Interview with John Arthur Martinez

jAm: EVERY SUMMER I'D RETURN HOME FROM COLLEGE TO WORK FOR A RANCHER TURNED HISTORICAL BUILDING LANDLORD TURNED RESTAURANTEUR. THE FIRST SUMMER I WORKED FOR DON GUNN I BUILT A PICKET FENCE, SANDED WOODED FLOORS AND STAIRS AND WORKED WITH A LANDSCAPING CREW; THE SECOND SUMMER I WASHED DISHES, THE THIRD SUMMER I WAITED TABLES. WHEN I CAME HOME FOR THE SUMMER LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK HE SAID I'M SORRY BUT I DON'T NEED ANYBODY RIGHT. THEN HE SAID JOKINGLY UNLESS YOU CAN ENTERTAIN A PRIVATE PARTY I'VE BOOKED IN THE RESTAURANT. I SURPRISED HIM AND TOOK THE JOB. MY FOURTH AND FIFTH YEARS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES I BEGAN PLAYING A MIXTURE OF JAMES TAYLOR, HANK WILLIAMS, CAT STEVENS, DAN FOGELBURG AND GEORGE STRAIT AT THE COLLEGE BARS IN SAN MARCOS, TX, HOME TO GEORGE STRAIT U.  

Rikk:  I guess my first question would be, being from the very competitive Texas music scene, has that helped your career by driving you harder to get above the pack, or was it a hindrance in the early going of your musical career?

jAm: IF YOU WANT A GIG IN CENTRAL TEXAS THEN YOU BETTER BE ABLE TO PICK A GUITAR WELL, SING ON PITCH, WRITE A GOOD SONG, RUN YOUR OWN SOUND AND DO IT ALL WITH THE PASSION OF A DAVID BALL, ROBERT EARL KEEN, OR WILLIE NELSON BECAUSE, YES, TEXAS IS RICH IN TALENT. THIS INSPIRED ME TO BE BETTER RATHER THAN DISCOURAGED ME TO QUIT.

Rikk: I remember you saying that it was a friend and not yourself who urged you to get into the Nashville Star competition for the very first season, I guess what I am wondering is before you got the record deal, how did that experience change your attitude toward the music industry?

jAm: YES, A FRIEND, THEN A FAN, AND, FINALLY, MY WIFE ALL ENCOURAGED ME TO ENTER. I'M GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THEIR INSISTENCE. I'M NOT SURE I TRULY BELIEVE THE INDUSTRY AS WE KNOW IT IN NASHVILLE WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED MYSELF OR BUDDY JEWELL PRIOR TO OUR TELEVISION EXPOSURE.

 Rikk: What was the dealmaker for you to sign with Dualtone records? I ask simply because it has seemed to me they give artists more creative input in their projects.

jAm: I PREFER TO WORK WITH FOLKS WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT I DO WHO TRULY WANT TO WORK WITH ME; IT'S A SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY BUT IT WORKS FOR ME. YES, OF COURSE, IT'S A BIG ISSUE WITH ME AND ALL ARTISTS THAT WE HAVE CREATIVE CONTROL OF OUR MUSIC. CAN YOU IMAGINE A PAINTER BEING TOLD BY THE GALLERY WHICH COLORS BRUSHES TO USE.

Rikk: What was the major difference in recording the new CD Lone Starry Night and recording your independent music and marketing it?

jAm: MATT ROLLINGS WAS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE. THERE ARE GREAT MUSICIANS IN TEXAS WHO ASSISTED IN THE RECORDING OF MY INDIE RELEASES, BUT THE DIRECTION OF A GENIUS LIKE ROLLINGS GIVES A PROJECT SHINE WITHOUT LOSING SOUL.

Rikk: I know you are a true family man, with your first single for Dualtone “Home Made Of Stone”, I was wondering how your home life has changed and if in fact you have got your beautiful wife the Home in question?

jAm: IT'S HARDER TO LIVE LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING IN SOME NECKS OF THE WOODS, BUT THE TOUGHEST THING IS THAT I TOO FREQUENTLY END THE DAY HUGGING A STRANGE MOTEL PILLOW INSTEAD OF MY WIFE.

 Rikk: I know it is a lot of hard work promoting a new CD, the road, the interviews, and the press. What would you say are the best and worst parts of finally getting this record deal?

jAm: THE BEST PART IS THAT I DO THINK THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO MY BUILDING MY WIFE A BETTER HOME--ONE MADE OF STONE. THE WORST PART IS THE BATTLE WITH RADIO.  I'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE A HIGHLY RATED MORNING SHOW PERSONALITY HAS HAD TO TANGLE WITH A PROGRAM DIRECTOR TO GET ME ON THE AIR.

