Interview with VERB
Reprinted from an interview with Vaughan Williams
What is The ThirstyEar?
The Thirsty Ear is the official podcast from SpicyPimps IndieNet-radio,
both of which are My personal labors of love dedicated to music, its
preservation and further development. From the obscure to modern
masterpieces, I strive to make the contributions of music's legendary
and rising artists more visible and accessible to those who crave music
beyond the mainstream arena. Being a card-carrying music elitist as
well as despising the evil empire of commercial radio and major
recording labels...
Since it's birth on the July 1st in 2005, SP
has amassed over 1,961 (and counting) loyal listeners from all over the
globe, with no major marketing whatsoever -- just Me in underwear at My
desk mindin' my business. After receiving many, many emails requesting
something more tangible, I decided to include podcasts.
Why did you create SpicyPimps and The Thirsty Ear?
I
created SpicyPimps as an homage to My first love -- music, and the two
mentors who helped Me to articulate and shape perspectives in sound, Ken Blewett and Ron Hardy).
Because of My life's obsession with music, I have become a
card-carrying music elitist, looking to fellowship wmith others just
like Me. So I started a Yahoo! group, but I found that even with loyal
forum participants, SP was still lacking the one thing that was
important -- the music itself. So in a quest to let others hear music I
found noteworthy and progressive in the ubiquitous evolution of sound,
I created this net radio station -- kinda like My own personal
playlist.
SpicyPimps is a tight name. Where did it come from?
Thanks so much. I wish I could take full credit for it but I can’t. I got the name from DJ and producer-extraordinaire Anthony Nicholson (pic).
He and I have been friends for a long time -- back, back, back in tha
day friends. Years ago, Ant and I would make each other tapes cuz we
both vibed the same musically. Well one day, he gave me this tape
titled Kool Shit for Spicy Pimps. This was typical of Ant cuz
if you know him, you know he’s got an offbeat, dry sense of humor. So
one day I was having lunch with my hardcore househead friend DJ Ron C,
also an original SpicyPimps member. This was before the actual site
existed; this was when I was just gonna start small as a Yahoo group.
He was asking me just what kind of music I was gonna focus on and I
spit out a few genres and finished my statement with‘ya know, just some
kool shit for spicy pimps.’ He almost choked on his sandwich laughing
at the ridiculousness of whateva a spicy pimp was. Then he said,
“That’s it right there. Name the group SpicyPimps. It sounds ridiculous
but dope as hell at the same time.” So Ant’s vibe was my inspiration
for basically everything.
How did you get started in music?
It started with roots in jazz. My grandfather, Ken Blewett (pic)
was the first Black manager in Chicago’s prestigious Balaban & Katz
theater chain. He was the manager of the original Regal Theater that
once stood on 47th Street as an artistic pillar in the Bronzeville
community. He brought in artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie,
Lionel Hampton, Pearl Bailey... In
fact, he's responsible for jump-starting Dinah Washington's career by
introducing the then-washroom attendant to Lionel Hampton. It was Daddy
who introduced me to the beauty and power of music. Starting off by
buying albums for me, I quickly became addicted. Back in tha day, Daddy
and I would chill together and listen to Daddy O’Daylie as well as Sid
McCoy and Yvonne Daniels on WVON. It wasn’t uncommon for musicians to
stop by, call and send all types of correspondence to Daddy. In
retrospect, I hate that I was too young to have appreciated their
artistry to the extent that I do today.
When did you startbuying your own albums?
At the age of ten, I made my very first musical purchase with money I saved. It was 1976…the album was The Isley Brothers’ The Heat Is On.
From that point on, when someone would ask me what I wanted for my
birthday or Christmas, my reply was ALWAYS music related---albums,
blank tapes and audio equipment. I can still even tell you which albums
I received for which holidays and who gave them to me…AND I still own
those very copies. Growing up, I never had any money cuz I was always
buying music every chance I could. I even remember walking home from
record stores cuz I had no money to get on the bus. And believe it or
not, I went for a few years without a turntable at all but kept buying
music. I could never save any money to buy a turntable cuz I kept
buying records. [chuckles] My rationale was that whenever I finally
bought a turntable, I would already have plenty more records to listen
to. There was strategy in my dementia after all. Straight up, music is
my crack. I eat it, drink it, sleep it, breathe it… It’s like that Gary
Bartz track Music Is My Sanctuary
that says, “Music is my sanctuary when life puts bad juju on me.” Yeah…
So your collection must be outta this world...
