Discover the symphony of stories as Daniel Parker takes us behind the strings of his revolutionary violin music. The classical meets digital in Parker's narrative, where passion for tradition collides with the modernity of music production. Meanwhile, Julian Vaughn's bass guitar riffs have charted a course from teenage curiosity to billboard acclaim, exemplifying the power of self-teaching and dedication. Together, these artists illuminate the path for aspiring musicians, offering golden nuggets of wisdom on carving out unique spaces in the ever-expanding music universe.
As the episode unfolds, we revel in the heartfelt reflections of R&B icons Peebo Bryson and Jeffrey Osborn, whose voices have graced life's most poignant moments for countless fans. Their candid discussions on legacy, vitality, and the human touch necessary for a lasting career in the industry strike a chord with listeners. Transitioning to the genre's current beat, we examine the seismic shift from R&B to hip-hop and rap, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and collaboration that define today's musical vanguard. Join us for a soul-stirring expedition through the melodies and memories that resonate across generations and genres.
If your in the music industry- singer, songwriter, composer, indie, neo singer, rapper, country artist, promoter, manager, music lawyer or blues please email me to be a guest on my show at myguest@spit2dabeat.com I would love to hear your Spit about the Music Industry.
Discover the symphony of stories as Daniel Parker takes us behind the strings of his revolutionary violin music. The classical meets digital in Parker's narrative, where passion for tradition collides with the modernity of music production. Meanwhile, Julian Vaughn's bass guitar riffs have charted a course from teenage curiosity to billboard acclaim, exemplifying the power of self-teaching and dedication. Together, these artists illuminate the path for aspiring musicians, offering golden nuggets of wisdom on carving out unique spaces in the ever-expanding music universe.
As the episode unfolds, we revel in the heartfelt reflections of R&B icons Peebo Bryson and Jeffrey Osborn, whose voices have graced life's most poignant moments for countless fans. Their candid discussions on legacy, vitality, and the human touch necessary for a lasting career in the industry strike a chord with listeners. Transitioning to the genre's current beat, we examine the seismic shift from R&B to hip-hop and rap, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and collaboration that define today's musical vanguard. Join us for a soul-stirring expedition through the melodies and memories that resonate across generations and genres.
If your in the music industry- singer, songwriter, composer, indie, neo singer, rapper, country artist, promoter, manager, music lawyer or blues please email me to be a guest on my show at myguest@spit2dabeat.com I would love to hear your Spit about the Music Industry.
sorry.
Speaker 4:There's a strong.
Speaker 5:Violent is Daniel Parker. Tell us a little bit about your ship day.
Speaker 4:Well, that's a tricky one to start off with. Well, originally I'm from Jackson Mississippi. I've been living in Memphis for about 10 years. I'm working on my PhD right now at the University of Memphis, being ready to start a fellowship with the symphony again in the fall, playing along with the Memphis Symphony, as well as doing my own music, writing my own music, performing covers and it's a lot I produce, you know, and I just love music so much. It's part of my life, it's just something that has been with me for 26 years.
Speaker 5:Okay, we talked about this a little bit before the show. Tell me about your journey as a violinist and the unique style as the strings.
Speaker 4:Well, when I was fairly young, when I was probably in middle school, I was really influenced by a few other violinists that were well known, such as Nunma Strings, Damien Escobar, black Violin, as well as colleagues of mine, students, classmates who also enjoyed improv, which is something that I was really wanted to dive more into at a young age. I remember when I was young, we would be in a practice room, be at several friends of mine and we would just improv instead of doing the class work up of classical music that we were tasked to do, and I remember our teacher would walk in on us playing improv and she would just be like that's not what I know, what y'all supposed to be doing.
Speaker 4:And so ever since then, it never really left me. I always wanted to explore the violin outside of classical music, outside the realm of just what is standard, what is the stereotype of music. I've always loved to break the boundaries, break the barriers of what can be considered music.
Speaker 5:The funny thing you just said one of my next questions you breaking the barriers and the boundaries of the new music. So how has it been a violinist artist as far as in this music industry, dealing with the digital platform and all that stuff, getting your music out? How has it been for you?
Speaker 4:Well, it's been very much an uphill battle for me, because I'm in a lane that is a niche that is not really explored as much. So you're constantly trying to reach new fans that might be interested in your music, and usually the way I've learned over the course of the years is you have to mix it up a little bit and play with maybe covers, what not? That is kind of a standard play covers that people will probably list to your own original music. So I've, like, over the years, started to do more covers, because at first I was like covers, I just liked to write, I just liked to write music.
