Kanye West Is A Half-talented Ego-Maniac!
As a professional musician and singer-songwriter with some success and recognition in music publishing, I find Kanye West to be a vulgar ego-maniac who needs to just go away. Ever since his mother died, he has deconstructed his career. It is painfully obvious to this songwriter that Kanye has shot his wad with his sampled tracks and non-singing voice! Case in point: his totally unprofessional act on the MTV Video Awards of taking the microphone moment from a very humble and deserving Country
On the other hand, the passing of my Country music mentor and friend Porter Wagoner has shown a big light on his awesome body of work, and my underground project produced by him, demonstrates one of those sides of Wagoner that very few people could see! He was a magnificent wizzard in the studio, and his musical tastes were very eclectic and ever expanding into the music of the day. A classic example occurred during one of my recording sessions with the Wagonmaster, which reflects the idea that Porter Wagoner was way ahead of his time or hopelessly behind the times.
People like booking agents were always stopping by to check us out. Curiosity and rumors were all in the streets and among music agents that Porter and Dolly were breaking up, and that Porter had taken an unlikely interest in a Mississippi singer-songwriter who was not a female!
One day such an agent dropped by, and he was very cordial and complimentary as my song played in the background. It was a surreal moment for me, because I really did not think I deserved to be in my blessed position. I was way out of my depth, but I put on a good act. "Porter, you gotta be the luckiest dude in the world!" the agent declared with a hardy chuckle.
Porter looked up from the console and over his reading glasses and asked: "Did you ever think it might have something to do with talent?"
And talent it was, although I must confess that I was not a Porter Wagoner fan until I met him. I had missed his career-making run with his classic hit "Satisfied Mind!" It was actually after Porter passed away that I visited his site and listened to his early work. I was blown away!
Porter Wagoner was my friend, brother, and mentor, and I shall be forever grateful for the magical time we spent creating the "Real American Country" project!
Posted by Howard Lips at 9/14/2009 10:35 AM 
Categories: promotion, social comment
Tags: Pop Roots Blues Country Folk
Categories: promotion, social comment
Tags: Pop Roots Blues Country Folk
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