Celebrity Buzz with Robbin Grider!

Where has real talent in the music industry gone today? Today, technology has taken over to make an ok artist sound great with the special sound affects and new buttons on the engineer board to change voices. I’m not saying there are no more real talented singers out there because it is. I’m only saying artists back in the day played real instruments, and did not need a lot of tweeting vocally to sound amazing! I remember a group in the 80’s and early part of the 90’s that could play real instruments, and sing that had style and grace! It was no other than the talented group called Klymaxx! I remember dancing with my girlfriends in junior high and high school to their music. This all-girl band was hot, and definitely talented! The band is popular for the songs The men All Pause, Meeting In The Ladies Room, and I Miss You.

               

Klymaxx original band members in the 80’s was drummer/vocalist Bernadette Cooper, vocalist Lorena Porter (Stewart), bassist/vocalist Joyce Irby, guitarist Cheryl Cooley, and keyboardists Robbin Grider and Lynn Malsby. Robbin Grider gave me the honor to interview her about some insights of her experience in the industry, and as a member. Robbin also speaks to up coming artists about what is most important for an artist music career. Here is our interview:

(Monique)- At what age did you learn to play music instruments such as the keyboard, guitar, bass and piano?

(Robbin)- It’s funny that you ask me that (while chuckling)! I started playing music instruments at the age of 14 years old. I played them so much I just became good at it. It was the love of music that made me want to learn to play the instruments!

(Monique)- Wow! Your right, most guys were known to play keyboards and guitars and other instruments in bands in those times than a girl being seen playing them.

(Monique)-What made you Robbin join the group Klymaxx?

(Robbin)- You know! It was more out of curiosity! I was enrolled in the union called Local 47 Music Union, and I received a call from Bernadette Cooper to come and audition. I went and auditioned and Bernadette said, “Please join my all-girl band Klymaxx! I was amazed that there were other females that could play instruments like me. It was rare to see and hear that because I use to play in gigs with guys and never really saw females in the music industry play live instruments!

(Monique)- You are right, it was rare to see a female play live instruments in the industry in that time, and unfortunately even now!

(Monique)- Did you sign with Klymaxx right away when Bernadette invited you to be part of the group?

(Robbin)- Not right away! I actually performed on the first album and I did not have a contract with Solar Records. I did not like the fact in the current contract it enabled the band members to write, collaborate or appear on other artist’s projects. I was use to writing and collaborating with other people in the industry, so I waited until the contract expired and had added a clause in the next contract that best fit me. It was by the second album I signed with Solar Records.

(Monique)- I can totally understand that. It is unfortunate that many artists have signed contracts that caused them to be stuck in for years or has tied the artist hands from furthering their careers.

(Monique)- With that being said, what is it that you could tell upcoming artists when it comes to their careers in the music business?

(Robbin)- I would like to stress that they really need to learn the business side of the music business. The record labels maybe in love with their unique sound, but at the end of the day it’s about business, making money off of the artist.

(Monique)- I completely so strong handedly agree with your answer! It is why I decided to get my masters in Entertainment Business! It is at the end of the day that no one does business with anyone without it’s real cause, and that is to make money.

(Monique)- Well, is there anything you are doing at this present time in your life that we as fans can see or hear about?

(Robbin)- As a matter of fact it’s in the making as we speak! I enrolled myself into L.A. Recording School to learn about the new music technology used in studios today. My good friend Lynn Malsby from Kylmaxx is opening a studio called The Hobby House, and I am going to be the chief engineer. The website will be up soon! It will be located where will.i.am from the group The Black Eyed Peas studios and offices are at in Atwater California. We are almost finished. Sometimes we see Leon Silvers and Stephen Shockley around there who are our friends! Lynn and I write together, so our plans are to get our songs out on the movie screens and have other artist sing them, as well as ourselves

(Monique)- That’s great! I did see Klymaxx recently on TV One on the program Unsung and that interview was great to see how everything happened. I do recommend fans to see it too.

