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 One evening as I was
browsing through profile after profile of folks I knew on myspace.com (see MySpace article), I
ran across a very familiar face. After opening up the profile and reading
a little information about the user, I realized that it was my grand big
bro, Shay Watson.
Not only does he have a regular profile, but also he
has his very own music page in the MySpace music section of the site. To
me, this was huge. The fact that I knew someone who was working in the
music industry and was actually succeeding was just large to me.
So I did the next best thing, I e-mailed and requested
that he be added as a friend
to my page. Shay himself responded to my e-mail and added me to his page.
We stayed in touch and got caught up.
After graduating from Troy
and teaching for a few years, Shay headed to Tennessee to make it big.
“I’ve been in Nashville
going on eight years now,” said Shay. “I was in Music City
only a few months when I met with Embassy Music, a publishing
company/indie label. After promoting a few of my songs to them and a
couple of meetings, the president of the company, Darwin Moody (The
London Philharmonic, The Cathedrals, Bruce Carroll), decided to take me
under his wing and mentor me as a songwriter.”
 Shay says Embassy was having
some success at the time with Carroll, a Grammy-winning artist who hit
number two on the Christian radio charts. Shay was offered a staff
position as songwriter and was eventually promoted to executive assistant
of publishing. But that wasn’t the only thing he had going for him.
“During this time I married Claire Field, who I met
while at Troy. Claire
also became involved in the music industry and worked at Sony Records and
A&R for a few years.”
After working at Embassy for two and half years, Shay
left the company and recorded a solo album. He says the album received mediocre
reviews and little air play, but it opened the door to forming the band Ten Mile Drive
with artists Jacob Wiley and Cole Bruce.
“We began touring and recording an album shortly after
the formation,” Shay said. “Over the course of the next couple years we
recorded, wrote with, opened for and/or performed with numerous artists
including Sony recording artist Gretchen Wilson, Curb recording artist
Deborah Allen, Sparrow recording artists The Elms and the legendary T.
Graham Brown.”
The offers came pouring in and Ten Mile Drive signed with
Vivaton Records, but if you’ve ever seen VH1’s Behind the Music, you know it’s not all roses in the music
business.
“We went into the studio to record a new album with
Vivaton’s president, producer Jeff Huskins (formerly of the band Little
Texas), but internal creative differences and legal issues began pulling
the band apart and a new album under the label was never released.”
There was a little pot of something at the end of the
rainbow though. Two songs Shay co-wrote with Phil Baquie were included on
Baquie’s album and reached number five and number seven in Europe and made the top 10 for the year. Shay
followed this success by searching for new musical avenues to explore.
“After the painful breakup of Ten Mile Drive, I immersed
myself in a number of different musical genres and cultures,” said Shay.
“I began producing and writing on several projects including a
Latin/funk/rap project for percussionist Chamo (Salvador, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias). I
also wanted to expand my understanding of funk and jazz so I began
seeking additional musical mentoring with world renowned funk guitarist
Regi Wooten (brother of Victor Wooten) and further vocal coaching from
James R. Wigginton. After spending about a year stirring all my
influences into the proverbial pot and letting them take a little time to
simmer, I began writing and recording a new solo album. I also
re-established a relationship with my artist management company, Ten
Entertainment.”
And Shay is using his talents to help others.
“I signed an agreement with a Christian-based relief
organization, Mission of Mercy, to act as a spokesman and advocate for
underprivileged children at my concerts. Currently, we’re all
anxiously awaiting the final touches on this new album so we can start
the touring and promotion.”
Although it does not yet have a name, Shay says the
new album does have a personality.
“It’s piano based potpourri
for the ear, at times Wonka-esque, slightly demented pop/rock-carnival
music complete with sitar and tubas, at other times rock with an element
of jazz. We’ve done a pretty good job of tying a number of influences
together into a commercially-friendly, palatable whole. At least I hope
we have.”
Working in his own studio, Shay has the freedom to put
his many talents on display in his own way.
