I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
In 20 years I had sold more records for RCA than any artist except Elvis Presley.
If I'd just been interested in record sales, I would have taken one of the deals I was offered after 'Soapstar Superstar,' made a quick covers album and probably had some success for five minutes. I decided that wasn't for me.
I never sought out a record deal. It caught me with my pants down. I was just a musician doing my thing, I didn't even send my records out.
Well, you know, back then there wasn't many albums, it was the singles. You sold singles.
I got a publishing deal with BMG, they were supportive, and some money to record demos.
I grew up in an era where the record companies just sold records to everybody, and the whole family bought songs.
Once in a while there was some TV offer and I'd take it.
I always wanted to have my own album recorded and released before I graduated high school.
I had no idea what awaited me when I took a job with CBS Records, and it was a total surprise to find I had a gift and an ear for music.
I made a CD in my dorm room and put it on the Internet, and my friends blew it up. Within a few months, I was doing shows across the country without a record deal, without a single, without anything.