from Rhythm & Blues/ Blues-Rock to Jazz, Blues, and Gospel.

Jean  formed her own Band Streetblues with Vladimir Rada (Bass), Gerd Freymann (Drums), Hannsjoerg Scheid (Guitar), and Mike Hoffmann (Piano). With the finishing of their first Album together in 1984 entitled Tough Enough the Band Name was changed to "Bordell". When King Edward Records signed a licensing deal with Record Shack Records for a UK release of the Album, the Band Name was changed once again: Jean Shy & The Shy Guys was born. Soon after, The Shy Guys consisted of new members only.

Two original members of -The new Shy Guys- Klaus Zimmermann (Guitar), and Martin Hoette (Guitar) as well as long time members Bernhard Spiess (Drums), Sascha Kuehn (Keyboards), and Bernd Winterschladen (Sax) are still performing as part of the Band today. The newest addition to the Group was Michael -Schnuff- Strohm (Bass.) and a few years later Georg Mahr on the B3 Hammond Organ, who had been a Guest Musician on many Jean Shy Shows during the last 15 Years.

Dove Soap Commercial

In between Touring, and Recording in Europe, Jean has gone back and forth between Germany, and Los Angeles. In 1988 she signed a five year contract with Lever Brothers, to do a  :15 and :30 Sec. National TV Spot for Dove Soap. She became the National Dove Soap Lady Of The Year. The Dove Soap Spot won the CEBA Award Of Excellence. Shy was then represented by one of Americas biggest Commercial Agencies Sutton, Barth & Vennari, through which she landed other major Commercials for Silo Electronics, US West Communications and Ames Department Stores.  Jean also played a Leading Role in the Soap-Opera Secret Passions as Council woman June Tshwaila. During that same time period Jean hosted her own TV Talk Show The Jean Shy Rhythm & News Show produced by Walker Entertainment which aired weekly on Cable TV.     After the Germany release of her CD Ready For Love produced by Michael McGregor, and alongside of performing with her Shy Guys, Jean joined an interesting project in 1994. She was the featured Singer for the Dutch formation T-Spoon which prior  had  two Top 10 Hits.  T-Spoon featuring Jean Shy   (pictured below)  landed  a

No. 5 Hit with the very jazzy oriented euro dance track Where R U Now, and with the remake of the Janis Joplin Song Mercedes Benz in an euro reggae style, they made it to No. 7 in the Benelux. With the following Project N678ALL featuring Jean Shy she landed at  No.32 on the British Dance Charts with the Song Summernation. Upon the request of many Fans over the Years, Jean Shy & The Shy Guys finally recorded a -Live-CD- in 1998, entitled Unchain My Heart. Because Jean almost always performs at least one Gospel Song during her Concerts, whether high powered Soul, or Jazz, many of her European Fans requested her to do a traditional Gospel Album.  Finally in 1999 Jean recorded her first Gospel CD Amazing Grace, with a smaller "Shy Guys" formation. Going back to her Roots, with "Amazing Grace," Jean has gone on many Gospel Tours in Germany, presenting her Special Gospel & Spiritual Program Jean Shy sings Mahalia Jackson, live as well as on this CD.

Her next CD Still Swingin' (After All These Years) was recorded Live in Cologne with The Climax Band Cologne, with whom she prior recorded the Albums The Night Time Is The Right Time, and Just The Way We Are.  Performing with The Climax Band Cologne has been a continuous Special  Project  for  Jean over the Years,  keeping  her  Jazz  Roots  alive  in Germany,  and in The Netherlands. The CD "Still Swingin' (After All  These Years)," was recorded in celebration of their 20th Anniversary.

In May 2002 Jean Shy toured as a Special Guest with the Jazz Band Ball Orchestra (JBBO) from Krakow for the first time, even though they had been playing on many of the same Stages for over twenty Years. The JBBO is Poland's oldest, and Internationally best known European Jazz Formation. During their Tour they performed at Jazz Festivals in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. In Hungary the Concert at the Salgotarjan Jazz Festival was recorded and broadcast by Magyar Radio. Since the Tour was such an excellent success, they recorded a Jazz & Blues CD together at the Radio Krakow Studio, entitled The Other Side Of Blue. The CD was released in Poland in 2003. Other Tours within Poland, and adjacent countries followed, along with national Live-TV Performances, including the Polish Oscars at which the JBBO won an Award once again for being "The Best Jazz Band of the Year," presenting Jean Shy as their Special Guest. The performances, and the CD received a great response from critiques, and audiences alike. In September 2004 Jean got a leading part in a National TV Spot as well as the Print Advertisement for Target, one of the largest Department Stores in the USA.  She also hosted her new Cable TV Talk Show In the Spotlight with Jean Shy. Jean Shy’s second Gospel Album entitled One Day is a mixture of live, and Studio recordings with her Shy Guys.  The Album, as well as the first Radio Single entitled "Precious Memories" was released in the US on April 14.2005, as a joint Venture between King Edward Records, and Featherstone Records, and received much Airplay on Gospel Radio Stations across the country.

