Lionel: Hi John. What’s going on?
John: Hey Lionel, It’s been a while since we last spoke.
LC: Yes I know, but the first thing I have to say is that the cat is out of the
bag, I heard it through the grapevine, of course, (smiles) that you got a new
guitar some time back or at least since I last saw you perform.
JW: I did.
LC: Come on tell us, what did you get?
JW: My wife, Vanessa, saw me checking into the new Hybrid guitar from Michael
Kelly Guitars. She bought it for me as a Christmas present. It’s something
special when your spouse buys you a piece of gear.
LC: Amen to that.
JW: The guitar is a thin line semi-hollow acoustic/electric that resembles a
telecaster in shape. It has a piezo pickup in the bridge and a humbucker right in
the middle, between the bridge and neck. The Michael Kelly web page has a link
that shows the guitar and you can listen to how it sounds too.
LC: How do you like it?
JW: I love it. The great thing is how quick and easy it is to change from
electric to acoustic with the 3 position switch. I have a MIM Deluxe Power Strat
that has a piezo in the bridge and you have to turn the second tone knob ( Which
is the piezo Volume ) to turn on the acoustic sound. You also have to turn the
regular volume down if you want just acoustic; hard to do during a song. With a
stereo “Y” cable you can hook up to your regular rig and then to an acoustic amp
or sound board and you will have two different instruments.
LC: I know what you mean. You know, I remember the first time I saw you perform was at the Bushnell Auditorium for, correct me if I am wrong, a church festival, right?
JW: Yes, the Bushnell, for the Hartford Celebrates Hartford Gospel Concert
Series, organized by Pastor Marcial Monts
LC: Do you care to talk about those experiences, because I believe you did it
several years in a row?
JW: It was an excellent experience to be involved and to play at the Bushnell. It
was a cool experience to just show up and not have to worry about your sound or
levels. You know when you are in rehearsals and there are a couple of songs that
are just not coming together and then the day of the show the song begins and all
the singers and musicians are on top of their game and it all comes together. The
song has life and the atmosphere becomes anointed. That is what really does it
for me. That’s what happened. I also played at the Meadows when Luis Palau was in
town. That was another great experience. Playing on the stage I saw Santana and
Van Halen on fulfilled the rock star dream I have.
LC: How did you get into playing Gospel music?
JW: It wasn’t until I was lead by the Spirit to start attending church. When I
started going to the Greater Bible Way Temple Of Praise, now the Bible Way Temple
Nation, my wife told Bishop T. Allen Stringer that I played guitar and went to
the Hartford Conservatory. He and the Minister of music, Elder Greg Green kept
prodding me to bring my guitar in. It took a whole year before I decided to start
playing Praise and Worship service. I have grown to love Gospel music because it
can and does incorporate all kinds of music. All the years I spent in the
basement playing all the different styles I liked; funk, pop, jazz, fusion, rock,
metal, and reggae. I have infused all those styles into my guitar parts for
various songs. For instance: A cat like Nile Rodgers from Chic with their song
“Le Freak”, a major influence on my funk chops.
LC: I know what you mean. Realizing that you weren’t always into Gospel music,
and I know you just touched on musical styles that influence you, but who would
you say were some of your musical influences, you know the players that really
did it for you.
JW: Sure, here we go with just a sample, because as soon as we finish this, I
will think of others. Edward Van Halen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Edge from U2, Peter
Buck from REM, Joe Satriani, a lot of the Hair metal bands of the mid 80’s, Jimmy
Page, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steeley Dan, David Sanborn, The Smiths,
Santana.
LC: So who are your musical influences now or maybe I should ask which artists
are you listening too right now?
JW: I really love Russ Freeman from the Rippingtons. They are my favorite group
right now. I have been listening to a lot of smooth jazz the last couple of
years, so, a lot of those guys. Henry Garza from Los Lonely Boys, Larry Carlton,
John Mayer, Frank Zappa’s son Deweezil, Lee Rittenour, George Benson.
LC: Okay and on the gospel side?
JW: Israel and the New Breed, Donald Lawrence, Fred Hammond. Just to name some
off the top of my head. Short story: I’m in Guitar Center a couple of weeks ago.
I’m looking over the instruments and then I hear these tasty licks coming from
around the corner. I walk to the area and notice an older gent playing a Tele
through this used 10 watt Peavey amp he wants to buy. He was rolling these fluid
lines and chicken pickin’ like nobody’s business. That’s him, It’s in the way he
plays. That is what influences me. That’s what does it for me. Cats like him.
John Whitcomb is the guitarist for the Bible Way Temple Nation located in
Hartford, Connecticut. USA.
Interviewed by Lionel Crawford
(c) 2007 LCM Productions. All Rights Reserved.
