Future Country Stars Interview of Bob Grez Interviewed by Laura Madere with her band Morgan Lane & friends from Future Star Stations Laura: Hello Bob, how are you today? Bob: Hi, Laura. I admit I'm a little bit nervous even if it is a written interview. Is there a test after this? No, just kidding. Right? Laura: Really... awww Bob, no need to be nervous it's just me and a few friends...oh and all the hundreds and thousands of people that will read this when you become famous. lol No, really this should be fun! We're so happy to be interviewing you so let's get started, shall we. Angela Ayers ask: How and when did you first become interested in songwriting, Bob? Who were your influences? Bob: I started songwriting when I was still in college many moons ago. Of course, I listened to John Denver, the Beatles, Stones, and all - but I really liked Harry Chapin (famous for Taxi and Cats iin the Cradle) and my favorite song of his was "Better Place to Be" from his Sniper and Other Love Songs album. That 7 minute song made me listen to his story about a fat waitress falling in love with a dreamer in awe.. I also grew up with my parents having one Country and Western album which I would play over and over again. I liked the clear message story songs from George Jones, Leroy Van Dyke, and Jimmy Dean. Songs like Just Walk On By, I'll Just Have a Cup of Coffee, then I'll Go, and Big Bad John are in my skull and heart. Llynda More ask: Don't you think that Llynda More is one cool artist? ha ha just kidding!!! Seriously, my question is, "What is the number one most profound thing you hope to achieve when you're writing or recording your music?" Bob: I love your sense of humor. That's what humans are great at and machines will never have. To answer your question, I am lucky enough to have done what I want to do on a number of occurences. I sang some songs and saw the emotions on people's faces when they identified with the occurences in their lives and the words in my song. At first, I thought they were crying because of my rough vocals, but then they told me of how glad they were to remember their dad from years ago when I played Split It Down the Middle, or how they remembered the joke about the country record being played backwards when they heard My Life Is Like A 100 Country Songs. When I hear them humming my song and remembering the words weeks later, I am truly honored. Sherreece Wayne with Sherreece ask: What process do you take to compose your song? Music first? Lyrics? Some inspiration? Bob: I start my song by searching for that one key phrase sometimes. For instance, I was driving to work and heard "You snooze, you lose". Well, that's a common enough statement that everyone recognizes right off the bat, but it hasn't been used in a song as far as I know. Immediately, I pasted "you missed a golden opportunity, you missed your chance to go out with me" to it and voila. There is potential in something that is so simple. At least, I think so. The rhythms come next from the phrasing of the words. I fill it with chords from a key I can sing in. I embellish it with some music software or jamming with friends. Then I'm close to being finished. It takes me about 10 to 15 drafts in tightening down mostly by deleting a word here and there, or rewriting sections. I need a continuity from beginning to end that fits the main idea or hook everywhere. If I use poetic techniques that are a bit too obvious, I try to embed them. It looks less forced then. Even at the end, I may throw it out or leave it for a future rewrite. I've thrown out about 140 songs to date and kept about 35 so far. Laura: Bob you have written so many good songs, you're a great songwriter. My question is, "Have you sold any of your songs? If so, to whom? Is that what you want to do, or do you want to cover them yourself?" I'm a big Randy Travis and Allen Jackson fan, I can really see some of your tunes fitting these artist styles very well. What do you think? Bob: I would love to get one of my songs on albums from the artists you mentioned. I greatly respect their work and great talents in performing and writing. I once had a song considered by Kenny Rogers for a movie called Six Pack. But Kin Vassy and Terry Williams from his First Edition band listened and then picked another song from another writer. They had it for 6 months and were hemming and hawing. It was close, but alas no cigar. Recently, Scotty Turner of Buried Treasure Music has been kind enough to listen and consider my songs for some of the work that is going on in Nashville. Scotty co-wrote a lot of songs with Audie Murphy and Harry Nillson. But I'm still learning how to write, and I hope that I get a chance for something exciting like having a major star perform my song or songs. Indie Lise with Indie asks: It seems you document your life in your music. How old were you when you wrote your first song? Bob: I tried some dittys when I was a kid, but when I was nineteen I wrote a song called First Hurt and another called Come Love Me. Don't remember which came first. I wrote about 19 songs in about a year and a half then. Both first songs are very rough by my standards today, but I was sure proud of them then. I think all the writing I do, comes out of the experiences I have or the fears that I have about unfortunate possible scenarios. For instance, I wrote Hey Mister, Take Care of My Kids and My Wife when my brother was going through a divorce. I had inner fears about my own relationship. Thank God, my wife and I got through it all right. Sometimes, songs do get that close. I often wonder if I should have written them. You sort of feel exposed. Laura: Okay, here's some lame questions for ya, Bob. When is your birthday? Are you married? Any kids? Any animals? What's your favorite color? Okay, last one. Is the glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty? lol Bob: Ha, you just missed my birthday on May 5th. 1954 in Sao Paulo Brazil of Polish parents. Yes, I am married to a very understanding lady. Her name is