On Oct. 31.2008 King Edward Records released the Jean Shy & The Shy Guys CD The Blues Got Soul.  In conjunction with this Album Jean Shy received a nomination from the Blues Foundation for the 2009 Blues Music Awards in the category of Soul Blues Female Artists of the Year. The Music of Jean Shy & The Shy Guys are comparable to The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top,  Led Zeppelin, and Aerosmith. The latest of  Jean's 13 Albums entitled "Blow Top Blues," was released September 29, 2010 on King Edward Music.  On this CD Jean Shy presents yet another part of her "World of Blues," which is contrary, but definitely not inferior in Style from her previous Jean Shy & The Shy Guys release "The Blues Got Soul." Blow Top Blues is a brilliant Album compilation ranging from the Style of Dinah Washington, and Tony Bennett, to Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Seeing that Jean is also a Songwriter, the CD includes a few of her own compositions. The Tracks were recorded with the three main Bands that Jean has been performing with in Europe for many years. The "Friends" on this CD are: Shy's own Band The Shy Guys (Germany), The Climax Band Cologne (Germany), and the JBBO (Jazz Band Ball Orchestra, Poland). Three of the Tracks were produced by Michael McGregor for one of Jean Shy's Solo Albums. Last but not least, a powerful re-mastering of all Tracks was done by Mastering great Bob "Big Bottom" Lanzner. Altogether this makes up a superb, and unique CD that shows off that the "Blues" burns in Jean's veins, no matter what style of the Blues she sings. On February 15th 2011 the CD was nominated by the 10th Independent Music Awards as "Blues Album Of The Year." A critique once described Jean's performance as follows:  Jean Shy  has   the conciseness of a Tina Turner,  the vivid Northern-Soul feeling of a Van Morrison, the expressiveness of an Etta James and she convinces above all with one thing "honesty." Bob Esty: Thank you Loulou, for this Blog about Jean!! The only correction I would make: "Night Dancer" unfortunately is not on the Soundtrack "Roller Boogie", alas!!

Randy Jones European Medley

Randy Jones (born on 13 September 1952 in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States) is an American disco and pop singer and was the original cowboy from Village People.
As of 2006, he currently lives in New York City.
He attended Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina and graduated in 1970. While there, he was a founder of Enloe's Drama Club, which was then called "Amicus Scaena"; Latin for "friend of scene" or "friend of theatre".
Jones had a marriage ceremony with his partner of 20 years, Will Grega, at a New York club on May 7, 2004. Although the marriage is not legally-binding as gay marriage was still illegal in New York state, Jones commented that: "It's only a matter of time before the courts rule in favor of what's morally right and humanly decent." The pair published a book together in 1996, titled Out Sounds: The Gay and Lesbian Music Alternative.
He released in 2007 a disco and pop solo album Ticket to the World.
In 2009, he appeared on Flight of the Conchords in their music video for "Too Many Dicks".
Randy Jones is planned to appear as himself in the video game Postal III.

Jayne Edwards - It Should Have Been Me 1984

Jayne Edwards recorded this song on Profile Records in 1984 written by Norman Whitfield and produced by Rick Gianatos. It was previously recorded by Yvonne Fair, Gladys Knight and Kim Weston.
Mr. Gianatos is still producing some of the best disco music today - using the formula of "vocalist first", an element which made disco music a big success.

Donna Summer ft David Foster - Last Dance (2011)

REISSUE: Pleasure Island - Glenn Rivera ReStructure Mix - Paul Jabara

Mr. Paul Jabara - what else can I say?

This man has given so much to disco/dance music and was a true believer in the the beat - up to the end. Paul left us in 1992. His music and talent still lingers on and on and with projects such as authoring Donna Summer's "Last Dance" and The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" as well as many, many other dance projects with talents such as, Rachel Welch - this man is set in stone in my museum.

"Pleasure Island" is a track from his 1978 "Keeping Time" LP - produced by Mr. Bob "Magic" Esty - this track is a hypnotic trip. It is similar to the outline of Tantra's "Hill Of Kat Mandu" where you are lured into a mysterious place and then placed there with an interlude of fierce and magical orchestrations. And this track existed prior to classics that may have followed.

You Will Like Randy Jones ,by Alan Mercer

All Photos: Alan Mercer   Lighting: Eric V.  Location: The Enchanted Manor

Everybody likes Randy Jones.  Before we actually met, people who already knew him kept telling me how wonderful he is.  They were right.  The actor, author, American Music Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist, is the original Cowboy from the iconic group the 'Village People.'  In his career that spans four decades now, he has sold over 100 million records.  He is also the only group member who actually lives in the village.