(Robbin)- Yes, it was nice for people to see our story! I mean after all, we were happy to see artists who came after us who played instruments like Sheila E. I am excited to get in the studio and create with Lynn and others!

(Monique)- Well, we as fans can’t wait to hear your creation as well.

(Monique)- I want to thank you Robbin for your time in sharing with us some of your insights of who you are, what is important in the music business, and what you are doing. Until we speak again, God Bless and One Love!

Check out why we will always love Klymaxx for the music we still can bump at the clubs and at home parties! 

 Meeting In The Ladies Room

 The Men All Pause:

                Klymaxx Unsung Interview:

                                    

                                  

 

Celebrity Buzz with Joi Marshall!

Everyone has singers from groups and as soloist artists who they look up to, or has looked up to. I have had the privilege and honor to talk to one of mines in which I never would have thought I would be interviewing. I was able to talk to the one and only Joi Marshall from the former all girls group JADE who was popular in 90’s with their debut song “Don’t Walk Away”. I remember singing JADE’s songs dancing and looking up to three beautiful young ladies with my friends at parties and at home. Their sound was amazing and catchy! I laugh now, but I would ask my friends, “Joi has some long braids, are those heavy”! Never the less, JADE was a group I admired and wanted to meet. I did not get to then, but later on I would not have realized that it would come true. I have not however met all three ladies, but in due time it may happen. However, I did get the honor in meeting with one of the ladies from JADE and I was shocked and happy to have met Joi Marshall. I asked Joi if I could talk to her about the group’s career in dealing with their music contract with former manager’s Irving Azoff and Cassandra Mills, and song writing. Here is our conversation:

(Monique): Who was JADE’s manager?

(Joi): We had two managers from Giant Record named Irving Azoff and Cassandra Mills. However, it was a total conflict of interest along with the deal being more one sided instead of being mutual. Both managed us for four years. Not much to talk about.

(Monique): I see. As a group, who wrote most of your songs?

(Joi): We all wrote our songs, along with other songwriters. I wrote the song “Give Me What I’m Missing”. JADE equally shared the royalties from all songs. We got paid for our songs for the airplay.

(Monique): I noticed the song “Don’t walk Away” went double platinum, what songwriter wrote that song?

(Joi): Oh! That was Vassal Benford and Ron Spearman.

(Monique): I loved that song and the other songs on the albums!

(Monique): Were you always a songwriter?

(Joi): yes! I wrote songs, and I still write songs! It is a passion that I love to do.

(Monique): Are you writing songs for yourself now to reinvent you as an artist?

(Joi): Yes, I am writing songs for myself because I plan on singing again, but more of singing spiritual songs. If you go on YouTube, you can find me singing a song I wrote called “ I Needed”

(Monique): Girl, I’ve already heard it and you sound beautiful! The song is touching.

(Monique): If there is anything you can tell inspiring artists on contract deals what would it be?

(Joi): Well, I wrote a book about that and it’s called “Answers to the 20 Most Asked Questions About The Music Business” Artists can find everything they need in my book and feel confident in having control of their music careers. I also will say, stay away from the 360 deal! It is a trap that allows the label to own everything and you would be wasting your time!

(Monique): What do Joi say to artists and inspiring artists about their fans?

(Joi): More than anything, have a relationship with your fans and be fan oriented. After all, it is the fans that make you who you are. Always follow your dreams!

(Monique): Last but not least, what can we as fans expect from Joi Marshall in the near future?

(Joi): Live events,teachings based on the call of God on my life, spiritual songs, and writing songs for other artists!

(Monique): Ok, well Joi! I thank you for your time and this interview. I have learned alot from you and hope I will get other chances of many more interviews. Be blessed, and let God use you! Don't forget readers, if anyone needs songs written, Joi is talented at this! 

One love everyone! Here is a video of JADE, and a video of Joi's song "I Needed" currently.

References: YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYXBjh93UUU

                                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ9HG0nGe-g