Dori Caymmi tells MusicTaste where his influences come from, and what its like to produce, write songs, and perform.
Go to Dori Caymmi page
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Tim Weston’s Journey to Producing “Wouldn’t It Be Nice- A Jazz Portrait of Brian Wilson”
April 21st, 2009
Musician/Producer/Composer Tim Weston was born November 19th, 1952, in Los Angeles. He is the son of singer/recording artist, Jo Stafford, and composer/conductor, Paul Weston. Inclined to enter the entertainment business like his parents, Tim Weston still graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in Philosophy.
As a result of having been raised in the music business and within the entertainment community of LA, Weston’s career to date has been extremely diverse. His areas of professional expertise include record production, musical performance, audio engineering, arranging, and music publishing/administration.
As a studio and performing guitarist for the past 30 years, Weston has played on over fifty albums, in addition to TV, film, and radio jingles. His live performance credits include world tours with Diana Ross, Yvonne Elliman, and the Broadway production of Dreamgirls.
As an audio engineer, Weston apprenticed at the well-known Village Recorders (West Los Angeles), where he assisted Roger Nichols on the first two Steely Dan albums “Can’t Buy A Thrill” and “Countdown To Ecstasy”. Nowadays, he continues to work with closely with Nichols, as a guitarist/arranger for Steely Dan’s Walter Becker recording projects.
Tim Weston produced, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (1997 ) a tribute to the songs of Beach Boys legend, Brian Wilson. The album contained covers from The Yellowjackets playing “God Only Knows”, Marilyn Scott singing “In My Room” and Jeffrey Osborne singing “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”. Other top musicians featured on the album include Larry Carlton, the Clark Burroughs Group, Don Grusin, as well as Tim Weston alongside vocalist Shelby Flint. The album exceeded expectations and even landed Steve Khan a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for “Don’t Worry Baby.”
Check CDs that he has produced:
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – A Jazz Portrait Of Brian Wilson
Something Wonderful; Rodgers and Hammerstein Tribute
Sketches of James – Selection From The James Taylor Songbook
MusicTaste got a chance to sit down and speak to Joseph Williams before his new album, “This Fall”, hit stores in Japan. We asked him questions about his new release, his family/background, Toto, and his career. We’re excited to share the interview with you once every week for the next month. Enjoy, and don’t forget to leave your thoughts, opinions, and feedback as a comment below!
BUY This Fall
MusicTaste: How has being part of Toto shaped your career?
Joseph Williams: I grew up in the valley; I hung out with the band members long before the band existed. My father worked with David Paich’s and Jeff Porcaro’s father, so we knew each other as children.
MT: How was Toto formed?
JW: My friend’s parents had access to studio so they started doing some demos. David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and David Hungate started working as rhythm sections for bands like Boz Scaggs in addition to playing bass, drums and keyboard.
Paich had lots of songs (won Emmy for writing songs for TV series), which they started playing. Then they started recording some of the songs in the music studio to compile demos. They were all still in high school aged 16/17 when they found Steve Lukather to play guitar.
They recorded in studios where big famous artists had been. In those days they had access to store music on 24 track tape [2 inch] tapes, which was very big deal in since most tapes held 8 tracks.
MT: How was name Toto selected?
JW: While recording, there were many stashed boxes of songs stored in the studio. To keep them organized the studio engineer told them to mark their tapes. That is when Jeff Porcaro absentmindedly wrote Toto on the boxes of tapes to I.D. the reels. The name stuck. The other reasons you might hear like The Wizard of Oz are just not true.
MT: How did you get into Toto?
JW: A few years before my solo album – I just came back to Los Angeles from working in Las Vegas from impersonating people’s voices when Jeff Porcaro referred me to band. Since I can impersonate voices, I was able to sing like Bobby Kimball. At the time my friends in the band didn’t thought of me as a lead singer.
I began going to the studio to have informal rehearsals and help finish some songs. I liked how Toto had sophisticated knowledge of instruments and sounded a lot like “Yes”. The singing and keyboard arrangement was amazing.
MT: Of all Toto band members, who had most influence?
JW: Most influential was Jeff Porcaro for his great groove, teaching style, and lyric writing. Second to that, was David Paich for his genius song writing.
MT: What was first Toto album you recorded?
JW: It was Singer for Fahrenheit – the sixth Toto album was big in Europe and huge in Japan. The 6th album performed as well as 5th album even though Toto’s 4th album was the best selling record.
MT: Did you like being a band or solo?
JW: I like being part of a band much better than being solo.
MT: What did you find most difficult about touring?
JW: Summer/spring tours are great weather for a singer. When we tour in the summer/spring, it’s no problem. When you go on a winter tour from 2 degrees outside to a 70 degree hotel room and continue going from climate to climate it’s really hard for a singer. A guitar player can change his strings, but a singer can’t change his throat.
