and you thought you knew.. Tim Solomon
|
|
"Life, the people in it, and the giver of it, are my main influences and inspirations. There are many musical genius of course that have composed and performed music that will span from generation to generation, and break all time barriers ... however, some of the ones who have influenced me the most are the quiet genius's, that I have been privileged to know personally!"
|
| ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Do you want to hear some truly blessed and dynamite soul work? Have a listen to 'Great is thy faithfulness' from Tim Solomon's recent ep! From listening to that single track, I promise you'll be away from the planet for at least a month and you won't even have to pass through immigration to explain your absence on your way back!
Tim Solomon is not just a fine recording artist of the highest order, he's also a fine human being.. raised and encouraged to be sensitized and sympathetic to the important things, he also turned out to be one incredibly gifted performer and one that we had absolutely no hesitation in inviting over to 'our space' to answer the inevitable questions...
|
The Interview - November 11 2006 |
| Welcome to IOM Tim... can we begin with you telling us a bit about your background? |
Let me begin by saying I am a quiet and very peaceful person. I love people, music, and my enjoyment of good healthy foods. I have a strong sense of spirituality, and a great respect for all the many colors and shades of life ... What a wonderful journey!
Of my talents, I most often take part in singing, writing, and producing music... I also love theatre and formally studied the theatre arts at The Baltimore School For The Arts. I come from a very very very large family; fifteen aunts and uncles, over 78 cousins and great cousins on my mother side alone, and a wonderful immediate family of seven brothers and sisters. So as you might guess, there is not a shortage of physical expression of love in my family... I, myself, do not have any children as of yet, and outside of causal dating, I am still looking for that "special someone".
I am, however, a counselor for troubled children and work at a hospital where my little ones are inpatients. I have fifteen kids on my case load, and have come to love each one as if they were my own... I tell people I have fifteen kids ( just so I can see their reaction and believe me.. people have funny reactions!!). This too give me a great appreciation for my grandparent who raised fifteen kids... Wow God bless them! As a Man of strong faith, I believe in relationship over religion. I believe that God is bigger than the boxes we as men put God in, to accommodate our needs... I believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God, not only because of his example of sacrificial love... but because of his friendship... to me.
|
| What would you say have been your main musical influences? |
Life, the people in it, and the giver of it, are my main influences and inspirations. There are many musical genius of course that have composed and performed music that will span from generation to generation, and break all time barriers ... however, some of the ones who have influenced me the most are the quiet genius's, that I have been privileged to know personally!
People like my late grandmother, Mother Matildia Coleman; who taught me the importance of relationships, respect and and "showed me" examples of love thy neighbor, my spunky aunt Mrs. Betty Jean Coleman; who taught me the spirit of singing, my Glee Club music teacher, Ms Green; who gave me a solo in elementary school's Christmas play (my first taste of stardom), and my best friend, Charles Richardson; who (before his untimely death) taught me that music truly is the language of the universe. In short.. people and the music they live... the quiet known and unknown geniuses! |
| What could you tell us about “high points” in your musical career? |
Like every artist I have had some high points in my music career. The thing about high points (generally speaking) is that they are often few and far between and you have to work very hard to get to them; which ultimately is good, because when they do come, you can really appreciate, savor, and respect them. I have been blessed with many wonderful moments during my career so far.
Winning several competitions as best male vocalist, the first time I heard a recording of mine on the radio, singing at the John F. Kennedy Center, opening for such Gospel Legends as Shirley Caesar, John P. Kee, Hezekiah Walker, and Tramaine Hawkins ... being asked to sing at my best friends wedding, getting the part of the Tin Man in the elementary school production of The Wizard Of Oz ... just to name a few! |
| How about low points and how you managed to get over them? |
Low points are good as well... my greatest inner strengths, life lessons, and inspired works of creative art have been birthed from my lowest points... it is life's equalizer. My first career low was my first record deal... being young, I learned the hard way Be Very Careful What You Put You Signature On!
|
| If you could turn the clocks back, is there anything you would have done differently? |
Learned the power of listening, and examin the sources of my fears sooner ... Fear paralyzes everything!
|
| Who did you work with on your most recent projects? |
Several of the most incredibly talented musicians and singers, not yet know to the world, imaginable ... My producers Jonathan Curry and Eric Bailey ... I am presently recording my first major, full length project ... Love Letters .... The heavens have truly blessed me in allowing me to work with these two producer/God fearing friends ...
