|
C. L: John, pleas tell us something about the photo (CD cover)
on your latest CD "Classic
| The
mic pictured is one from my studio, an RCA 44A, which I love.
I thought it helped convey the "Classic" look in a nice
way. |
C.
L: John, which songs can your fans find on your latest CD "Classic"?
| The
CD covers the first 2/3 of my career in chronological order. We've
also included our first new songs in several years. Each of the
3 new ones have been released as singles. |
C.
L: John, please tell us something about your life.
| I
was born and raised on a Kentucky farm which we still operate.
I've made a living at several careers including the funeral profession
(6 years); and the radio broadcasting business (9 years). I pursued
music full time in 1978 with the success of Rose Colored Glasses. |
C.
L: John, you've performed at nine Farm Aid concerts. Tell us about
your commitment to Farm Aid.
| I'm
concerned that we're still losing the family farm system of agriculture
and commend Willie for keeping the focus on this fact via Farm
Aid. |
C.
L: John, you struck gold with songs like "Lady Lay Down"
or "Backside Of Thirty". Do you have a special technique
or gift for picking hit songs?
| Most
of the credit goes to my producer from the beginning, Bud Logan.
We see songs the same way. They must tell a story and touch me
personally for me to record them. |
C.
L: John, 1979 you won "Best New Male Vocalist" from the
ACM. Can you remember what it was like to get this award?
| Both
a surprise and a thrill. It was icing on the cake during our initial
success and helped pave the way toward Grand Ole Opry membership
in 1981. |
C
L: John, what happen atfer this?
|
More
hits and live shows all over the place. We've logged about 2.5
million miles since 1978. And along the way, my wife Gale and
I amassed three children and our first grandchild.
|
C.
L: John, can you remember how many smash hits you had in your career?
And which ones are your personal top 3?
|
We've
had 30 hit singles over the years. Rose Colored Glasses will
always head my own personal favorites list. I love every song
we've done ( or I wouldn't have recorded them), but Old School
and Common Man are also special to me.
|
C.
L: John, how can the fans keep up with the latest news about you?
|
Go
to www.johnconlee.com.
like I do. It's the best place to check our road schedule or
to get our latest CD. Our brand new gospel CD "Turn Your
Eyes Upon Jesus" is available there now.
|
C.
L: John, last question. Can you tell us something about your life
and what advice you have for someone who would like to be a country
music artist?
|
Before
it was my career, music was my hobby. I did it for fun and I
suppose that would've continued had there been no career. Moving
to Nashville to work in radio is what gave me the opportunity
to meet the people who could help make the hobby a career. Odds
of success are never good in the music business, but it can
give you a leg up if you locate where the decisions are made…and
for country music, that's Nashville. But the best advice is
to be sure you're having fun doing it whether the career works
out or not.
|
C.
L. Thank you for this interview.
|