In
terms of quality, mos def. In terms of quantity…not as much as I’d
like, but then any real music head will tell you there’s no such thing
as enough music. No really, about 100 or so albums were destroyed when
pipes burst in a basement where I was storing them…another 200 were
stolen and some I just simply got rid of cuz who really needs 5 copies
of Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay
or Act Like You Know 
by
Fat Larry's Band? Actually, I now have more CD’s than LP’s. But I won’t
complain, I’ve been very blessed. My collection is envied cuz of what’s
in it. I'm certainly not hurtin' in any way. It’s by no means skimpy in
number, but you know the drill: the one with the most toys wins.
Besides record stores, where else do you buy records and CD's?
Thrift
stores, alleys, garbage dumpsters, the net…just about anywhere. Back in
the day, I even remember buying a couple of albums while I was in a
liquor store. [chuckles] I trade extra copies with other DJ’s, inherit
from people cleaning out basements and garages. One time I remember
buying some from this hype one night when I was on my way up to Chicken
Wings with Sadar (pic).
Hypes are a great source [laughs]…I know that’s not PC but hey, it’s
word. A few years back, my friends Jamie and Stacey brought me a whole
mailbag full of old albums they found abandoned in a grocery store
parking lot. It doesn’t matter…if there are records, I’m there.
Besides your grandfather, who were your mentors and friends that you spit music knowledge with?
My brother Lee (Collins, of Soul In The Hole, left)
was a serious teacher. I spent many a Saturday night at (University of
Chicago’s) WHPK in the Disco Madness slot hanging out with Lee,
co-host/DJ Bop Barnes, Ant, and fellow music enthusiast Dexter Grays.
After being at the
Muzik Box so much and knowing everybody from the owner, Bob Williams,
to the staff to most of the clubhedz, my then-best friend Avery (below in pic w/ Raquey) got me a job there
working security at the door with him. It was then that I got to know the music god, Ron Hardy... and I do mean god. It was Ron that taught me how to not only hear music but see it as well.
This is where I start to get more dangerous.
[laughs] Andre Hatchett also played a MAJOR role in my musical
eclecticism, but I don’t even think he knows it. [chuckles] Ron and Dre
were never scared to play good music. They didn’t concern themselves
with 4-4 beat-only joints like most DJ’s. If a song was good, it got
played no matter the genre. It wasn’t about what’s house and what’s
not, it was about quality music with movement and orchestration. They
dared to be different, realizing their own style and polishing their
craft instead of following a script. (pic -- Ronnie, Robert
& Steak Daddy aka Reggie Corner)
What’s your resume like in relation to music?
Well,
I’ve never formally studied music composition or anything like that. In
terms of history, I’ve learned from Daddy, mentors and friends. My
music buddies all know one thing that a lot of wannabes have trouble
with and that is that there is no one person that knows everything, so
we learn from and share with one another. The best part of working with
collectives is that there’s more knowledge available. Like I
piggy-backed earlier, “Pass the information, extend the knowledge.”
I’ve also taught myself a tremendous amount by simply reading liner
notes and seeking out lesser-known artists. I’m not one of those people
intimidated by the clerks that work in indie record stores. Yeah, they
can be snobby when it comes to music. I used to be one of them. But the
knowledge you gain is tremendous. And once they know how serious you
are about music, they wanna share everything they know with you cuz
they know you’ll appreciate it. But back to your original question,
I’ve worked at Dr. Wax Records, worked at Virgin for about a week
[chuckles], had a party promotion group back in the day called Move of
Life. It was Lee, Ant, Andre and I; we hosted parties at the Muzik Box,
Carol’s Speakeasy and The Flamingo. I’ve served as a consultant for two
record store owners wanting to know what they should be putting in
their stores. Nothing formal and stuffy but at the risk of sounding
arrogant, I’m pretty damn knowledgeable. And now, I have SpicyPimps,
which I’m most proud of especially since I have had so many obstacles
putting it together. (pic, Andre Hatchett on left and Richie Waddington on right)
What are some of your proudest moments in relation to music?
