Part I Of My Interview With Brad Kyle

Be sure to check out his SubStack at https://bradkyle.substack.com/

Mr. Brad Kyle has a fascinating and storied career as a DJ, author, sportswriter and film actor. He is one of the people who was “there” with some of the most famous acts in rock, pop, punk, New Wave and other musical styles.  His “behind the scenes” backstories of those who were part of that history provide a unique perspective on a dynamic and revolutionary period in music.

Mr. Kyle chronicles the zeitgeist of the 70s and 80s music scene as well as his relationship with the Houston Astros on his brilliant SubStack “Front Row & Backstage” Catch all of his commentary at Brad Kyle on Substack

My profound thanks to Mr. Kyle, who was quite gracious in agreeing to do this email interview for a Michael Acoustic post.

I provided Mr. Kyle with four interview questions, today’s post is his response to the first question. His answer is fabulous, and packed with insights into the music industry. Because it’s a bit longer than the others, the other 3 questions/answers will appear in tomorrow’s post.

(One note: Mr. Kyle uses the industry term “A&R” below, and though well known in industry jargon, it’s not something we’ve discussed on Michael Acoustic yet. “A&R” means “Artists and Repertoire”:

“Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and songwriters. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label or publishing company; every activity involving artists to the point of album release is generally considered under the purview, and responsibility, of A&R.” Credit: Wikipedia)

Q. (Michael Acoustic): In your career, you’ve known many performing and recording artists, songwriters, producers and others in the music industry. Was there any characteristic (or maybe a set of characteristics) typical of a budding performer or singer/songwriter that you or others quickly recognized as being “it” - that hard to describe indicator of future success (or the opposite - maybe not failure, but at least not-so-much success)? Did any of them surprise you later, one way or the other?

A. (Brad Kyle) Musical talent is like a personality. We all have it, but it manifests itself in varying degrees of fabulousness! For every charismatic and musically gifted Gaga, Sinatra or Michael Jackson, there's a Shaggs, Tiny Tim, or simply a lone singer/guitarist playing Austin's 6th Street for decades (who may be profoundly talented, but there he/she languishes).

In real life, for every extrovert mayor, driven professor, or congenial, joke-telling contractor (all for whom a life in show biz would never come to mind, regardless of their charisma and likeability), there are mousy tech geeks, dutiful scientists, and low-energy folks who are content going day-to-day, doing their thing, quite happily out of anything resembling a spotlight.

So, that indefinable, elusive "it" you reference is nothing but talent being recognized (by YOURSELF, first of all), combined with the self-confidence to "put it out there," and the drive and ambition to tread the inevitable currents of "no"s that await all who audition, knock on doors, or retain an agent.

Two really recent (and glaringly impressive) examples are Gary Myrick and Stephen Michael Schwartz, about whom I've written revealing articles (with exceedingly generous insight and quotes from them both!). 

Gary (singer/songwriter/guitarist) had his chance at pop stardom in the early '80s with 3 albums on Epic/CBS. He was about 30 at the time, and when Gary Myrick and the Figures didn't blow up into a Knack-like new wave phenomenon, Gary had to...uh, re-configure his career!

He spent the following 4 decades working himself into a "hired gun" A-list session player as a guitarist on tours and albums by the likes of Jackson Browne, John Waite (Gary can be heard on John's 1984 #1 smash, "Missing You" and on the album), and many more notable artists! 

No one can blame you for grabbing for the brass ring pop stardom thing if CBS offers a worldwide distribution contract. But, when faced with a "what now?" brick wall (when that fails to materialize into something sustainable), how do you navigate it? 

"It" with a capital "I"? Color Gary Myrick, ultimately, very successful.

Stephen Michael Schwartz (like Gary, a triple-threat singer/songwriter/guitarist) had an even more abrupt end to his original pop dreams. Signed by RCA Records at 20 in 1974, his debut album did nothing, and in a surprising end to his RCA recording contract (to be revealed soon in a subsequent article) he, too, had to fashion a re-direct to his career.

A chance meeting with someone in children's education (Stephen had taken theatre and early childhood ed in school) led to the formation of Parachute Express, which became a beloved performing (worldwide) and recording trio for 3 decades! Stephen, as a children's singer/guitarist/performer, has become a solo star in his own right for several years.

He did a solo tour of China in 2019, and was selling out 4- and 5,000-seat arenas of adoring kiddos and their parents! As he says, "Yeah, I only have 'em til they're about 5 or 6, and then I hand them off to Beyonce!"

So, "It" combines talent, perseverance, timing, and providence and/or luck (and a competent record company A&R and PR dept)!

As I've told both Stephen and Gary...the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame should have an MVP room for plaques and photos of the artists like them....who might've been Bon Jovi or Journey had the hands of fate moved an inch in one direction or the other. 

But, short of that level of intergalactic fame, and faced with the rest of your life still yearning to express what you know is your unique gift and talent, how you fashion your second verse will ultimately dictate whether your life chorus will be triumphant or elegiac.

(Michael Acoustic) Again, my thanks to Brad for his insight and gracious response - Part II tomorrow!!

Cheers, and keep playing!!

Michael Acoustic