“This album was written and
recorded differently than other albums that I’ve been involved with,”
Shay said. “Most of the songs are written exclusively by me with a
few co-writes. Since I have my own studio I would often times begin
tracking by laying down a number of the instruments myself before calling
in the band and guest musicians. You’ll hear me play everything
from my primary instrument, piano, to bass, accordion, moog, percussion
and even a little trombone.
“Interestingly enough, I find myself playing trombone
on a number of projects. Sorry to say, I never really enjoyed
playing trombone until after I began playing it in studio
sessions. When I’d be called in to do a keyboard session I’d bring
the T-bone and they’d wind up wanting it on the record. The interesting
thing about college is that you practice and train yourself to sound
great on the instrument but when you’re in the studio you’ll often hear
the producer say, “Can you be a little more ‘blatty’ and obnoxious, oh,
and those slide things you do, I need a few more of them.”
Shay has a few favorites on the album.
“I enjoy the more obscure
songs on the album,” he said. “Adams
Street Bridge is very reminiscent of Peter Gabriel and a more
European meets Eastern Indian sound. I orchestrated a string section
and female choir in the middle of the song. The song also contains a
shortwave radio that we ran through a bunch of effects processors to
create an ‘other-worldly’ sound. Then there is the song Patchwork Girl, a quirky melodic
‘sing-a-long’ where a tuba carries the bass part. I also played
Glockenspiel and marimbas on that song. My other favorite is a
half-spoken, jazzy story song about a person being buried alive, which I
wrote in a Tom Waits fashion.”
So, what’s next?
“After the album is in from printing we’ll map out a
regional and then national tour complete with radio promos and an online
campaign. I’m tentatively in New Zealand the beginning of
2007 where I’ll be doing a series of concerts and shooting a video with
the guys who worked on Lord of The Rings, I Robot and King Kong. I’m
in the process of talking with a company that handles songs to television
about a potential co-pub on one of my song catalogues. I’m also
writing the musical score for Lust Free Living’s upcoming women’s DVD.”
And if you’re thinking about pursuing a career in the
music biz, Shay says think again.
 “Not to sound harsh, but if
you can be content doing something else, do it. Really. I enjoy
what I do but if you aren’t willing to face rejection, uncertainties and
the famine times that often come after the feast go do something else. The
business is full of headaches, heartaches and emotional rollercoaster
rides. You have to be willing to leave your ego at the door and run
a mile away from your comfort zone. Those who make it in the
industry aren’t necessarily the ones with the most talent. It’s the
ones who stuck around and pursued the longest and who made themselves
available when opportunity knocked. It’s the ones who are willing to eat
cat food because it’s cheaper than a can of tuna. So if you are one of
those songwriting and artist hopefuls that feel they are called to walk
that restless road, I encourage you to walk it fiercely. I also
encourage you to realize that your ideas have consequences. Those
consequences can be either positive or negative. Much of today’s
popular music along with the other arts and media are breeding a
generation consisting of hollow men and plastic women. It’s easy to
write about and portray the negative side of humanity by glorifying
promiscuity and violence. It’s harder to stand steadfast and refuse to
bend when faced with situations where you can advance a career or obtain
a greater degree of notoriety by compromising moral and ethical
standards. Remember, as Sinfonians our fraternity has a dual
mission: the making of men and the uplift of mankind.”
Just think: one of our very own is using the purposes
of Phi Mu Alpha and is putting them to great use in his life. Shay is a
great example of what can be achieved if you put your mind to it. As
brothers it is our duty to support his musical efforts and in turn
continue to support Sinfonia. Shay of course is just one of many Iota Nu
brothers who are working for Sinfonia. Others that come to mind are Rob
Grice, Bobby Black, Allen Gray and a number of music educators out there.
Who knew that when we were cramped in that little chapter room, you could
have possibly been sitting by the newest musical sensation. You never
know.
Sample Discography
Anyway (2001)
Ten Mile
Drive (2002)
Trilobite Café: Fools in Regalia (2004)
Yet to be titled (2006)
For more albums and to hear a
sample of Shay’s music, visit www.shaywatson.com
or www.purevolume.com/shaywatson.
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What?
You mean you haven’t staked claim to your space on 
A
This
proposal has to be approved by both the City Council and the Board of
Education, so the Tattler encourages you to stand up and be heard.
