Interview with Ronee Martin


Q: Please tell me something about your musical background. When did you start singing and who or what inspired you to pursue a professional career? And which artists inspire you today?

Ronee Martin: I started singing in church at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Columbia, Virginia (USA). (However, prior to that, I received my formal vocal training rehearsing from the radio in my grandmother's bedroom.) I actually grew up on country "western" music, which is what it was referred to when I was a child. However, when we were able to get soul music on the radio in the area where I lived as a child, I was instantly inspired by Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick and I continue to be inspired by that music and those artists even today. There are some current singers that I think are great, but that initial inspiration is what keeps me going today. And the person that gave me my first push towards it all was a guy named George Parker. I met George when he was performing with "Act I", a local group from Washington, D.C., with a classmate and friend, Agnes Johnson that was visiting from Virginia. George invited Agnes and I to the park with some of his friends and one of the other members of "Act I", Chet Fortune had his acoustic guitar with him. Chet started to play and we all started singing some of our favorite songs and George immediately wanted me to join a female group he was producing at the time. And that's pretty much how it all started. I joined "Ethereal Life" with Scarlet and Elaine and I learned so much during that period and enjoyed it so much that I knew I would always be involved in music somehow.

Q: In 1987 your Sensation album was released as promo only and the same thing happened some ten years later with Soul Of Heart on MoJazz. Please tell me why your music was never fully released and how did you feel at that time about it?

Ronee Martin: Well I certainly am a believer that all things happen for a reason, some of which I don't know the reason (smile). In both of these incidents, I'm not sure of what happened, but I do know that I enjoyed the process and the experience. There is such a demand for commercial music and then there is also the political arena that none of us can control except those that are at the top, so perhaps those could be some of the reasons - politics and perhaps it just wasn't my time and also it may not be how I'm suppose to fulfill my dreams.

Q: What have you done in the meantime after Motown/MoJazz were reluctant to release Soul Of The Heart?

Ronee Martin: Haha! I've been working diligently in a 9-5 routine and playing the lottery!

Q: Your new album Come On Through My Door was released by BLTN Records. Is this your own label? Does BLTN stand for Better Late Than Never?

Ronee Martin: Yes BLTN is my own label and it DOES stand for "Better Late Than Never". The reason I decided to do it this way is because there is no demand at record labels for older artists and I also wanted to sing and be creative again. You don't completely stop until you're done or you find other ways to keep trying and trying and trying!

Q: You're listed as executive producer of the album, usually that's the one who raise the money to realize the project. Did you have to mortgage your house or other personal things? And how important is it for you that this album sells well? Do you have something to fall back on like a day-time job etc?

Ronee Martin: Haha! I'm in the soup line for sure. But so far, it's some mighty fine soup!
Actually, I had some free labor (pay to be determined...hahaha), some cheap labor of love, donations and loans. I am amazed at how many people came to the table to help me on this project. Even if the big money never rolls in, I plan to stay connected at the hip to my 9-5 and pay back all the favors monetarily and support-wise.
I would like this album to sell but it is not life or mood threatening (smile) and as I mentioned earlier, I do have a 9-5. But eventually I would like to break away from this if the album is successful or not. Maybe sing around town in the some hotels or coffee houses. Feel the freeness of just being who I am. It's a bit draining during the day when you're not really doing what you want to do.
And, eventually, whether it works or not, I would love to have a home that would house a few senior citizens and maybe one for a limited amount of kids. We'll see.

Q: How does it feel that you finally have an album in your hands that is really available to music lovers?

Ronee Martin: I'm very excited that I took on the task of completing this CD. I'm excited that people are actually purchasing this CD. And also, I have received congratulatory emails beyond my imagination. I've also received emails from people, such as yourself, that knew of me and had a few questions of my career status - this is mind blowing for me, but it sure feels good. So now, I have to continue to go forward just because of the people that are rooting me on. It has confirmed for me that you CAN do anything you want to do if you just put your mind to it. It doesn't mean that what you take on will be successful in the sense of lots of sales or popular radio spins in the case of music, but you can be a success to yourself. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Q: How would you describe the music on your album to someone who hasn't heard of you before?

Ronee Martin: Ah! The dreaded question! It's very mellow...music from the heart! That is how I would describe it. There are topics that most "grown folks" can relate to because at some point we've all lived something on the CD.

Q: On one of my favourite songs (Get Real) you've been working with Valerie Pinkston and Marquis Dair. Please tell me how you've teamed up with them and how this particular song came to live.

Ronee Martin: You know, funny thing, I cannot remember when I met Valerie and because she's such a good person and a good friend, I can't remember a time when I haven't known her. I've always known of her, because she was a talent that was everywhere. If you read the credits on one CD, then you've read them all with her name somewhere! I'll have to ask her "how DID we meet?"!! Nonetheless, we decided from out of nowhere that we should write together and so we did. She gave me the track, I wrote to it and that track was named "Get Real". A bit of a personal experience! Actually, Val and I have co-written about three other songs that I'm sure I should have put on this CD. Oh well, the next CD will be loaded with Valerie and Ronee songs!
I met Hami at a Will Wheaton show when he was playing guitar for Will at Stevie's in Encino, California . He was just the most awesome guitarist and I just fell in love with his personality. From that moment, I knew I had to work with Hami whenever I decided to do a project. And I'm extremely honored to have him on this project...an extreme talent!

Q: What was your motivation to re-do the Temptations' My Girl/My Guy?

Ronee Martin: Funny thing, a lot of professional folks are not, let's just say "in awe" of this version, but yet, many friends love it...who knows? (So I chuckle...) However, in answer to your question, the day that I received the news that my father had passed, "My Guy" was playing on the radio. It was a cold and rainy day yet for some reason, that song stays on my mind as a reminder of the day that my father died. It kind of makes me think of sunshine instead of the cold on that day. So I did it as kind of a tribute to the memory of my dad!

Q: What can we expect from Ronee Martin in the future? Do we have to wait another eight years to hear from you again? (hopefully not! :-) )

Ronee Martin: Dirk, first thank you for that kind remark! It gets a little stressful at times, when you feel like you want your music to be in the mainstream without compromise; however, in staying true to myself and to what I feel is my kind of music, I think I'm in now for a while even though you just never know. I expect to grow musically and professionally but without compromise, so please expect that I'll hang around for as long as I'm of sound mind...(some of my good friends would challenge me on the "for as long as I'm of sound mind" part...smile!). I plan to do another CD, with a few more upbeat songs, but my signature is ballads. I'm just a sucker for a sad song!

For more infos visit roneemartin.com, cdbaby.com and read my review of Come On Through My Door.