The Village People formed in the United States in 1977 and became well known for their on-stage costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics.  The group was the creation of Jacques Morali, a French musical composer.  The band's popularity quickly brought them into mainstream music.

They scored a number of disco and dance hits, including 'Macho Man,' 'Go West,' 'In The Navy,' and their biggest hit 'YMCA.'  It's hard to find anyone older than five who doesn't know these songs today. 

Their fame reached it's peak in 1979 when the Village People made several appearances on the Merv Griffin Show and appeared with Bob Hope to entertain U.S. troops.  The group was also on the cover of 'Rolling Stone' magazine on April 19, 1979.  In Septemeber of 2008 they recieved a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After leaving the group and continuing a career as an actor and dancer, Randy has released solo CD's, most recently 'Ticket To The World,' in 2008.  He performs internationally in his own solo concerts and has appeared ons tage in musicals and plays including 'Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' 'Music Man,' 'Chicago,' 'Applause,' 'Camelot,' and '42nd Street' among many more. 

Randy has gone on to be a full time working actor in motion pictures starring in 'Against The Wind' in which he portrays the 'American President,' 'The Gentleman,' 'Three Long Years,' 'My Guaranteed Student Loan,' and his debut 'Can't Stop The Music.'

He appears in various documentaries such as the History Channel's '70's FEVER!,' 'Roxy: The Last Dance,' 'Disco:SPinning the Story,' 'VH-1's RockDoc,' 'Behind The Music,' and others as a narrator and interview subject.  He is featured in HBO's hit comedy series 'Flight of the Conchords,' as well as an upcoming pilot 'The Harmony' for here! TV.  He is the author, along with Mark Bego, of 'Macho Man' a book published in January of 2009.

Randy Jones is one of those people who always has a smile on his face and he likes to bring joy to people everywhere.  It would be hard to find a more good natured guy in show business.  Eric Venturo and I met with Randy on his recent trip to Los Angeles where we grabbed a few shots and talked about how he performed at the White House among other subjects!

AM:  Randy you have been around a long time now.

RJ:  My involvement with Village People is in it's fourth decade.  Before that I was working with Grace Jones. 

AM:  I didn't realize that.  What else don't I know about your show business beginning?

RJ:  I got a very good conservatory education in music, theater and dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem and Chapel Hill.  I'm actually a trained professional concert dancer in ballet and modern.

AM:  What companies did you dance with?

RJ:  I danced with Agnes DeMille, Pauline Koner, Paul Taylor and the second Alvin Ailey company and a bunch of dance companies but I realized you only get about twenty five weeks of work a year.  The union minimum was only $250.00 a week.  That was substantial for someone who was officially still in school.

AM:  Was there any other drawbacks besides not enough work and money?

RJ:  I was unable to use my voice if all I was doing was dancing.

AM:  You knew you wanted to sing then? 

RJ:  Not only do I like to sing but I like to talk.  For me the reason to sing songs is to use them as a vehicle to get myself out in front of large crowds of people.  I like to sing the song and then talk with the audience and when I see their eyes start to glaze over then I know it's time to go to the next number.  Half of what I do is talking, joking and entertaining. 

AM:  I like your latest album.

RJ:  Thank you, I only sing songs where the words mean something to me.  A lot of people think the melody is more important but the great singer Julie Wilson told me once to know what the words mean and what the story is and be sure you can relate to it.  If the most important thing to you is the melody then you may as well whistle or hum the song.

AM:  Did you ever imagine the 'Village People' lasting so long?

RJ:  I don't think anyone had an inkling of an idea when we began the group 'Village People' that thirty five years later they would not only still be played on the radio, but at every bar mitzvah and wedding.

AM:  There must be some fringe benefits to that?

RJ:  I get invited every year to Yankee Stadium because in major league baseball they play 'YMCA' at the top of the seventh inning.

AM:  What is your perspective on the group after all these years?

RJ:  I don't think any of us thought we would be remembered.  You can speak to six different guys and everyone has a different view of it, but my take on it is, I thought we were always essentially a comedy act with great pop music and nice choreography.  Our goal was to entertain and make people laugh.

AM:  Well you certainly achieved that goal.

RJ:  I viewed everything we did as successful because people looked at us and smiled and laughed.

AM:  Did you have influences?

RJ:  We took inspiration from the Marx Brothers and the Keystone Cops.  Some people thought we looked like six county strippers out of our element and some thought we were the inspiration for Chippendales.

AM:  I guess you were before them.

