Bongo's Interview with.....

 

    Hi everyone, and welcome to "Bongo's Interview with...." Each month, I will have an interview with someone from the gospel music industry.  It may be a singer, songwriter, musician, promoter, editor or producer.  This month my interview is with Kirk Talley.  Kirk is known across the country and world wide as a great soloist, and former tenor singer for the Incredible Cathedral Quartet from 1979-1983.   Kirk shares with us a bit us about the night that the Cathedral's recorded "Live In Atlanta" and a bit about his current solo career.

 

Bongo Bill:     The Cathedrals, "Live In Atlanta" project is one of my all time favorites, as I am sure it is many others.  What do you remember the most about that night of the taping?
I remember that we had recorded safey copies that afternoon so that if we really messed something up,  we could always use the safety copy and it would still have that "room " sound.   We ended up using only one of those,  "We are So Blessed".    I put a small portable recorder in the audience so that in years to come, I could go back and listen to it and compare it to the finished product. 
 
 
BB:  What song from the line-up  that night means the most to you?  (You Can Walk on the Water, I'm Gonna Live Forever, Everywhere I Go, We Are So Blessed, I'm Going Home Someday, Movin Up To Gloryland, It's So Peaceful, Rivers of Joy, We Shall See Jesus, Lord, I Want to Love You More)
Well naturally LORD I WANT TO LOVE YOU MORE cause I wrote it!  But more than because I wrote it,  I love any song that encourages the audience to sing along.  When they sing along, they automatically become involved in the night, and it becomes more of a service instead of a concert.   I also loved Rivers Of Joy!
BB:  You are recognized as a tenor from a quartet that some say may have been the best ever.  What was it like traveling with George and Glen?
 
It was great.   It was truly a learning experience. I know God allowed me to travel with them for 4 years to teach me a lot of things about being on stage and talking to an audience and putting a program together. 
 
 
BB:  Do you keep in contact with Mark and Roger?
Not on a regular basis.  
 
BB: You have just released a new CD, and DVD.  Tell us a little about it. 
It was recorded live at the River of Life Church in Smyrna Tenn.  The choir sang with me,  Johnny Minick played keyboards,  I had some special guests, Dean and Mary Brown,  Crystal River, and Allison Speer.   There are 19 songs on the project.  The DVD has my entire testimony and a lot of extra stuff on it, it's 2 hours long!  
 
BB: Before you step on stage, is there anything that you do before every performance?
Every performance is different.  I program my minidisc player before every concert! and I pray before every one
 
BB: You have been singing Gospel Music for many years now.  What has been the brightest memory for you?
There are many.   Monroe Louisana when i was with the Cathedrals one night, the Holy Spirit was so thick,  it was amazing.   Houston Texas at the Music Hall downtown, with the Talleys, one night the spirit led in such a way, I just laid down on stage.  And a recent UNFOLDING MAJESTY taping was pretty incredible,  the spirit was so strong that after the camera stopped rolling,  all the singers just sat in silence

BB:  What CDs do you have in your player right now?
none   its too hard to talk on the phone and listen! 
 

BB: What is your favorite non-music hobby? 

tennis and riding a motorcycle

BB: What do you collect?
matches-you can collect those from everywhere for free!
BB: Name one product you cannot live without.
Diet Dr Pepper

BB: If you could only shop at one store.. what would it be?
Walmart I guess-they have the essentials

BB: One article of clothing you have had longer than any other is....

a long sleeved striped shirt exactly like one that Tony Danza wore on "Who's The Boss"

BB:  What is one thing that you make sure is always backstage for you?   

 
Nothing i can think of ,   Lots of churches dont have backstages

BB: What is your favorite pizza topping?

Sun Dried Tomatoes

BB: What is your favorite food?
Italian

BB: What is your favorite soft drink?
Diet Dr Pepper

BB:  What do friends say your most annoying habit is?
Whistleing

BB: What is the most nervous you have ever been when meeting someone?
Maybe when i met Dolly Parton the first time.  
 

BB:  What is the best advice an artist gave you?
George Younce told me that If I would learn to laugh at myself, then others would laugh with me and feel comfortable

BB:  What is one thing you have wanted to do, but haven't done yet?
ride in a hot air balloon

BB:  If  you  were not a singer/musician what would you be doing?
not sure    always thought it would be fun to be an importer