Each week we'll take you 'Behind the Beats' to learn more about the artists that play on our airwaves. This week: Tommy Davidson.
We sat down with the Tommy Davidson as part of our year-end BEATS magazine. Check out the magazine article below or keep scrolling for the extended version of our interview in text format.
Read the rest of the BEATS magazine here.
Tommy, thanks for taking the time to share with our Smooth Jazz family! Your debut smooth jazz single “Sweet Reunion” is already getting a lot of buzz! How does it feel to be starting this new adventure as a singer?
Well it’s actually an old adventure revisited. I’ve always loved music. I even loved it over comedy. The time came to do my own thing.
You’ve released a cover of “Sweet Reunion.” Why did you pick this song and why did you choose this as your first single?
It's a beautifully written song by one of my favorite artists, Kenny Loggins. I made a vow to do justice to that song one day by remaking it my style because it gave me years of pure listening pleasure. Plus, coming out of the couple years that just passed with all the negativity it is time for a positive song on the airwaves...something to make everyone feel good about themselves and the world around them...it's the right song at the right time, mankind's SWEET REUNION that's been long overdue.
Your career started out in stand-up comedy and I recall that you opened for some of our format’s core artists like Kenny G! With the release of your first ‘smooth jazz’ single, it seems to have come full circle here.
Yea, I think it was about the time I started listening to smooth jazz really close to satisfy my musical taste because it was complicated, but simple at the same time.
… and how was it working with Dave Koz?
Working with him was a dream come true because I've admired him as an artist for years. So, it was a surreal experience. Upon meeting him, I knew all of his stuff so pairing up with him was very natural.
Actor, Writer, Producer… and now singer! Tell us about your experience as a singer and how music has been part of your life.
Well, it’s the only thing I did as a kid repetitively, was to listen to music over and over. All kinds of music. By the time I was a teenager I became well-versed in all kinds of music, so imagine now. Back when I was a kid there was a thing called albums. I listened to each song. My brother had crates and crates full of albums so put it in today’s terms: There was a hell of a lot of music downloaded into my hard drive.
The single is making waves on the charts. Is there an album on the way?
Absolutely. I plan on releasing a couple of singles and then putting the album out in one whole piece.
You worked with two of my very close friends on this single… Dave Koz and also Greg Manning. Tell us about working with Greg.
Greg was the perfect genius to work with. He’s a very focused and versatile producer. And he also has a lot of patience to make sure he gets the best performance out of you. Once again it was like a perfect match. Me with raw talent and him with his producing skills, we were really able to spin gold out of straw.
What’s on tap on the acting front?
Well, I formed my own company, “One Song,” and I made a decision with the company that I was going to do everything that I wanted to do through my own company. Even my song is on my own label on the One Song label. So, movies, television are all going to be coming from me. Screenplays that I've written or screenplays that I like.
I see something in development where you might be portraying Sammy Davis Jr! How is that coming?
Haha that's a lifelong project and if I'm lucky enough to get it I'm lucky enough to get it.
Thanks again and I hope we can visit again when your next single hits the charts!
Thank you! I'm looking for a long prolific career in music. If I can be in this business as long as I have listened to it, that’ll be enough for me. 35 years of listening and 35 years of making music.
Get the latest info on his website, here.