RJ:  We took all of this and combined it with inspiration from the Coasters and the Temptations, all the great soul groups of the Sixties that had nice, tight choreography.  We combined it all and gave it a wink, a wiggle and a wave.  We always let the audience know that we were laughing with them.

AM:  You all danced pretty provocatively.

RJ:  We'd walk right up to the line and wiggle our hips, show them our butts and open our shirts.

AM:  Did anyone ever get offended?

RJ:  We never got offensive to people.  We never took it so far that children couldn't be there.  If you were a gay man you 'got it' and if you were a straight man you looked at your girlfriend or wife and how they 'got it.' 

AM:  This was before any real contemporary gay culture had started.

RJ:  Well Liberace did his thing to bring it in to people's homes in the Fifties.  I don't think there was anyone quite like us who was taking it right to your living room via Dick Clark, Merv Griffin and Don Kirshner. 

AM:  Do you think it's because you are gay?

RJ:  Well I am and I've always been open about it.  I've been with the same partner for twenty seven years.  Not everybody in the group is gay. 

AM:  Why did you write your book, 'Macho Man?'

RJ:  That book is a conversation between Mark Bego, one of my longest lasting friends in the world.  He was the first person who interviewed me as a professional artist.  We wrote a book that looks at the gay influence before we were born like Alexander the Great, King James to Oscar Wilde and then we talked about our lives from our perspective and what we knew.

AM:  Do you consider yourself a gay history expert?

RJ: We don't know everything about gay culture but I've certainly learned a lot living for over half a century.  The 'Village People' as a group did not try to bring culture to America it was just organic.  We were all aware of it. 

AM:  Well it did the trick!  Did you do it on purpose?

RJ:  Yes with the sharpest scalpel in the drawer.  What we did knowingly or unknowingly, was we seduced a mainstream audience and got them to like what we were doing.  We went in and planted these ideas in our audience and before they even understood what they were liking the wound had already healed over and we were part of their pop culture.

AM:  What do you think was the secret to your success?

RJ:  We did it in a non-offensive way.  It was an irresistible way with music, personality and charm from all six of us.  It's amazing that it's still around and people are still being affected by it and still listening to it.

AM:  What's one of your favorite things about being a member in the iconic group?

RJ:  It's wonderful to have sold over a hundred million records and wonderful to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, have a mantel full of awards and be on the cover of 'Rolling Stone' magazine, but the greatest legacy to me is when I meet people today and they know the music or my face, they smile!  That is like a MasterCard commercial, it's priceless.  To have something in your life that causes people to smile even for a moment, is just the best.

AM:  What is another example of a benefit of being in the group?

RJ:  In 2005 I received an invitation to perform at the White House for the second inauguration of George Bush at one of the ten inaugural balls.

AM:  Did you consider not going?

RJ:  I'm not really that political of a person so even though his administration tried to make me a second class citizen by not allowing me to marry someone that I love, I thought I'd still like to do it.  I wanted to take my Mom who has been a Republican all her life and she had never been to a Presidential Inaugural.

AM:  It must have been a benefit anyway right?

RJ:  The benefit was to raise money for building homes for returning Iraqi war veterans.  I knew the appeal my career had was wide.  My audience is a wide spectrum of people. 

AM:  There's no reason you shouldn't have done it.  What is your goal as an entertainer?

RJ:  My goal is to be enthusiastic and personal as well as positive.

AM: So tell me about the evening?

RJ:  I got there and I was in my best tuxedo and black cowboy hat with a bolo tie on, a maverick.  It was an opportunity for me to make a statement.  At that time my partner and I had gotten married when we thought it was going to just roll through America, before the big brakes were put on.  I wondered what I was going to do, so like any gay Broadway man I thought a medley always works! (LOL)  So I walked on stage and told the audience how it was an honor to be there and I dedicated the performance to the office of the President of the United States.

AM:  Why did you do that instead of to George Bush the person?

RJ:  I did not want to personalize it since he wanted me to be a second class citizen.  I also dedicated it to the man I had been married to for twenty three years and it was just quiet.

AM:  How did you handle the quiet?

RJ:  I just started singing the theme from the old Mary Tyler Moore show, "Who can turn the world on with his smile?  Well it's you George and you can make it! and so on until you're gonna make it after all"....then I went into YMCA with "but young man I was once in your shoes I said young man I was down with the blues"...when it got to the four beats right before the chorus of YMCA all the Republicans in their tuxedos and ball gowns were at the front of the stage like elementary children making the shapes of the letters! 

AM:  That must have been awesome!

RJ:  That's when I knew that no matter what kind of audience I can steam role right over that.  Something I do is bigger than anything political.  That's how I know that what I do is more than just a pop group. 

To learn more about Randy Jones visit his web site http://www.randyjonesworld.com/

 

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