MT: Have you guys ever thought about doing a reunion tour?
JW: We were supposed to do a 30th reunion with all singers in 2007, but it never happened. However, every year Toto does 3 or 4 concerts – one in Northern Cal, Canyon Club, and in OC/San Diego. I actually performed 3 shows with them in March 2007. I sang Pamela, Can’t Stop Loving You and a few other songs. That was my version of the reunion.
MT: When/where was the last time you performed with the band?
JW: Last time performing with band was in Japan. It was about the time when I was recording and promoting my new solo album “This Fall”. The Timing was perfect for my solo project as well as Toto.
MT: Was band ever ending before?
JW: They thought about ending it after they fired Bobby Kimball.
MT: Why did you leave?
JW: I left in late 1988 because I began losing my voice. After I left, there were no lead singers. John Michell Byron sang for the band for 2 months, but he was wrong for Toto. After that, there were no more singers; it was just the band, Mike, and four guys with 3 background singers.
MT: Tell us about Toto 20th Anniversary(Toto ??)
JW: David called me and said they needed me to help finish 3 of my songs. The four other songs were from Bobby Kimballs’ time. Other than Bobby, I was the only other singer in the band that was there for more than 2 albums (I did 3). In the summer of 1998 to promote Toto XX in Europe, our drummer Jeff had died and Simon came in to play the drums.
Bobby and I become very good friends some time before Toto’s twentieth anniversary and after the band rehired Bobby post my departure. We did sessions in California together. Part of the idea behind tour was to produce fresh, new materials with a lead singer. The record company thought it was important to have a lead singer for the materials so, Bobby became the singer again until Toto split up.
MT: Who were the other lead singers? How did each lead singer made Toto music different?
Bobby Kimball (1977 – 1984, Toto, Hydra, Toto IV)
Fergie Frederiksen (1984 – 1985, Isolation)
Joseph Williams (1985 – 1988, Farenheit)
MT: Which music genre does Toto’s music fit in?
JW: I think we have some Rock (Led Zepellin), some soulful/gospel (South influence from Bobby Kimball), and a certain pop orientation [in the 80s ] with a hint of jazz.
MT: How was recording of “Falling In Between Live” (18th release)?
JW: It was fun. Lukather mentioned they might have some background vocals for me. I came to the studio and ended up recording the whole chorus.
Coming up blog post for next week: MusicTaste Interview Series No.4: Joseph Williams, His Career
Check like our artist you might like:
BUY NEW RELEASE: THIS FALL
Did you know Joey Carbone found 90% of Japanese music has B section(pre-chorus)? In this video, Joey Carbone talks about the most important thing in Japanese music and his fans.
Check CDs that Joey Carbone has produced:
West Coast All Stars: Naturally, California Dreamin’
Joseph Williams: Smiles, Tears, Two of Us, This Fall
New York’s Birdland Jazz Club founded BossaBrazil Festival in 2007 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bossa Nova music.
The first year, it featured pianist Cesar Camargo Mariano and guitarist Romero Lubambo with special guests, included outstanding improviser Leny Andrade. It was a prolific and memorable first year for the commemoration as Grammy award winning saxophonist/ clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera and Grammy nominated vocalist and guitarist, Joyce Caymmi and Dori Caymmi took the stage to perform.
This year, BossaBrazil presents excellent interpreter, Emilio Santiago, a romantic singer based on samba, soul, and mellow jazz. Santiago will accompany April’s featured guest, Dori Caymmi, one of the foremost composer/singers from Brazil and son of the legendary Dorival Caymmi. His brilliant guitar playing skills and unique baritone voice is bound to import a Brazilian atmosphere to spark the night. Produced by Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta, the festival features bassist and music director Sergio Brandau and pianist Cidinho Texeiro.
If you live in New York you should Win tickets to the show!!
Go to Dori Caymmi page
Dori Caymmi tells MusicTaste where his influences come from, and what its like to produce, write songs, and perform.
Go to Dori Caymmi page
Brazilian legend, Dorival Caymmi is one of the most important singer/songwriter in Brazilian music because he built the foundation of a new genre of music, BossaNova. Dorival Caymmi has influenced many artists such as João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Beth Carvalho.
Mr. Caymmi was born in Salvador, the capital of Bahia province on April 30, 1914. Before he moved in to Rio de Janeiro in 1937, he was a journalist for the Bahia’s newspaper, O Imparcial. When he won a contest for his song writing he began to concentrate on his craft and his job gradually shifted to music business.