Speaker 4:I wasn't really one to do covers, but as of probably 2015, 2016, I started to really start diving into playing with bands and playing more covered music, and I've learned that by doing so, that you reach more audiences, they get to know you, and once they get to know you, then they'll start to listen to your own music. So it's been. It's just a journey, a ride that I love, no matter how hard or how big the obstacles may seem. I just I love it.
Speaker 5:So far question. Final question what you would tell up a common artist that's in your lane in the violin, and also, are you working on any new music of your own?
Speaker 4:Oh, wow what I would tell other artists who are inspired by things that I do with others like me, I would say to always believe in yourself, no matter what it looks like on the outside, and keep pushing, keep going, keep working on your craft. There's never a day goes by, whether you have your instrument physically in your hand or just imagining what you would be working on in your head. Either war is. One thing I've learned recently is that even during those idols' times, they're still practicing and you don't have to actually physically have your instruments. So don't get discouraged by if you see another person. They're boasting about playing, practicing 10 hours a day and whatnot. It's not about that at all. It's about doing what you love, and if you love what you do, then I see no way to stop any obstacle stopping you from achieving your dreams.
Speaker 5:And again about any music that you have.
Speaker 4:Yes, I do have two albums out, two original music, musical selections of albums. Yeah, I have two albums out plus of original music, plus a new album that will be coming out that will be released this year. I haven't put a set of date yet for the release of that album, but it will be out very shortly.
Speaker 5:And you're using all the social media platforms.
Speaker 4:Yes, I mean all platforms, as either Daniel Parker, violinist, or I'm otherwise known as D-Strains. They're spelled D-S-T-R-A-N-G-Z-Z-Z. There's three Z's at the end and it's a funny story how I came up with D-Strains. It's a tale that you know the difference between a violin and a fiddle. You know a violin has strings and a fiddle has strings, and what I do I dabble more on the fiddle inside than I do on the classical music side, but I am classically trained so I do both. But in this realm that I'm in today, it's strings. My name is Daniel, so these strings.
Speaker 5:There you have it. Thank you for joining us on Spirit to the Beat podcast.
Speaker 4:Thank you, thank you for having me Appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Thank you.
Speaker 5:Welcome to Spirit, to the Beat podcast. Bass guitar Julian Vaughn. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Julian.
Speaker 6:You know just a what do I say? A small town boy from Kansas City man you know, taught myself how to play bass at the age of 15 and went professionally at it at the age of 30. And now I'm in my 14th year and 12 billboard number ones, later 20 something top five. Life's pretty good.
Speaker 5:That's cool. You started off as a drummer, but then you moved into being a good tires. So how was that transition from leaving the drums to the guitar?
Speaker 6:I was easy. Music's always been in me. But you know, as a kid, kids and are. They're attracted to noise and so everybody wants to play the drums. I say, you know what, I'm gonna find out how to play something else, because I'm trying to fight. So uh the they're the bass was laying, and then the rest is history.
Speaker 5:Cool, cool. So you talked about the multiple billboards, number one hits and successful album, and all that. How do you stay relevant while maintaining your signature sound?
Speaker 6:Oh, just keep putting out music, keep touring, like I have been Almost every weekend and you know just making great music. I think that's the key, just making great music, because the people that you know if it's good or not cool.
Speaker 5:Last question Do you have anything coming out in 2024?
Speaker 6:We have a new single coming out in May. It's called kiss the groove Never album following that coming out sometime in July and we can find you on all the social media platform, all the social media. All the music platforms, our tunes, spotify, title Pan, pandora, wherever I'm everywhere. Youtube got live videos on there, so I'm maybe work great, great.
Speaker 5:Thank you for joining the spit to the beat podcast man. I really do appreciate the problem.
Speaker 6:We got to get you a cheese, a cheese.
Speaker 3:Conversational piece.
Speaker 4:You're listening to spit to the beat podcast with your host, the one. The only stacey be unstoppable per year.
Speaker 5:Hey, this is stacey. Aka be unstoppable per year with spit to the beat podcast. Will you like to be my guest? If your single songwriter, musician, producer or promoter, give me a call at 901 341 6777 or email me at. My guest at spit to the beat, saxophone is Joe Johnson.
Speaker 2:Firstly, on a music scholarship. Got stuck in Nashville, got it in the industry, work for a major label, left the label to start my own label with major distribution and have spent maybe the last 25, 30 years being Musical director for various artists such as Angela Wynne, bush after seven, freddie Jackson, feel Perry, bunch of stuff like this.
