Hi guys, first of all, thank you for this opportunity to share with your many listeners a few chapters of this non-fiction work that is Cameo. Although, sometimes things happened that we could've sworn were fiction, but that's for another interview.
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| Question: | First of all, tell me what you remember about 1986 and "Word Up" I remember that was the year I graduated high school and Cameo was everywhere and anywhere. Was there a moment that you remember looking around and saying... "WOW" |
| Answer: | One of my most distinct memories of "Word Up" was how we got the name. We're from New York City, and back then; "Word" was the slang of the day. We had traveled to London for a performance at Top Of The Pops, and as we were pulling into the back of the studio, there were kids at the gate shouting, "Cameo...Word Up!, Word Up, Cameo! And the collective light bulb went off. Blimey, we said, that's it! So I came up with the bass line, and brought it to the group. The actual original title was "What's The Word?" At that time, Larry and I collaborated on all of the hits we had, so he came up with great ideas for lyrics and music and, beyond any of our wildest imaginings, a hit was born. Everybody knew it but our record company, Polgram Records. Remember, the eighties were a weird period. Dance was fading and the rap game was movin' in. "Word Up" was a black funk rock song that challenged boundaries. They were scared. But a gentleman at the company’s' international division convinced them to put it out. And the rest is history, as they say. To perform that song today, and still get the response we get, is a testament to a great song. Thank God it was released. The business needed it at the time. Of course, when you're writing it and right after it's finished, you don't think about the impact. We got a lot of attention from the snare drum sound that Larry created. That thing was sampled everywhere! |
| Question: | DJ Jill Monroe and I had a really great time seeing you guys in Detroit, I remember when the crowd was chanting "W-O-R-D UP" and "C-A-M-E-O" and I took a look around and thought... how amazing after all these years to get so much love from a crowd and how that must feel… so, how does it feel? |
| Answer: | After all these years, to still get that love from the crowd, it's a feeling that's hard to describe. We started out as a band that toured with no record for a long time. We made our bones on the road. And we learned to rock the crowd. So it's as natural as breathing to us. Of course, every show can't be A+, but we go all out every time, and our audiences respond to that effort, I think. |
| Question: | What do you think is Cameo's legacy? Not that you guys are going anywhere, but what do you want be remembered for? |
| Answer: | To be honest, it blows me away to even realize we have a legacy. It's a dream. I say this at every concert, we are truly blessed to be able to do what we've done, to be able to feed our families and sustain a living for close to 30 years doing the thing we love. I, and I'm sure everyone in the group, would like to be remembered for doin' it our way. Trends be dammed. For being a difference maker in the music biz. |
| Question: | My favorite Cameo song is "Candy", love the sax work and Larry Blackmon's commentary in the song... what can you tell us about the creation of "Candy"? |
| Answer: | This is funny. A couple years ago I found the pad that I wrote the beginnings of the original lyrics to "Candy" on. "Word up" is there, too. That pad IS the "Word up" album. I wrote the bass line for the song. And a first verse. Took it to Blackmon and we fleshed it out. See, in those days, artists were not under pressure to sound a certain way like they are today, unfortunately. This stifles creativity and originality. And we can all see and hear the results on mainstream radio in some cases. I never thought the song was that revolutionary at the time, really, for a Cameo song. But I understand how one can only smile at the vocal arrangements and crazy funk. It was SO different; it turned into a Cameo classic! One of the biggest records we've ever had. Man, I was just flipping through the pad and "Back and Forth" is in there, too. Kevin Kendrick, our keyboard player, did the music on that. Kevin is also all over the new OutKast record and he's in the film, too. And the song we wrote for Bobby Browns' first album, "King Of Stage" that was called "Baby Wanna Tell You Something" is in there. Hey, maybe ebay might be interested in this pad! HAHA! (just kiddin'). |
| Question: | Cameo's look was as cool as the music, from Larry's codpiece to the haircuts, where did you guys come up with the Cameo "look"? |
| Answer: | Oh... my.... God. Have you seen the  Cameosis album cover? The spandex jumpsuits! Man I look at some of those videos and concerts and cringe. But those were the times, y'know? How the codpiece came into being is another funny story. We were preparing to shoot the video for "Word Up" in a club in New York City. Our clothes designer, Toyce Anderson, Lord rest his soul, came to Larry with a box. He said, "Now, don't freak out Larry. Just take a look and see what you think". Remembering this now cracks me up. Larry opened the box and this big, shiny red thing was in there! He was like, "Oh, HELL no! He asked us what we thought. We were enthusiastic about it. "Go for it, man", we all said. As long as WE didn't have to wear it! haha. So, with much trepidation, he did it. And now I can't get him out of the damn thing. The high top fade Larry wore was an over-the-top version of what most guys were wearing at the time. Nathan had the dreads and I was always the clean-cut dude. |
| Question: | What's next for Cameo? |
| Answer: | What's next? We're in the process of putting together a 30th anniversary package for '07. A collectors addition including live concert DVD, new tracks, remixes, photos from the past years and bonus footage. I think our fans would really appreciate that. And also to just keep working, like Kelis says, till the wheels fall off! |
Part two... |
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| Question: | So here we are in 2006 and you put out an amazing album "The Way", what do you want the people to know about this project? |
