It is rare to find a talent that can write, produce, and perform every note on their albums. And for this very reason, Tony Rich has developed a cult-like following of fans over the past decade, who respect and appreciate his masterful blending of soul, jazz, and funk.
Although many know Tony Rich for his Grammy-winning debut, Words (1995), his later works (Birdseye, Resurrected and Pictures) were greeted with less commercial fanfare. And while such a setback would derail the career of most artists, Rich stayed true to his craft — eventually finding a home at Hidden Beach Records, a refuge for artists with unique talents. On September 23, 2008, he released his fifth album, Exist.
Ultimately, for Rich, a musician's artistic integrity is something that should never be compromised. And through thick and thin, Tony Rich's rugged determinism and incessant persistence have blazed a trail that few other artists are willing to travel. In the end, time will tell if his contemporaries can match his longevity in the ever-changing musical landscape.
Upon review of Exist, Tony Rich managed to find time in his busy schedule to settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry, where together they reflected on Prince, religion and the current state of R&B.
As you began your career, what personal experiences shaped your musical style?
When I was young, I had the music gene in me. The person who sparked my interest to want to play instruments and want to write and produce songs was actually Prince. Me and my brother were like, "This guy can play more than one instrument." He sounds different than everybody else. He's creatively courageous - that inspired me. I didn't want to dress like him. I didn't want to look like him. I didn't want to sound like him. What I did want to be was that free to be able to just be – if it's a country song, I'm writing it. If it's a rock song, I'm writing it. If it's R&B, I'm writing it. Whatever I wanted to do as an artist, I just wanted to come out and do it.
I wanted to learn how to play instruments and I didn't have money to pay someone to teach me. That's why I decided to play around with instruments. I'm excited that Prince taught himself and he can go in the studio and get a record done alone. It's easy. That's exactly how he does it. I wanted to do that.
Then you had other artists that were inspiring like Madonna because she just did whatever she wanted to do. Bruce Springsteen is another artist. James Taylor. Stevie Wonder – he can't see but he can play instruments. Those are artists that I'm attracted to. One artist that always put me on point was Gerald Levert. When I first met Gerald, he said, "Tony, do you. Always be yourself. Don't ever let anybody put you in a box." Every time I ran into him, he always said those words. He let me know that I was unique in what I did. I appreciate that because he didn't have to tell me that, but he did.
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