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Myron Mayes
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Many recording artists strive for a long successful career. Some of them are lucky to conquer that feat. However, some are not so fortunate in reaching that achievement. Sometimes they are lucky enough to create such a big first song that they are unable to match that success with their sophomore effort, thus making them “one hit wonders.” More often however, music changes and if the artist does not change along with it, they are often left behind. But then you have to admire them for not compromising their art.Every now and then, an artist comes along, impacts our lives, and we expect them to stick around for a while. Then out of nowhere, they fade into obscurity, leaving only a lasting memory of what we were going through at the time. Then there are those artists who come along and never seem to go away, despite their talents or the lack thereof.
I don’t have to name them do I?
Do you have a favorite artist who recorded the song for your first dance, your first kiss or the first time you fell in love? Those artists and their songs became such an important part of your life story. But as time went by, they became a distant memory just as the part of your life they influenced. We often wonder what happened to person with whom you shared that special memory. But do you ever wonder what happened to the singer who provided the soundtrack for that memory? Are they still alive? Have they gone on a permanent vacation?
When I think of my favorite songs, one particular one always comes to mind. “You don’t have to be a star” by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. of the Fifth Dimension was actually the first song I ever liked as a child. And while it might be one of the simplest love songs ever recorded, it reminds me of how much fun it was to be a kid. When ever I hear this song today, my mind automatically goes back to when I was 4 years old.
Outside of a couple of appearances on the Jamie Foxx Show, you don’t hear much from those two these days. However, they did write a book together in 2004 titled “Up, Up and Away”, sharing their experiences in their marriage and relationship. They also continue to perform together.
It’s amazing to me how you can hear a song at age 4 and still be influenced by it at age 34. I consider myself lucky to have been a 4-year-old in 1977, instead of 2008. I would hate to think of what my favorite songs would be - now.
Ask Myron:
Q – “How can a recording artist have a hit song and end up broke?”
K. Washington, Memphis
A – A lot of it can be attributed to poor money management and bad personal habits. Unfortunately, many of them were never rich to begin with and some of them end up owing the record company, even after they are no longer recording. Often times, when a new artist signs a traditional record deal, they do not see the fruit of their labor until the record company recoups their cost. Those costs include the marketing of that artist, CD manufacturing costs as well as the cost of hiring producers and songwriters to provide material for that artist. This does not include any advance payment that the record company gives the artists when they sign their contract, which could be as high as a million dollars. These things tend to add up very quickly and at some point have to be repaid.
Contrary to popular belief, many new artists receive less than 50 cents per album sold. And even if they sell a million copies of their album, that’s only a half million dollars going to them, which is not enough to live the lifestyle a lot of them are accustomed to. To offset this, many of them make their money from touring and performing live. This money usually ends up in the artists pocket instead of those of the record company.
(Got an entertainment question? Ask Myron at myron@myronmays.com.)
(Myron Mays is a freelance columnist and host of “Myron at Midnite” on WRBO Soul Classics 103.5)
