Hadley, John 2010-03-18

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This interview is about John Hadley. He is a song writer that discusses how he Came to be a song writer. He starts with his Influences, such as his parents. And then he talks About some big named people who helped him get Started. He also used to work for the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, which is where he currently Resides


General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: John Hadley

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: March 18, 2010

Location: Norman, Oklahoma

Interviewer: Andy Wilkinson

Length: 02:17:04


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1:

Writing, Co- wrote/ Randy Michaels, Making art no matter the medium, It’s all art, just different tools, Brilliant conversationalist, Gary – riff, Kevin Welch, Does a lot of collaboration, When you work together, Fill in each other’s blanks, Dave Ollie, 6 years ago, They started writing, Almost 120 songs have been written, 3-4 days in a row at a time, Sometimes collaborated with a third person, Mr. Bones, Post card from Mexico, They have two stories, mix them together, and that is the song, John Hartford, Late 80’s, Teaching, Liked the kids, But his life was becoming too predictable, Had a crazy childhood, Took a while for him to gain confidence to write, Nashville, his home, Everyone was as crazy as him, Pennsylvania, Lived there when dad came home from the military, Telegraphers key, They played musical hide and go seek, Mom, Played piano, Dad, Knew a lot of instruments, Taught children in one room schools, They would get together and play

Tape 1, Side 2:

Reading continued, A girl helped him get interested in reading, Good descriptions, Picturesque, Japanese writer- Sci-Fi mystery, He listens to a CD the way he reads a book, Van Morrison, Arrangements are amazing, Lake Marie, A song with such good descriptive words, Elvis Castillo, Smothers Brothers, Joe Good, Ed Rashae, Ran a reel of songs, Mason wanted to hear more songs, California, Party at Rashae’s house, Beverly Hills, Lived on top of Wilt Chamberlin, Oklahoma, 1971, Back to Oklahoma, Adam Bracer- lived in half of duplex, John’s family lived in the other half, Tracy Nelson- Blues singer, She is one of his oldest friends, Pebble Daniel and Marsha Ruth, Backup singers, Heart attack and Breast cancer killed them, Steve Miller Band, Boss Scaggs, Tastes, Swing music as a young child, High school- rock n roll, Bob Dylan, String Bean, Beetles, Temptations, Compressing the music, Changes, No voice enhancements, Altering the music was UN heard of, Dizzy Dean, Would play against the Negro league, Sachets six basic rules, Mike Henderson, Fast Chaplain, Blue grass band, Smothers Brothers, Sends Mason songs, Debra Allan, Sony, Jim Stafford, Hee Haw, Mason has been sending him copies of John’s songs, Flew to Reno, Started to talk about working together, Jim McCally- producer of Johnny Carson show, Ed McMann, Clark Terry- Trumpet played with Duke Ellington, Got a ticket to the Smothers show, Met Tom and Dick, Quit the University, Moved back to California, Before that, toured, Sunset, Lived in Tom’s apartments, Every week, he would fly John’s family out, 1988-89, The Smothers brothers’ new comedy hour, Pat Paulsen, John has video of their daily lives, “Don’t feel so bad Tom”, David Carol, Sent him video tapes of every single band that ever played, Tina Turner, still the best in his eyes, They were going to be released into the public, but were unable to, Sony, Went back to Sony and signed a contract, Wrote exclusively for them, Buddy, Writer’s rooms- where they go to write, The Firehouse, There is less and less of everything, Nashville, Still wants to write with certain people, They don’t write songs for the radio, They just write to write, He just wants to make the music heard, “Play your songs for anyone who will stand still long, Enough to listen to it”, They still “listen” to the music in Nashville, Austin, The performers place, Where people go to get famous, Nashville- the writer’s town, Atlanta, at one point in time was, Miami, Detroit, L.A, Monkey Ducky, Adam Green, You would have to go and perform in order to get people noticed

Tape 1, Side 2:

Songs, They used to have an identity, Radio music was getting criticized, People said all the music sounds the same, When in reality, all great music is different, Springsteen, Saw him in Oklahoma City, Loved that show, Originality, DEVO, The Bangles


Access Information

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Recording Format Notes:

Transcript: No transcript available



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