Mr. Caymmi’s inspiration was in propulsive Afro-Brazilian rhythms, gentle sambas and other indigenous folk sounds of his birthplace, the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. With his rich, intimate voice, Mr. Caymmi recorded nearly 20 of his own albums and wrote about 100 songs including “A Lenda do Abaeté”, “Promessa de Pescador”, “É Doce Morrer no Mar” and “Marina”.
His first and great success was producing his song “O que E que a Baiana Tem?” for Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda. The song immediately became popular in Brazil. After that, his fame grew. He performed consistently on “Radio Nacional” where he met the singer and his future wife, Stella Maris. They have been married since 1940 and the couple’s three children Dori, Danilo and Nana, who followed in their parents’ footsteps and became popular musicians.
Go check his son, Dori Caymmi page
Check Dori’s latest release:
MusicTaste got a chance to sit down and speak to Joseph Williams before his new album, “This Fall”, hit stores in Japan. We asked him questions about his new release, his family/background, Toto, and his career. We’re excited to share the interview with you once every week for the next month. Enjoy, and don’t forget to leave your thoughts, opinions, and feedback as a comment below!
MusicTaste: Tell us a little about your background growing up. (Being part of a family with famous father) How was growing up in film and entertainment family influenced your path as an artist?
Joseph Williams: I am 3rd generation entertainment business. I was raised with both sides of my family in the entertainment industry starting with my grandparents. My grandparents from both sides were in music, radio, and movie business. My mother’s parents were American radio personalities in the 30s and 40s. My father’s father was drummer worked for CBS orchestra and NBC and my father’s mother was a dancer.
My mother was instrumental to my father’s career in becoming famous with her connections in Hollywood. Because of her relationship with all the movie directors, movie producers, and studio heads in Hollywood, she put on elaborate parties at our house and invited all these people to the house, which my father was able to meet that helped elevated his career.
My father was a shy person but a brilliant jazz pianist and Hollywood film orchestra before he became famous film composer. He has composed film scores for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, and Harry Potter.
My mother stopped working when she had kids. I am the youngest of three. My sister is the best musician and smartest. She worked in music until her 20s and later decided to become a psychologist. She looked at music business and saw how amazingly difficult it is. Among the three of us kids, my sister was the best musician. She played 4 instruments. My brother, Mark, is a solo and session drummer who has played drums for Air Supply.
Ironically enough, I hated music lessons as a kid. Still I lived in a house where music was going on all the time like the piano, cello, and violin amongst much singing. Growing up as a small child in my household was not any different than growing up in any household. Music was just what we did. My earliest memories of performing for people when I was 6 or 7 years old at our house parties.
MT: What would you have been if you decide not to pursue career in entertainment industry?
JW: I can’t imagine anything else because there was never a moment in my life I thought of being anything other than a musician. Maybe when I was four I thought about being a fireman.
MT: Besides family, who were musicians that have influenced you and why?
JW: [Musicians]: Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Jim Croce,
[Bands]: Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, Led Zeppelin, Beatles
My main influence would be have to be the Beatles. When I was little kid, I would watch Beatles on the Ed Sullivan following their career and buying all their records. From that moment I knew that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a Beatle.
In my teenage years I listened to a lot of different things. I listened to Led Zeppelin and listen to Yes. I love the group Yes. Yes was huge in the 1970s. They were like the Toto of their time because their musicianship was technically proficient. Their music had very tight arrangements. Most people who wanted to listen to simple songs with nice lyrics hated Yes because a lot of what Yes played was instrumental. It is like listening to an orchestral version of a rock band.
I had a lot of influences over the years as I was growing up, from Led Zeppelin to Joanie Mitchell.
MT: What are your favorite songs?
JW: I can’t answer what is your favorite song. It is like having a bowl of noodle and asking “what’s your favorite noodle?”.
I have favorite Beatle songs. My favorite album is Abby Road. I mostly love the Paul McCartney songs such as “Yesterday”, “Maxwell Silver Hammer”, and “Hey Jude”. There were also some John songs that were my favorite like “In My Life” and “Imagine”.
Coming up blog post for next week: MusicTaste Interview Series No.3: Joseph Williams Talks About Toto
Check like our artist you might like:
BUY NEW RELEASE: THIS FALL
Joey Carbone talks about his origin, his first part time job at 16, and interest with Music.
Carbone shares his interest in producing, recording, and touring. He even gives us a glimpse about his trip to Japan and why he likes it so much.
Check CDs that Joey Carbone has produced:
West Coast All Stars: Naturally, California Dreamin’
Joseph Williams: Smiles, Tears, Two of Us, This Fall
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Dori Caymmi, His Background and Family Influence: MusicTaste Video Interview Series No1
April 9th, 2009
Dori Caymmi tells MusicTaste where his influences come from, and what its like to produce, write songs, and perform.
Go to Dori Caymmi page
