Interview: Ruben Studdard - Singer and Songwriter - Page 4

When you look back on your early years in the church, how did that experience shape and develop you as a singer?

Church is where I learned to perform. I learned how to move crowds. That's where I learned to make a connection with people on the microphone. My first performing experience was in church. Everything about what I do has been directly affected by my life in my church.

Over the years, as you moved and transitioned from record to record, you have become one of a select few artists that has been able to record R&B and Gospel with a great deal of credibility. What have you learned about yourself as a singer, as you criss-crossed multiple genres?

I've learned that people will accept what you do that they recognize as real. You know what I mean? I've been fortunate that people have always been able to know and see the real me. That's what I think. I'm really, really blessed to have the opportunity to do what I would normally do if I was at home. Before American Idol, I was an R&B fan that worked at the church. So I'm not putting on any airs about who I am. I'll never be ashamed of being a follower of Jesus Christ and I think people are okay with that. 

I'm quite certain that your American Idol experience has placed certain pressures upon your career. Did you ever feel like you had to play a delicate balancing game–recording songs in a style that your American Idol fans expect, while experimenting as an artist with your own ideas and concepts? 

I think it's been more of a struggle not doing the things the fans want you to do, especially during the recording process. It can be difficult to do what the fans want you to do and please the record company at the same time.

Whenever I think of you, I am always reminded of some of R&B's greatest male artists, like Luther Vandross, Gerald Levert and Donny Hathaway. When you look at the musical landscape right now, there are hardly any male vocalists that do what you do or do it as well as you do. What kind of burden do you feel to continue their legacy? Because in a way, you're in a league of your own.

I think the burden shouldn't just be on my shoulders but on everybody that represents music. We have a lot to live up to. They worked really, really hard to make it so that we can just have it a little bit easier. Especially with this album, I just want to do my best, to make music that people that are fans of me proud. I think if I continue to do that then it will honor the legacy of those people that went before me. 

Article Author: Clayton Perry

Clayton Perry's mission parallels that of John Hope Franklin, Marcus Garvey and Carter G. Woodson. As the founder of the NUBIANO Project, Perry facilitates the design of projects that give voice to the Black diaspora, empower the Black community, …

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