Dr. Wax…two occasions. The first was when this older gentleman
came in to the store and told me he wanted something based in jazz but
it had to be fresh and exciting, not the same ole stuff. I turned him
on to Chris Bowden’s Time Capsule.
He called me at the store later that day and raved about how much he
loved it. That made me feel good cuz that’s where my roots are, in
jazz. The second occasion was when this cat came in looking for hip
hop. Like the older cat, he wanted something that everyday people
couldn’t wrap their minds around, something with a unique sound. I had
just the thing for him: Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus.
The next day, he came in with it bangin’ in his headphones. He loved it
and even when I run into him today, he still asks what I’ve got in
rotation. Those moments made me proudest cuz I was able to provide real
headz with something they would enjoy for years to come. I hope that
listeners feel that way about what I’m trying to do here with
SpicyPimps. The respect of my music peers is the only approval I look
for. One of the things I love so much about good music is that it never
ends. It just continues…it evolves. It never gets old, it just becomes
classic.
How did you become fam with DJ Sadar Bahar?
At
a party actually. Lee and I went in support of Andre and it just so
happened that Frankie Knuckles was spinnin’ also. Well, bored shytless
listening to Frankie and cracking jokes on how lame he had become, we
met Sadar (pic with DJ Gold D). We instantly bonded…we enjoyed
the same music, we enjoyed eclecticism in music and had the same
sarcastic sense of humor. Sadar and I would sometimes talk on the phone
literally, all night ‘til daybreak, playing music for one another.
We’re true family in every sense of the word -- disagreements and all,
it’s always love. Sadar was Johnny-on-the-spot when I had my stroke. I
love that dude…my word is bond to Allah. [laughing, saying that there’s
an inside joke to that last statement]
Which other DJ’s have you pow-wowed with?
I've known DJ Gold-D all
My life; we were neighbors. She's been into music for forever --
everything from Depeche Mode to Al Hudson and The Soul Partners. She's
awesome peeps -- good heart and always positive, especially in this
city of haters. Brothers Bop and Rahfik Barnes…two cats that know real
music. Again, not afraid to push the envelope…real live dusty-fingered
crate diggaz indeed. We have all schooled one another on so much music
that it’s pathetic. Just like with Sadar, I can plan to call one of
them for a hot second just to holla and it will turn into a 3-hour
music session. We’re addicts, we need help. David Danku who owns the African Hedonist
here in Chicago is another cat that I vibe with regularly. David’s
musical knowledge is off the chain. Dude is well-versed in many genres
and has taught me about African musicians as well. I don’t know how his
store stays open. He’s too deep for most of the people that live in
that area. He’s not a commercial music kinda guy; he definitely seeks
music that’s outside of the mainstream. David’s a gangsta though
[laughing] so be careful when you go in there. He’s gonna learn your
tastes, take every penny you got and even have you thanking him for it.
That’s my homie indeed.
Some of my other friends and music associates are Kemal Moore,
who I actually met in my Muzik Box years through my boy Jahmal
Anderson. Then there’s Lonnie Bishop -- a music associate (pic, on far
right end), another old-skool party head and an Brazilian music
aficionado. Duane Powell (Dr. Wax Records) (pic with Lonnie Bishop)
is another person I regard highly in music. I first met Duane at The
Reactor in uhhhh...the year escapes me. There's also my homie from way
back Richard Graves
-- a very, very good friend of mine. We met when we both worked for
UPS. Rich knows music better than anyone I know. Rich has actually
studied music composition and understands the importance of
progression, structure and arrangement unlike a lot of DJ’s that just
know how to blend songs. Rich is a scary dude though…if you could only
hear a snippet of our conversations. He’s either gonna take over the
universe or go mad. Maybe both. [laughs] Oh yeah, Harry A(below)
out in Las Vegas! Can’t leave him out. Harry was responsible for
getting me a job at Dr. Wax. By that time, I was so
musically-dangerous, that it was just stupid. Harry’s another cat that
believes in sharing knowledge and spreading the good word. Big-ups to
him mos def. I owe that cat. If it wasn't for his recommendation, I
probably wouldn't have been hired at Dr. Wax.
Anything you wanna pass on to others?
I pass on my message 24/7 on SpicyPimps. Nuff said.
The Thirsty Ear is the official podcast from SpicyPimps IndieNet-radio,
both of which are My personal labors of love dedicated to music, its
preservation and further development. From the obscure to modern
masterpieces, I strive to make the contributions of music's legendary
and rising artists more visible and accessible to those who crave music
beyond the mainstream arena. Being a card-carrying music elitist as
well as despising the evil empire of commercial radio and major
recording labels...
Thanks so much. I wish I could take full credit for it but I can’t. I got the name from DJ and producer-extraordinaire Anthony Nicholson (pic).
He and I have been friends for a long time -- back, back, back in tha
day friends. Years ago, Ant and I would make each other tapes cuz we
both vibed the same musically. Well one day, he gave me this tape
titled Kool Shit for Spicy Pimps. This was typical of Ant cuz
if you know him, you know he’s got an offbeat, dry sense of humor. So
one day I was having lunch with my hardcore househead friend DJ Ron C,
also an original SpicyPimps member. This was before the actual site
existed; this was when I was just gonna start small as a Yahoo group.
He was asking me just what kind of music I was gonna focus on and I
spit out a few genres and finished my statement with‘ya know, just some
kool shit for spicy pimps.’ He almost choked on his sandwich laughing
at the ridiculousness of whateva a spicy pimp was. Then he said,
“That’s it right there. Name the group SpicyPimps. It sounds ridiculous
but dope as hell at the same time.” So Ant’s vibe was my inspiration
for basically everything. 
It started with roots in jazz. My grandfather, Ken Blewett (pic)
was the first Black manager in Chicago’s prestigious Balaban & Katz
theater chain. He was the manager of the original Regal Theater that
once stood on 47th Street as an artistic pillar in the Bronzeville
community. He brought in artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie,
Lionel Hampton, Pearl Bailey... In
fact, he's responsible for jump-starting Dinah Washington's career by
introducing the then-washroom attendant to Lionel Hampton. It was Daddy
who introduced me to the beauty and power of music. Starting off by
buying albums for me, I quickly became addicted. Back in tha day, Daddy
and I would chill together and listen to Daddy O’Daylie as well as Sid
McCoy and Yvonne Daniels on WVON. It wasn’t uncommon for musicians to
stop by, call and send all types of correspondence to Daddy. In
retrospect, I hate that I was too young to have appreciated their
artistry to the extent that I do today. 
Thrift
stores, alleys, garbage dumpsters, the net…just about anywhere. Back in
the day, I even remember buying a couple of albums while I was in a
liquor store. [chuckles] I trade extra copies with other DJ’s, inherit
from people cleaning out basements and garages. One time I remember
buying some from this hype one night when I was on my way up to Chicken
Wings with Sadar (pic).
Hypes are a great source [laughs]…I know that’s not PC but hey, it’s
word. A few years back, my friends Jamie and Stacey brought me a whole
mailbag full of old albums they found abandoned in a grocery store
parking lot. It doesn’t matter…if there are records, I’m there. 
My brother Lee (Collins, of Soul In The Hole, left)
was a serious teacher. I spent many a Saturday night at (University of
Chicago’s) WHPK in the Disco Madness slot hanging out with Lee,
co-host/DJ Bop Barnes, Ant, and fellow music enthusiast Dexter Grays. 
This is where I start to get more dangerous.
[laughs] Andre Hatchett also played a MAJOR role in my musical
eclecticism, but I don’t even think he knows it. [chuckles] Ron and Dre
were never scared to play good music. They didn’t concern themselves
with 4-4 beat-only joints like most DJ’s. If a song was good, it got
played no matter the genre. It wasn’t about what’s house and what’s
not, it was about quality music with movement and orchestration. They
dared to be different, realizing their own style and polishing their
craft instead of following a script. (pic -- Ronnie, Robert
& Steak Daddy aka Reggie Corner)
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