Will Downing Interview Page 4

Smitty:  Unbelievable photo. I knew there was something special about that picture, man.

WD: Thank you.

Smitty:  Yeah, and it’s a great shot. I mean, the angles, and I’m sort of….I hope I’m not giving too much away here, but I just wanna sorta set the table and give people an idea of what they’re missing because this is not just this stand up, pose and take a picture kind of thing.  I mean….

WD:  Oh no, no.

Smitty:  They’re intimate, they’re well thought out shots, and it’s like something you never would’ve imagined, and they’re beautiful. They are very creative.

WD: Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Smitty:  Yes indeed, and I must say there’s a whole list of everyone’s favorite musicians in here.

WD: Oh yeah. I mean, I have some great shots of George Benson and Earl Klugh when we toured together, I have some really good shots of Jill Scott, she allowed me to come to her home and photograph her, and Dianne Reeves and Chaka Khan and Al Jarreau when he was in the studio. He and Joe Cocker were doing a song together off of Al’s last project and Paul Brown was producing the project, and they allowed me to come and photograph that. So that was a great experience. It was Al, like, really in his element singing, doing his thing. So it’s a series of shots like that and this book is actually called Unveiled:  Series One, so it’s the first of many that I plan on bringing to the public.

Smitty:  Very cool. And the book is available now?

WD: Correct, yeah. It’s actually self-published so you can go to my Web site, www.willdowning.com, and purchase a copy, or come see me in concert. Normally we sell them at concerts as well.

Smitty:  Very cool. And speaking of concerts and the book, I know you’re going to be doing a special event to do an unveiling of the book in Houston, Texas the day before your performance at the Verizon Wireless Theater on May 26th. Talk about that a little bit, where it’s going to be, and how people can come out and enjoy this wonderful project.

WD: Well, we’re gonna do a signing, a book signing, at a place the day before the concert, and the concert will include myself and Lalah Hathaway, who’s also in the book as well….one photograph of her is in the book. Probably the easiest way to find out exactly where it’s gonna be in Houston, once again, visit the Web site and it’ll tell you where we will be doing the signing and the times as well. But it’s something that I’ve been doing across the country as well, just come in a day early and meet and greet folks, which is something that a lot of artists don’t get an opportunity to do. I get to have some quality time with the listeners and the folks that have supported me and vice versa.

Smitty: Nice.

WD: And at the same time, you get to check out the book and purchase a copy and I’ll autograph it for you and make it special.

Smitty: Yeah, man. Wow. One of the things I asked Kyle (Newport), I said “How did he find time to do all this great work?” (Both laughing)

WD: You know what? I still think I’m not doing enough. My parents had actually told me just the other day and, you know, my folks have always been like the motivation for me doing what I do.

Smitty:  That’s beautiful.

WD: They’re great people, the salt of the earth, but always pushing you, you know?  “Is that all you’re doing?  Well, come on. I didn’t hear anything about it, so you’re not doing enough,” you know?  I told my mother the other day, she turned to me, she was like “You know what?  You have really made me proud.”

Smitty:  Oh, man. That’s too cool.

WD:  “You’ve got a full plate, you’re doing personal things that you enjoy doing, you’re bringing art to the world, you’re doing things that from a health standpoint is very helpful to folks, and you’re doing your music, so like….slow down. You know, next thing you know, you’ll be running for office or something like that,” but I thought about that, you know.

Smitty:  Oh man that’s a beautiful thing.

WD: No, really, I mean, life is to be lived, and I sincerely believe that, my mentor just passed away, which is Gordon, Gordon Parks, and he’s someone that lived life to the fullest. I mean, he didn’t get himself painted into a corner, he made movies, he made music, and he was a photographer for Life Magazine. That’s what it’s all about.

Smitty:  Absolutely. Live your life, man.

WD: Live your life and you only get one. No one ever came back and told me otherwise. (Both laughing)

Smitty:  That’s right, absolutely. Well, I love the full plate that you have, I think you’re doing just a magnificent service in so many different ways, and just keep making great music, my friend, and stay involved with what you’re doing because I think you’re touching a lot of hearts and it’s a beautiful thing and you will always be blessed for those things.

WD: Thank you very much, Smitty. Thank you.

Smitty:  Yes indeed.  We have been talking with GRP recording artist Mr. Will Downing, the busy Mr. Will Downing. He’s got a great project out there, it’s called Soul Symphony. If you have not picked it up, you’ve gotta hear it, and please check out his live performance, it’s not just a show, it’s an event.  His fantastic book of photography and art is appropriately entitled Unveiled will be there, the whole camaraderie of the great music, from the past and present as well. And certainly you’re to be commended for the wonderful work you’re doing with the charity association of the American Stroke Association.

WD: Thank you very much, Smitty.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.willdowning.com or www.vervemusicgroup.com.