|
| If you could pick a favourite track from your recent work what would it be? |
Just As I am ... in recording this simple hymn, I tried to communicate the idea that, God will meet you right were you are ... without the judgment, or conditions, or the stipulation that others can and often impose ... why, because that's the way real love operates!
|
| What musical instruments/equipment do you normally use? |
The piano, and keyboards, I have a limited knowledge of studio equipment, although I spend fifty percent of my time in the studio. I have learned that you should let people do what they do ... and you focus on what you do ... and together, you'll get the best product.
|
| Do you have a favourite instrument either as a player or appreciator? |
I love the piano, guitar, flute, and the sound of the upright bass. I think that the French Horn is one of the must beautiful looking instruments.
|
| Can you remember your first stage and/or studio experience? |
My first stage experience, out side of singing lead on the children's choir, was the part of the Tin Man in the elementary school play, The Wizard Of Oz. It is one of the most fun and most memorable times still ...because it was pure, childlike, and innocent. As for my first studio experience, I recorded the Lord's Prayer, after I won my first major competition, as a part of the winnings, I was completely blown away by the wonders of recording ... and never wanted to leave!
|
| What five albums would you want to find if you were stranded on a desert island with enough food, water, a copy of IOM, a fantastic audio system, and any one musical instrument of your choice? |
1. Suite "Pelleas Et Melisande", Pavane, Fantaisie, Suite " Masques Et Bergamasques"
2. Rachelle Ferrell, Rachelle Ferrell
3. Shirley Horn, Here's To Life
4. Yolanda Adams, Day By Day
5. Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace
|
| Do you have a favourite album cover of all time? |
| The first album I ever brought, after saving my weekly allowance, as a kid. I purchased Tramaine Hawkin's Debut Album ... I looked at her picture almost as much as I listen to the album ... I wanted to marry her ... My first teenage idol "crush" |
| and what, may we ask, are the five albums you listened to most recently? |
1. Suite "Pelleas Et Melisande", Pavane, Fantaisie, Suite " Masques Et Bergamasques"
2. Yolanda Adams, Day By Day
3. Karen Clark, It's Not Over
4. Brian Culbertson, It's On Tonight
5. The London Philharmonic Orchestra And Choir, Hymns Triumphant |
| What five movies did you watch most recently? |
1. Pride And Prejudice
2. The Exorcism Of Emily Rose
3. Over The Hedge
4. The Chronicles O Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
5. Hustle And Flow |
| Which artist would you most like to meet or borrow a bag of sugar from as a next door neighbour? |
| Prince, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston |
| If you could have been responsible for writing the best song or piece of music ever written, what would it be? |
Amazing Grace |
| If you could have three wishes, what would they be? |
To be mutually in love, the wisdom of King Solomon, and my continual health.
|
| On to the more intimate side of Mr Solomon.. what did you dream about last night AND you can't say 'I do not remember'... |
In my day dream or night dream last night ... I wondered were and what my soul-mate might be doing ... and I asked God for their protection until such time when we should meet.
|
| And, if we were to “shadow” you on a typical day, what might we see you doing? |
Laughing ... out loud ... and sitting very quietly!
|
| What did you do, the day before yesterday? |
I am a counselor for children at a children's hospital for troubled children ... I work with them for about sixteen hours. The day after that I slept!!!! |
| If you had to move to another country for a year to record an album, but you only had a few suitcases and an hour to pack… what would you take? |
My ipod, cause it has a lot of my favorite music and my family and friends pictures, audio copies of my favorite books... I would take warm clothes, for as summer and winter are the major seasons I prefer winter, but I hate being cold, and my laptop computer. |
| What bugs you most? |
Arrogance, filthiness, disrespect, and ignorance |
| What makes your day really shine? |
Sharing hilarious anecdotes with my friends and family, randomly or unexpectedly hearing one of my favorite tunes, or any positive, spiritual connection that happens between people. |
| I hate to end it all like this Tim, but.. finally, what are your plans for 2007? |
I want to officially introduce myself, my music, and my ministry to the World .... with my New project "Love Letters".
|
| Tim Solomon .. thanks for dropping by... the delightful Sandra will see you to the car! |
| ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Tim Solomon was interviewed by Colin Lynch - November 11 2006
|
© 2006 R Cat Communications - All Rights Reserved
|