Rikk:  On the new CD you have done some, in this writers opinion, groundbreaking work. The album is spectacular sounding, I loved your independent CDs, but this is so much cleaner and well orchestrated, it is a truly great disk. A few questions on some of the songs if you don’t mind…… I notice you included Amarillo by Morning, was this a song you have always wanted to release, the addition of Spanish in the song I think makes it unique in itself.

jAm: FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR YOUR TAKE ON MY ALBUM. AS TO AMARILLO BY MORNING, I'VE BEEN PLAYING MY BILINGUAL VERSION OF THAT 1971 TERRY STAFFORD RELEASE FOR OVER A DECADE. THE MELODIC HOOK ON MY VERSION IS MUCH CLOSER TO THE ORIGINAL HOOK THAN THE JOHNNY GIMBLE FIDDLE HOOK ON STRAIT'S CUT.

Rikk: You have some great ballads, some Texas swing, country and fun songs as well, is there one song in particular that is requested at shows more than any other?

jAm: BEFORE THE RELEASE OF THIS ALBUM, THE MAN WHO HOLDS THE BOW AND THE ARMADILLO SONG WERE PROBABLY TWO OF THE MOST REQUESTED FROM FOLKS WHO KNOW MY MATERIAL, BUT SINCE THE RELEASE OF LONE STARRY NIGHT IF I DIDN'T CARE SEEMS TO COME UP MOST OFTEN.

 Rikk: Tonight at Fiesta is a great up-tempo tune that seems to me would be a great summer song, any hints that you may release that as your next single?

jAm: IT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF THE LABEL IN TEXAS CITIES, BUT DUALTONE, BEING AN INDEPENDENT LABEL, MUST MEASURE THE DECISIONS CAREFULLY.

 Rikk: The song "Pour A Little Love On It" has a great soul hook and is different than anything else I have heard you do, I could completely hear Ronnie Millsap doing this song, can you tell me a bit of where or when this song came to you?

jAm: I CO-WROTE THE SONG WITH A COUPLE OF TEXAS BUDDIES, MIKE BLAKELY AND JERRY HARKINS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ONE OF THEM OVERHEARD A FRIEND SAY POUR A LITTLE BEER ON IT. I STEERED THEM TOWARD MY PREFERRED TITLE  FULLY INTENDING THE PIECE TO BE COMPLETELY ACAPELLA. MATT ROLLINGS PERSUADED ME TO MIX AN ACAPELLA SECTION INTO THE SONG INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE THING.

Rikk: Is there anything in your past you think you could have done differently that may have helped you climb the ladder a little sooner, any regrets of any past career choices made?

jAm: I HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW CLOSE CALLS WITH MAJOR LABELS, PUBLISHERS AND PRODUCTION DEALS IN THE PAST, BUT I DON'T THINKS I MATURED INTO THE WRITER AND SINGER I AM UNTIL AFTER I MET YVONNA 6 YEARS AGO. I GUESS I'M A LATE BLOOMER KIND OF LIKE THE ROOKIE WHO COULD NEVER THROW A FAST MILE IN 90'S WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER.

Rikk: Now that you are on the Road up jAm, I was wondering where you could see yourself, or what you would want to have achieved in the next couple years?

jAm: I DEFINITELY NEED TO BREAK INTO RADIO AND HAVE A COUPLE OF HITS, BUT MY ULTIMATE DREAM IS WIN A GRAMMY FOR MY SONGWRITING OR A CMA FOR SONG OF THE YEAR.

Rikk: I have to admit, when I first heard you on Nashville Star last year, I wondered how you would fit in. I also have to tell you you made a believer out of me soon after. I know you and Buddy are friends, do you stay in contact or play with any of the other contestants from the show?

jAm: YES, BUDDY AND I REMAIN IN CONTACT AS DO MOST OF THE CONTESTANTS FROM THE FIRST SEASON WE WERE ALL VERY CLOSE--THAT WAS NOT A FACADE. PRENTISS AND I  TRAVELED FROM TEXAS TO NASHVILLE TOGETHER WHEN I WAS RECORDING THE ALBUM. MIRANDA AND I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT DURING FAN FAIR--SHE SANG THE HARMONY FOR IF I DIDN'T CARE. AMY, ANN, JAMEY, BRANDON, BRANDY, KRISTEN, TRAVIS, BUDDY, & PRENTISS HAVE ALL DONE DIFFERENT SHOWS TOGETHER OVER THE PAST YEAR.