Speaker 5:This is all up in Nashville. There, all this time was just traveling around the world traveling around.
Speaker 2:I really got my musical, professional musical Start in Nashville.
Speaker 5:Did you okay. So that's where is your home.
Speaker 2:Would you know what I'll in enough? I actually have a home in Nashville in a home back in Memphis as of two years ago, so I'm going back and forth.
Speaker 5:Okay, okay, just up and down the road.
Speaker 2:Hey, you got to try to keep lights on house. There you go.
Speaker 5:There you go. Let's talk about your latest release. Life for the party combines contemporary jazz with Elements of hip-hop and RFB.
Speaker 2:So that is, that's the smush second record. Okay that came out in O5 and we did pretty well with that record. We had a couple of the songs ago number one on various charts. The record after that was called the after party, which came out in oh eight, and now we've got a new release after all of these years that'll be coming out in, hopefully, june or July of this month. Called back from the weekend.
Speaker 5:It's been some of your musical influence growing up.
Speaker 2:I mean, you've got to always be in a Memphis. Kids. I always got to say Kirk White.
Speaker 5:Okay definitely.
Speaker 2:You know I tell the story and it's a true story. His grandmother is the reason that I started playing saxophone as a seventh grade at Western. I had no issues like, hey, my mom didn't want me to play drums and she was like well, why don't you play saxophone? Like my baby, Kirk?
Speaker 2:And I was like okay, and I mean I didn't know Kirk at the time, but most definitely probably one of my biggest Kirk another Memphian, hank Crawford. That was Ray Charles music director. He also went to Tennessee State University so and he influenced it's probably not a saxophone player living, it was not influenced somewhat by Hank Crawford.
Speaker 5:Okay, have you had any memorable experience or collaborated with other artists that kind of impact your music career?
Speaker 2:Well, you know we talked about my last record being such a long time, but what happened is I kind of focused, changed my focus from being a recording artist to the musical director side of things, so again being able to work in bright music and produce shows and arrange the band for, like I say, people that I grew up with, freddie Jackson, after seven Answer. I mean I don't think there are too many 90s artists at some point that I haven't either worked with at some state form of fashion. So it does kind of steer the direction that you go in as an artist and stuff.
Speaker 5:So you're doing a lot of producing and writing too.
Speaker 2:I do a little bit of everything, like I say anything to keep the lights on.
Speaker 5:Cool. I want to thank you for joining me on Spit to the Beat Podcast.
Speaker 2:I appreciate you guys. Man, Please let me know if you need anything. All right.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to Spit to the Beat Podcast. Want to know how you can help Be a sponsor by going to our website at wwwspit2thebeatpodcastcom and click the support tab. You can also join us each and every week, live at YouTube and Spit to the Beat. Don't forget to subscribe, like and follow. Thank you for your support.
Speaker 5:RB Singer, peebo Bryson, two-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, how significant and winning them awards play a pivoting role into your music today.
Speaker 3:Well, this is America. America loves a winner period. It does set you apart, but it doesn't insulate you from everything. It's just how you work it and how you perceive it. You got to always remember, when you reach high pentacles like that, that you put your pants on, the same way you always have.
Speaker 5:You gave us timeless music that even my generation still listen to grow it up and everything. How has your influence of your music been? And now with this new generation? Thank you.
Speaker 3:I'm responsible for half of them. So when you think of it, when you look at it from that standpoint, every once in a while I'll be at the driving range of something, my wife and I and a guy will come along with a wife and 4.5 kids in tow and you'll realize it's me and you'll come back and say, mr Bryson, I said, yeah, how are you Nice to meet you? And he said well, and he lines his children up and said this one was made on field of fire, this one was made on. I'm swimming to you and the wife is standing there going give them confirmation, confirming affirmation, that indeed it was made on that music. So if you're that's a good thing to do, that you're, if you're inspiring people to procreate, that's a really kind of cool thing to do. It's when you look back at life. It's better than it's better than a Grammy or an Oscar, isn't it? When you think about it? Because it's life.
Speaker 5:Yes.
Speaker 3:And it's what they do with their lives.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that's awesome, that's awesome.
Speaker 3:So, but in a in a time like where, where relationship doesn't mean the same things that meant before, you can either work harder relationship now, or you can swipe right, right. So, right yeah, it's. People tend to take, especially the younger generations. They tend to take the least path of resistance and work it easier. My grandfather taught us a great lesson when we were kids. He would ask us one question you want the easy way to the hard way? Of course we wanted the easy way and he would pinch us until we cried and we said, well, well, let's change that mind, we want the hard way. When we wanted to chose the hard way, he would sue us for the rest of the day and take us to get whatever we wanted. It was a great lesson that when you take the easy route, you get easy results, and the results don't last. It ain't forever, that's good.