JoAnn. She's really sort of crazy to be married to me. We have 4 kids, from 9 to 18 in age. We have 3 dogs, 2 cats, a guinea pig, a hamster, and a rabbit. We also had a cockatiel, but before I squeezed it's ugly head off for all the noise, my wife found another home for it. That critter used to imitate the dogs whining and the television white noise when the kids left the VCR tape on past the end and the TV was blaring. God bless you, Laura. Where do you come up with all these? I love blue and the glass sometimes is half full on the top. I learned that magic trick from my boy. Laura: LoL You have to show me that trick someday Bob! When ever we are at a gig and the sound guy is making us stand there like idiots, waiting for our mics to work, that may just come in handy. LOL Well Happy Happy Birthday Bob! :)Wow sounds like ya have a small petting zoo going on over there. I love the bird making the tv noice. LOL Sounds like a really fun family. Brian Brooks Brian Brooks also with The Flair asks: As a country singer, do you travel to The South much to perform your music, or do you find there's a good market in the New York regions? Bob: I played on occasion in Huntsville, Alabama years ago. Mostly, I've been playing in the Northeast. Country music is getting to be a lot more acceptable in many lucrative markets at college pubs and the like. I like county fairs and music festivals the most so far. Amphitheaters, large audiences, and great sound equipment are the lure there. There is so much work out there now that I could do it 6 nights a week from now til doomsday. But my day job pays better right now. Laura: Is there anyone you'd drop everything for the chance to collaborate with them? Bob: Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Reba McIntire, Faith Hill, Dixie Chics, Brad Paisley, and so many more. Laura: What was the first record or artist you ever loved? Bob: I loved the guitar work in Los Indios Tabajaras, a Brazilian group of real hip guitarists with a classical background and a blues upper crust. Perry Martin & Mad As Fish Perry Martin & Mark with Mad As Fish ask: What do you see as the key to success in promoting your music on mp3.com? Are there any tips you could give for increasing exposure of an artists music on the Internet? Bob: Link up with other artists and network. Get their songs up the charts. Start up stations, work hard promoting. I play a lot of artists every day. Helps a lot of people that way. If the songs are up there high enough, maybe others will like them. As far as I'm concerned, other artists are great fans. If I get a comment from any of them on any of my songs, I melt. You also need enough songs, about 10 or more. mp3 is like a video game. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. I've had my songs in the top 40 about a dozen times already. Every now and then lightening strikes for free. mp3 created a new sub-genre with very few artists and my songs were at the top of those small charts when I switched over. But you can also buy your way in. Pay for ads in the auctions for 3 or 4 weeks in a row with some decent songs and anyone can be an mp3 star. Didn't that one artist in NYC say that someday every one on the planet will be famous for 15 minutes? Mark Clinton Hicks Mark Clinton Hicks asks: In no uncertain terms; What is your idea of the perfect musician? Bob: I have seen many great musicians at work. Some are extremely talented, playing 10 or more instruments. Others will cradle their one instrument as if it was their love. And it is in a sense. But I have also met people educated in music theory and composition who never wrote a song. This last case was a most unperfect musician. Wasted talent. The most nearly perfect musician was a black man playing a complicated jazz piece on a trumpet in New Orleans by the trolley. He stopped, gave the trumpet to my son to try unsuccessfully, and he then laughed warmly with beams of light. To have the time to share with kids, even though he could outplay Louis Armstrong. I have also been lucky enough to play with Carmen Caramanica, lead guitarist for Tony Orlando and Dawn, and later Racquel Welch, and producer for Lou Rawls. Great musician who takes the time to teach many students during long days and evenings. Both musicians shared their techniques and pass along wonderful images about music to the next generations with kindness. An admirable perfection. Laura: Wow Bob you have a big heart, and you're so caring. It shows in your answers, mainly for the perfect musician. You said the trumpet player in New Orleans. I really think that's why your such a great songwriter, you see the beauty in all things, little or small. I'm sure you're a really good teacher and role model for your family. Uncle Gary Uncle Gary ask: Bob where did ya get such a weird last name....LOL, I mean who has a "Z" in their name??? Well besides Laura's ex-hubbie anyway... lol ;) maybe your grandpappy couldn't spell! Just giving ya a hard time Bob, sorry I'm not even supposed to be here gotta run, peace dude! Laura: Oh that's it, Uncle Gary!!... this time I'm going to kick ya out myself.... you better be running...... lol Bob: Hey, Uncle Gary. My name is even stranger than you know; its Polish and from German roots. It didn't used to have an E, and it had an S and a K and it kept on going and going. Spelling it was one thing, but pronouncing it was even worse in English. I shortened it to rhyme with Prez when I ran for junior class president unsuccessfully. Yeah, I did do that. Grez for Prez! Suits me. What's your last name, Uncle Gary, hmmmmm??? Maybe we are related? lol Laura: Thank you so much for this interview Bob, and for sharing a little part of yourself. We really had a good time and enjoyed getting to know you much better. We wish you much success with your music and in your future, Bob Grez. Bob: Thanks so much, Laura. Thanks for pooling together these wonderful questions. I had a great time and I feel I got to know you all a bit better from this interview. That's neat.