Rikk: For those who will be reading this that are thinking about trying out for Nashville Star, can you give some of the examples of mistakes you may have made, or in general some advice on what may help, or what to expect from the experience.

jAm: I THINK I SHOULD HAVE OPENED UP SOONER THAN I DID WITH THE ARMADILLO SONG WHICH MADE MY WEBSITE LIGHT UP THE NIGHT OF THE FINALE AFTER THE VOTING CONCLUDED. AS FAR AS ADVICE, I SHARED THIS MANY TIMES - BE YOURSELF. COUNTRY MUSIC FANS CAN SEE THROUGH A PRETENDER.

Rikk: Now some fan Questions……

From SanDiegoViewer “What plans/teams (Street Teams etc.) do you have in place to request to radio stations or help promote your music? Any plans for a video on one of the single releases?

jAm: YOU CAN CONTACT BETTE AT www.johnarthurmartinez.net about the street teams and the radio stations to call on my behalf.  I DO PLAN TO RELEASE A VIDEO;  I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.

From Seth Turner (Las Vegas) who tried out for Nashville Star this year, and was on the short list…..

Was Nashville Star worth it? Has it helped him or been more of a hindrance?

jAm: IT DEFINITELY HAS BEEN A BOOST TO MY CAREER.  HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH FANS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE USA NETWORK, CANADA THROUGH CMT CANADA, AUSTRALIA THOUGHT THE COUNTRY MUSIC CHANNEL, BRAZIL THROUGH MTV BRAZIL AND MORE IS MIND-BOGGLING!

From 1CallieG “ I am curious on this one. After seeing him twice at CMA FEST...and he played La Bamba and he spoke of his father playing the drums. 1 . Can jAm play the drums as well as the guitar ?

jAm: YES, I PLAYED DRUMS IN CHURCH UNTIL MY SCHEDULE WOULDN'T ALLOW IT AND I'VE DRUMMED FOR VARIOUS R & B AND COUNTRY BANDS IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

1b. Are Your sister's musical inclined as he is, since music was in his home growing up ?”

jAm: MY SISTERS AND I WERE RAISED BY MY STEPFATHER AND MOM SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A DAY TO DAY INFLUENCE. NONE OF MY SIBLINGS FOLLOWED MY OR MY FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS. I GUESS THEY SAW WHAT A ROUGH LIFE THIS CAN BE. THEY ALL OWNED NICE CARS AND HOMES LONG BEFORE I DID!

From Centerpointgal “In an interview a while back he mentioned a possible movie appearance. Any news on that?

jAm: I HAVEN'T HEARD WHEN THE FILM WILL BEGIN SHOOTING, BUT AT MINIMUM I SHOULD HAVE A SONG IN THE SOUNDTRACK.

 Rikk: John Arthur, Great performance at the Riverfront during CMA Music Fest (Fan Fair), 2 years ago did you even think that it was a possibility to become a part of the world's biggest country music festival?

jAm: WHEN FOLKS ASK ME HOW I'M DOING I ALWAYS RESPOND, "MUCH BETTER THAN EXPECTED." THEN I PAUSE AND SAY, "AND I WAS EXPECTING BIG THINGS."  I NEVER GAVE UP BELIEVING.

Rikk: John Arthur, I know you are very busy so Thank you so much for your time, it is appreciated by mnyself, and my readers. I would like to give you the opportunity right now to thank any of the folks who were inspirations or helpful in getting you where you are today.

jAm: A BIG THANKS TO MY MOM FOR THE LOVE, TO BETTE ABEEL FOR STEERING THE FAN SHIP, TO CYNTHIA CHEBULTZ FOR THE STELLAR WEBSITE, AND TO THE FANS WHO SHOWED UP IN DROVES DURING FAN FAIR AND APPEARANCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Rikk:  Thanks again, what would you like to say to your fans that have stuck by you through the bad and good times?

jAm: MY BAD TIMES ARE NO WHERE NEAR THE BAD TIMES MANY FOLKS ACROSS THE WORLD HAVE TO ENDURE. AND, YVONNA AND I HAVE A PHILOSOPHY THAT WE WILL ALWAYS REACH OUT TO THE FANS--ONE FAN AT A TIME, UNTIL WE REACH THE GATES OF HEAVEN.

Well there you have it John Arthur Martinez on John Arthur Martinez.

To read Rikks review of jAm's Lone Starry Night Click Here!