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: