Interview: Calvin Richardson (Email)Former Jodeci member and now, a well known R&B solo artist. Calvin Richardson delivers some truth regarding the Angie Stone cover song situation, to his recent London live performances happening this year.
01. Matthew - What was it like working with K-Ci, Chico DeBarge and Monifah for your debut album ‘Country Boy’ in 1999?
. Calvin Richardson – The K-Ci session was like a re-union, we were in a group together at one point before the Jodeci years. Chico is very talented so I really enjoyed working with him. Monifah took a little more effort to make happen than the rest but it turned out great. I’m glad we did it.
02. Matthew - What was the road like before getting to the point of releasing the debut?
. Calvin Richardson – It was a long road to my debut. The album changed hands a few times. When I first started working on it I was signed up to Uptown Records, by the time it came out I was signed to Universal Records. It took three years to get the record out.
03. Matthew - What are you personal high lights from ‘Country Boy’?
. Calvin Richardson – The most memorable was on September 9th 1999, was actually the date ‘Country Boy’ was released.
04. Matthew - What are your child hood experiences like?
. Calvin Richardson – I grew up around singers and musicians but no real writers and that I just developed.
05. Matthew - Would you say your Soul? Or R&B/hip hop?
. Calvin Richardson – I’m without question R&B.
06. Matthew - ‘2:35 PM’ has a personal meaning, correct? Please let me know the story behind it?
. Calvin Richardson – ‘2:35’ PM was the time my son Souljah was born and I was with my girlfriend in the delivery room. I didn’t have a title for my album but his delivery became the most important thing in the world to me since there has been nothing or no one to compare to that.
07. Matthew - What makes you most soul satisfied?
. Calvin Richardson – It satisfies me to reach my goals.
08. Matthew - Talk to me about the creative process for ‘Country Boy’ and ‘2:35 PM’?
. Calvin Richardson – The creative process of both ‘Country Boy’ and ‘2:35PM’ were very important to me as I was involved in both but more on ‘2:35PM’ since Hollywood Record’s didn’t have a clue.
09. Matthew - How did the Angie Stone situation happen, when she covered your Soul song, ‘More Than A Woman’?
. Calvin Richardson - The Angie Stone situation came about because she was bitter because she wanted something (me) that she couldn’t have. So she re-recorded the song with Joe out of spite ultimately to have it back fire in her face.
10. Matthew - How do you go about writing lyrics?
. Calvin Richardson – Most of my lyrics are about either present or past experiences of mine.
11. Matthew - What do you do to unwind?
. Calvin Richardson – Motorcycles is my escape now, my four year old is riding and I love it.
12. Matthew - Who are you listening to in modern soul music recently and do you like any UK Soul music, apart from Omar!
. Calvin Richardson – I try not to listen to other artists during my recording process it has a way of influencing your work.
13. Matthew - You said your visiting London to perform this year; do you have any more information to share?
. Calvin Richardson – I’ll be in Central London, March 24th for a show at The Coronet Theater.
14. Matthew - What have you been up to since your last album release as you’ve kept it quite quiet?
. Calvin Richardson – I started recording my second album for Hollywood Records, in April 2004. Babyface was executive producer and we wrote some great songs for that album before I decided leaving the label was best for me.
15. Matthew - How would you like to be remembered?
. Calvin Richardson – I would like to be remembered as the number one artist of my time who brought back the movement of real music.
16. Matthew - What can we expect from Calvin Richardson in 2007 and beyond?
. Calvin Richardson – Expect me to keep doing what I’ve always done but more just making real music for the world and most important my fans and potential fans that appreciate it. Like it or not ‘C. Rich is BACK!’
Words by Matthew Daniel
© 2007 Feel The Soul. All Rights Reserved