Speaker 5:That's good inspiration for artists.
Speaker 3:That's like what.
Speaker 5:Martin Luther King said if you, if you just living, but you're not making no change, that's just saying you're either part of the solution or you are the problem. Right, right. So y'all just kicked the two off here in Memphis, right, sure? So what made Memphis the first?
Speaker 3:Memphis is a legendary music town. Are you kidding me? Come on man, I cut my teeth up here. I mean I played the lamp post. Okay, are you kidding me? I mean you know it's, I played the lamp post. I was one of the greatest record promoters of all time will be Bulleggs Miller. Bulleggs was he could promote a dog and a cat in a fight.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:He could do anything but was good people and I learned a lot about grassroots people and how how you become successful by being a people person as opposed to trying to be famous. I've never tried to be famous. That's not been my goal, Still isn't.
Speaker 5:Well, we thank you so much for sharing your time.
Speaker 3:Oh, no, no it's an honor to do so. You asked good questions. I hope I gave you good answers.
Speaker 5:You did. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3:It's my pleasure.
Speaker 5:RB Singer Jeffrey Osborn.
Speaker 7:All that energy. Yeah, it kind of helps man. It really did. I was vegan for most 11 years. I just started eating a little bit of fish, though. But yeah for 10, 11 years I was straight vegan and it did help. I mean, I felt a lot more efficient, you know.
Speaker 5:Well, you look good. You just celebrated birthday a couple days ago.
Speaker 7:Yeah, I had a birthday last week.
Speaker 5:Yeah, man.
Speaker 7:I'm getting old though.
Speaker 5:I'm getting old, but the youngest spirit though.
Speaker 7:Gotta stay young spirit. Gotta stay young spirit.
Speaker 5:I was kicking the two off in Memphis for you. How was what? Kicking the two off in Memphis?
Speaker 7:Oh man, that's great. You know it's not. It's kind of like in the middle. I've been working all year, so this is kind of like right in the middle. I actually go to South Africa tomorrow. Wow, I got four shows in South Africa, so I'm heading out from here to South Africa. Can you believe?
Speaker 5:that A long flight.
Speaker 7:Yeah, this is a long one.
Speaker 5:Let's talk a little bit quickly about your nonprofit. How has that been an impact? I know you say you're pushing music to the youth and family.
Speaker 7:Well, I'm pushing really mainly to enrich young people's lives. You know, I'm from Providence, rhode Island, so I went back there and I have a celebrity golf tournament there.
Speaker 7:So I bring in just about everybody Magic Johnson hosted for me, and Dr J comes, smokey Robinson and Johnny Gill and Phillip Bailey, so it's an incredible celebrity turnout and we don't just play golf, we jam, so it's a fun tournament. I've been doing it this is my 10th anniversary and it's been great. I've been able to give back to like six different charities in my hometown, so it kind of feels good to go back, could be able to give something back to the community.
Speaker 5:That's awesome, you said right there on the stage you talk about bringing keeping R&B live and stuff like with this new generation. How does that feel to you as far as R&B? Is it still alive, is it coming back or what?
Speaker 7:Well, it's just different now. You know, everything changes. I was growing up. I was the youngest of 12. I had to listen to all the jazz that my brothers and sisters were listening to and that went from jazz to R&B and everybody was like oh R&B. My father was a great jazz trumpet player. Take that stuff off, boy, that ain't music. So everything goes through an evolution and changes and we're just in that phase where R&B and kind of phased out to hip-hop, you know, and rap.
Speaker 7:And I say more power to them. I love what the young kids are doing. I love that they're independent, that they own their own things and I can't knock it. I wish in our generation we did what they're doing, because back then they were, they all team up together. You see them on each other's records and we didn't do that as much back then and that's just makes them even bigger. So I'm impressed at what they do. I'm not gonna knock the music. It's different, you know it's not. I don't think it has the character of the older music because it doesn't have a lot of melody, but it works with the kids. The kids love it and that's who buys records. The kids buy the records.
Speaker 5:Thank you for being on. Spin to the Beat podcast. I'm gonna do a appreciate it. Hope you have a safe flight to.
Speaker 7:Saipan. Well, thank you, man, I appreciate it. All right, all right, cool.