MD: And that’s why it is a Grammy winner. Because everybody else was doing the same thing, playing the way they like to play but not being daring enough to try something new, and GB said “You know, Mel? I love the idea you have with every track should be different and it gives the audience a chance to pick and choose.” I believe the music should allow the listeners the right to say what they like, not the artist. The artist shouldn’t dictate to the audience what they should listen to. I believe the audience has that right.
Smitty: Absolutely.
MD: You know what I’m saying? And I believe that as a jazz personality, you guys are the best because you have not only a great Web site and a great job being a jazz personality, but you get a chance to really hear all kinds of music at its grass roots and you get a chance to also hear the public’s point of view and what they would like and what they don’t like. And that’s where I envy you guys as Jazz Personalities.
Smitty: Thank you, that’s very nice of you to say that. Talk to me about when you finally got out to where you could tour….you did some pretty extensive touring with some great musicians, some legendary musicians.
MD: Right.
Smitty: Talk about what that experience was like after dealing with all that you had gone through.
MD: Well, when I went out the first time with George Benson, that was a dream come true because here’s a guy you see on television, you see him getting Grammy awards, but I knew him before that, I knew him way before Breezin’, but to actually see your friend and mentor go up and get a Grammy and then he let me….the night he got it for Breezin’, when he came home, he said to me “Mel, did you ever hold a Grammy?” And I said “No.” He said “Go look in the car, man, and then pick it up.” So I said “Oh, I might break it.”
Smitty: (Laughs.)
MD: He said “Just hold it, man.” He said “You’re gonna be holding one of these in your own hands soon, man.” He said “You just keep writing those songs. Writing is the key,” he told me. He said “Writing your own music is the key.” And he said “Being able to cover somebody else’s songs as though they were your own.” But it was always like I was close but never a cigar. (Both laugh.) You know what I mean?
Smitty: Yeah. But you are enjoying yourself and giving the listener what they want and that’s a powerful combination. So tell me, with all of the things that you have endured over the years and now you’re still making great music, what keeps you going?
MD: Faith and what the Christ says. Putting God first, putting his father first, and believing that the God of the heavens is not going to let you down if you stay true to what the bible says and be humble and try to love your brother as you would yourself. Put somebody else first instead of yourself all the time and I believe that’s why doors open up for me. GB introduced to me to a guy to work with after I got of the hospital, I started playing with him for about ten years, and I told him “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t play these R&B gigs no more. I wanna play the organ. I don’t wanna play anymore DX7s and the Yamaha keyboards. I wanna go back on the B3.” And he said “That’s a complete waste of time, Melvin. Nobody’s gonna hire you playing an organ. I couldn’t get a record deal. I’m 60 years old. How are you gonna get a record deal?” Then when he was in Tower Records and saw my album Revealed, he called me up at two o’clock in the morning and said “Hey, I’m at Tower, man. They’ve got a big poster of you at the door. How’d you do that?”
Smitty: (Laughs.)
MD: “I got a deal with Sony.” He said “How did you get Sony to distribute you?”
Smitty: (Laughs.)
MD: “Because I trust in God. I don’t trust man. I trust in God.” And he said “But Melvin, man, you gotta introduce me to your manager, man, because I’ve been trying to get a record deal with them for 55 years and here you’re 50 years old and got a record deal with Sony. I don’t believe it, man”.
Smitty: Yes, and I really encourage everyone to take a listen to this record It’s About Time.
MD: Aw, thank you so much, Smitty, man.
Smitty: Yeah man. Mel, I can’t tell you what a pleasure it has been to talk with you. I truly believe that you’re an inspiration for so many people and perhaps people that you don’t even know, especially when they read about you and what you’ve accomplished and the great music that you are producing, and I just want to personally thank you for all that you do and thank you for spending some time with me to talk about your career, your life, and this great record. You totally rock, man! We’ve been talking with the incredible Hammond B3 organist Mr. Mel Davis. His great new record is called It’s About Time. I highly recommend this record for your CD collection. Mel, thank you so much and best of everything for you in 2007 and beyond.
MD: Thank you so much, Smitty. Thank you so much, man.
Baldwin “Smitty” Smith
For More Information Visit www.myspace.com/meldavismusic and www.tomtomrecords.com
For A FREE download Mel Davis's Title Track www.meldavisexclusive.com
