The first thing you’ll notice about Lee’s page is his confidence. The page jumps out at you as if he’s telling you, “Take it or leave it but I aint changing it!” That in itself is a fine-line and it brings up an interesting subject. Lee’s certainly not the first to do this. There are many artists (especially rap and hip-hop artists) who do the same thing. The issue is; many cannot back it up. Many can talk the talk and they have the look and the demeanor down cold, but when it comes to actually having musical talent, most fall short.
When I told my staff that I wanted Lee Daniels to be the July feature, everyone just looked at me. Some of them shook their heads. One of them even walked away. "Is this where Steve goes off the deep end?"
The same way that a songwriter knows to change to a Bm7 instead of an A, I knew to interview and feature Lee Daniels instead of the numerous artists we have listed and waiting. As the days go by that list just grows longer. At 6 months into this project we have over 200 artists that are "feature material" and thousands more that we want to interview…. yet we can only feature 1 per month / 12 per year.
It was natural. It was just something that I had to do but at the time, like everyone around me, I didn’t know why. Now I do. Call it instinct. Something deep inside me just knows something that I can’t speak. Over all of my years I’ve learned to trust it and to continue with it. At points I have to push it and remind myself to stay open to it. At times you’re alone, vulnerable and naked. Then, one day, you stand up, you grit your teeth and you tell the world that this is who you are! With that you regain your confidence and people begin to pay attention. Then, if you really do have talent, they begin to respect you and trust you. They still might not understand you but, trust me, they’ll respect the fact that you have the courage to be the person you truly are. This is what Lee Daniels does and this is what Lee, his stories and his music are doing, and will continue to do, for many thousands of people.
“Steve, you don’t even like country music!” All I could do was ask what that had to do with anything. I’m not writing about me. I’m writing about Lee! I’m writing about music and musicians! As usual Daryl was the only one who understood and all he did was smile.
Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and many other rockers and folk-musicians often cross over into country music. The fact is; there are some country musicians that I simply adore (Steve Earle, John Prine, Nancy Griffith) and now Lee Daniels makes the list. Maybe some of us are just a little pickier but, I’d say, he’s in pretty good company.
So OK. What do these people have that other country acts just don’t have? I could tell you the answer but I’d rather you figure out for yourself. If you trust me enough to believe that Lee Daniels does have something that most country artists are missing.. then we’ll continue. For now I can tell you that the record buying public is changing and evolving with the artists. – Not against the artists. There’s a big difference there. I can also tell you that the general fan (no matter what the genre) is sick of the same old shit.
Daryl went back and gave Lee’s MySpace page another listen. “Yeah, he rocks! But so do a lot of people. Why Lee?”
I’m reminded of a quote from Jimmy Iovine’s article. “Get your webpage popping!” Well, Lee had his webpage popping, but so what? He also had great promo pics, demos, press kits, etc. but so what? He also had a great story behind it all. There’s great determination and great strength. Still, in the end, none of it is going to make much of a difference in the music industry. It might get you noticed but it’s not going to get people to buy your songs or fill your seats. In most any other industry you can fake it. Whether you’re selling cars or houses, writing books or designing landscapes, you can lie through your teeth and wear your false-temporary-confidence and get the job done. The changing music industry is finally demanding true talent. If you don’t have it, you’re not going to make it. It’s as simple as that. My point is: whether he’s live, in the studio, writing a song, telling a story, or just being a husband and father, Lee Daniels delivers! It’s not just flash. He backs it all up with true musical talent.
In the late nineties Lee found himself dying on a hospital bed. He also found himself with the courage to ask some tough questions. What’s more, he somehow found himself with the strength to answer those questions.
Lee was diagnosed with cancer. The fight for his own life would prove to be too much for his first marriage and his professional career, as a police officer, would also come to an end. Through all of this tragedy and all of this fight, Lee managed to make a deal with himself. If he got through it, if he beat it… he was going to live the remainder of his life his way; being the person he truly was, (a professional musician). The same dawning (made by many great men and women) that life was too short.
In 2001 Lee officially beat the cancer, strapped his guitar on his back and headed to Nashville, TN.
He had more dues to pay in Nashville but somehow managed to grit his teeth and let that energy shine through his art. As Robert Zimmerman said in a recent interview, “I made a bargain with it. I’m simply living up to my end of the bargain.”
So here’s to dues, here’s to decisions, here’s to Lee’s fight and here’s to his victory! Here’s to his beautiful children and here’s to Michelle (Lee’s 2nd wife) who made her own decisions to stand, side by side, with the man she loved and to fight with him.
Lives are being touched and changed. Second chances are being given and inspiration is being taken. Here’s to the difference that one man can make. Here’s to Lee Daniels and his music.
You, Mr. Daniels, are everything that everyone wishes they could be. I only ask that you also let me stand in your corner.
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