| Answer: | Finally! We get to discuss ME! Enough of this Cameo stuff. HAHA! Seriously, I'm very happy that, for those who have heard it, it's being well received. This CD doesn't mean a Cameo break-up or anything like that. I want people to know that this is an expression of my musical inner self. That may sound corny, but all that means is that; I've written music, and recording in places, and got partners around me that totally fit my plan of staying true to myself. I mentioned this before in the interview, that there is pressure on artists and record labels to play it safe. This ain't new. So, I had to push aside most, not all, of today’s influences and draw on my own natural influences gained from being in this business 20+. I didn't want to seem disingenuous. I did what I knew. |
| Question: | When you create anything, I have found that in the end you really learn about yourself and sometimes it's amazing what you find out. What did you learn about yourself, making "The Way”? |
| Answer: | Wow, good question. I learned I could relax making a record, for one thing. Unlike with Cameo, where we would record a project on a timed schedule with a deadline, I took my time and went in and out with this record. Feeling no pressure, that word again, to do anything. Or to sound a certain way. I turned my radio off for 2 years. Now some might say that was a wrong move. (haha). Another thing would be a bit of self-discovery that occurred from time to time during the recording. A lot of changes in my personal life weaved its way through the fabric of the material. Self-discovery can never be a bad thing. |
| Question: | In your interview with DJ Jill Monroe, you mentioned Jesse Johnson really taking a few songs and adding his flavor to them and you loving the results. What songs and what did Jesse add to these tracks that you hadn't thought of? |
| Answer: | Jesse Johnson is an amazing producer and musician. And a good friend for many years. He was my mentor; actually, in the early days of me learning the tools I would need to put my ideas down, production wise. He's always been a fan of Cameo, on a truly musicianship level. We often collaborate on each other projects. He'll call me to do some background vocals on something he's doing. I gave Jesse the tracks I had completed with vocals at the time. The two tracks he felt the most affinity for, as it turns out, were "Everythang" and "Come Correct". When I got the songs back, I was happily surprised. He really brought the ideas to another place. I never get tired of hearing that solo on "Come Correct" or how the dark humor of the lyrics on "Everythang" are framed around the perfect music. You should hear what the songs sounded like before he got 'em. You wouldn't believe it. The other track, "Where's Your Head At", Jesse played guitar and produced my vocal. |
| Question: | As you know, Emancipation Radio is behind this album and you 100%, being in the industry, how do you feel Internet radio will change the way the music game is played. |
| Answer: | Thank you. The whole Internet music movement has been rolling for a minute. The growth of Internet radio specifically, is a natural and obvious progression of the movement. Let's face it, where else can you buy, or download, anybody you are NOT hearing on mainstream radio? Unfortunately, small record stores where you can get great vinyl of obscure CD’s are fading out. Great stations like yours serve the same purpose for people seeking out artists that are overlooked. For whatever reason. It's fantastic. Satelite radio is similar in this. But Internet radio goes deeper. With the growth of community sites like Myspace, radio on the Internet has the possibility of effecting how record labels sign artists. It's already being felt in the bank accounts of some major labels. One thing I've been doing lately is reading comments people have about the new releases of certain popular artists. The one constant I read is that 'all the songs sound the same'. People, most people anyway, want quality and are not fooled by the hype or just ok singers. And they go elsewhere. So more and more sites are springing up that people can either listen to and/or download music from. For the independent artist, it's a Godsend. Pirate radio back in the day would be the precursor, I would think. |
| Question: | If Tomi Jenkins were teaching "Musicology 101" at a major university, what would five albums would you require your students to listen to? |
| Answer: | Ahh, let's see.... number one… "Word Up". Lets get that out of the way right now (Haha). Sly and the Family Stone. Pick one, I dare ya. Next, Seal. His first CD, "Seal". The production, by Trevor Horn of Yes (am I dating myself REALLY bad, here?) is confident and cool. And Seals lyrics, the vocals and arrangements were perfectly matched. TLC- "Crazysexycool". Ridiculous. "Red Light Special", "Creep", "Waterfalls". Classics of the time and genre. Coldplay-"A Rush of Blood to the Head. The whole record flows. I'm a fan of lyrics and the one thing I bemoan concerning the music today is the lack of lyrical content. In R&B music, anyway. Though, I've gotta say Ne-yo is a great songwriter. Probably one of the best of this generation. Oh, and I LOVE Jill Scott. |
| Question: | Finally, Be it "Life", "Liberty" or "The Pursuit of Happiness" what is "The Way" to Tomi Jenkins? |
| Answer: | The "Way" for me would be of Truth. All the others, Life, Liberty, and the ever-elusive Pursuit of Happiness, will follow if you have Truth. I would just like to say, very simply, thank you. Many people will never know what it's like to have your creative, naked self out there for others to judge. So what do we as artists do? The good ones don't try to fool you. We leave our clothes off and invite you to check us out. The others try make you like them. So you gotta get through layers to find the real. So ultimately, they don't give you what you want. And that's honesty. Demand honesty from your artist. Whether you like what they do or not, you have to appreciate that they were honest. Thank you for allowing Cameo, and me, the opportunity to be honest. And do what we feel. |
