Gold/Platinum 4XGrammy Nominated Artist, Oleta Adams, The Voice, The Piano, The Woman Behind It All!

 Interview by: Gina Sedman

Oleta Adams has worked with artists such as Tears for Fears, Phil Collins, Michael Bolton, Luther Vandross, and many others throughout her career. She is unique, and her stage presence, class, and voice are unmatched! Oleta Adams started her career as a gospel artist, later transitioning to singing soul, R&B, urban, and popular music. The platinum-certified Circle of One and the hit single "Get Here" became unofficial anthems of the 1991 Gulf War, as well as many couples experiencing location separation around the globe. Oleta Adams continues to be an inspiration. I had the pleasure of catching up with this fantastic artist to talk about her life as a recording artist. Here's what she shared.

Good morning, is this the beautiful, fabulous, amazing Oleta Adams?

Absolutely! That's very sweet of you; thank you. 

You're so welcome. I am a fan of your music, and I think your voice is incredibly unique and melodically soothing. It’s truly an honor and a privilege to speak with you today. Well, thank you very much.

My pleasure! So, Ms. Admas, where are you from? I'm from the Pacific Northwest. I was born in Seattle and raised between Seattle and Yakima, WA. Growing up, I enjoyed doing the things that normal kids do. I grew up singing and directing in my father's church.

How old were you at that time? At the age of 11, I started directing four choirs at our church. I played the piano for all the church services, so that's how I acquired my skill. I enjoyed singing in choirs, at school, and around town. One of my high school teachers mentored me, the music teacher who got me into the business and trained me vocally. From that point, I played all around the Country.

That's awesome! Let me ask you, what does a typical day look like for you? Typically, I start each day with my husband. We enjoy drinking coffee or tea together in the morning and discussing his strange dreams. (laughs)

He’s a dreamer? Yes, he’s a dreamer. (laughs) It’s amazing how my husband vividly remembers all the details. I sit there and listen; I fix the coffee, then we sort our day. Taking care of the housework comes first for me.

Before practicing for a project, I must complete my household chores. Then, I go to my studio to sing and practice. My schedule sometimes includes writing charts, but whatever's on my agenda, I'll get it done after I've completed my chores. When I have interviews, I'll schedule them as early as possible.  Work stops around 5:30 or 6:00 pm in the evening, and we come together for dinner.

Dinner is mainly prepared by who? He fixes dinner.

Awesome! Yes, of course. Following dinner, we watch a movie to calm ourselves down. We usually go to bed early; however, I like to stay up late, so it takes me a while to fall asleep. As soon as we wake up the following day, we restart the whole process.

Wow, that's awesome! My husband is also a dreamer, and some of the dreams he told me, are mind-blowing! Sometimes I'll say, let's pray about this and see what God is trying to say here. Right, exactly!

Some of His dreams are bizarre and scary but so are mine sometimes. They're so crazy sometimes you're even afraid to say anything because you don't want your spouse to think something. You can't help what you dream about. (laughs) Yeah, and then I sit there saying, “well, you know I would never do that. He says, “I know, but in my dream, that’s what you did.” (laughs) 

I know you're like, “stop looking at me like that!” (laughs) Exactly! What's strange about dreams is that sometimes you can carry those feelings around all day.  

Yeah. You walk around feeling weird and strange all day long.

Exactly, it's just crazy! From my understanding, most dreams combine the many things that go through our minds daily. At the same time, I believe God can speak to us through our dreams and warn us of future things. I find it relatively easy to shift through my dreams because if they make no sense and have no connection to anything I can recall, those are usually nonsense dreams.

The only dreams I pay attention to are those that are fluid. Nevertheless, dreams remain one of life's greatest mysteries.

When that happens, I'll ask God to reveal what He is trying to communicate. Now the dreams where the eyeballs grow out of the arms; that's crazy! (laughs) That's right, it's like, what movie did you watch? (Laughs) Usually, we can pick up bits and pieces and attribute them to a commercial or movie we've watched or a previous conversation. Sometimes things get caught in our subconscious minds, so it's nice to track them down. However, there is a whole lot of trash to be emptied.  

You mentioned earlier that you are a pastor's daughter and grew up in church. Was there ever a time in your teens when you went through a season of rebellion?  Yes, I rebelled a lot. In my teens, not so much, but more so around 18 years old. That's when I said to myself, OK, I'm going to leave home to do what I want; I'm grown now.

I remember receiving my driver's license and reading the words 'adult' written on it. I showed my mom my license and said, do you see what it says right there? It says, "adult.". "She said that doesn't mean anything to me." (laughs) 

Black families don't care anything about you being an adult. Regardless of how old you get, that doesn't mean anything to them. If you're still living in their home, as far as they're concerned, you're still a child. Yeah! (laughs) That's exactly right, but I left the church for about 17 years.

Coming from a fundamentalist background, I told God, "You know what? I'll get back to you when I feel capable of doing things right." At that time, I didn't fully comprehend Grace. 

I did quite a bit of research and checked out other studies. Once you experience this whole spiritual life, you don't feel good on your own, so I studied metaphysics and whatever else I could find. Rather than substituting, I was seeking an alternative.

Having read many books, I came across an old book called "The Hidden Man" by E.W Kenyon that expressed grace in such a beautiful way that our church didn't explain it. Grace has never been taught as comprehensively as I learned in this book.

Everything was Hellfire, damnation, and brimstone, and I didn't feel good about it. I felt like they were using scare tactics to scare people into righteousness. I don’t like that idea because He’s supposed to be a loving God.

So, this book put it in such a beautiful way that it led me back to Christ in 1987.  After reading that book, my whole life changed. In my case, it was an immediate decision, but God had a plan for my future. Then things changed; I encountered "Tears for Fears," and the rest is history.

As the daughter of a pastor, I can relate. Although you may have been raised in a certain way, there comes a time in your life when you must choose Christ Jesus on your own. For example, having a child does not mean that your child will choose you as a friend when they become an adult. Some children grow up and don’t even like their parents.

Having a child effectively binds you together. You do the best you can and learn how to love and get along with each other even though the child did not ask to be present, and the parents sometimes did not intend to have a child, but you do the best you can. There are times when things work out in the end and other times when they do not. As they grow up, they must decide if they want to be friends with you. And it's the same when it comes to your relationship with Christ. You may have been raised in the church, but that doesn't mean you understand what it means to be a Christian. Every Christian must know why they want to be a Christian and what it means to be a Christian at some point in their lives. At this point, you will take your relationship with the Lord to a new level, and it will stick and take root in your life from then on. When I became an adult, I, too, had to give my life to Christ on my own. It wasn't because my parents took me to church but because I had to know who Jesus was for myself, and I'm so glad I did. I'm a Christian now because I chose to be a Christian.  That's true. There was so much stuff that I had to sort and sift through in my journey to figure out which parts of my faith I would embrace. There were some things I was taught that I had to say to myself, "that is not my perception of God or who I consider God to be." After that, I moved forward with my life.  

Rather than relying on what someone tells you, I think the search should be individual. It’s a good thing to do a lot of praying and reading. You can find anything if you seek it out. I sorted through my bag and discarded anything that disturbed me or was difficult to reconcile.  

I don't see God as vengeful; I don't think a God of love will do that. To me, a God of love is always going to have mercy. A God of love is always going to be forgiving and accepting. I also believe that a perfect human being is perfectly imperfect. It's only through God's grace and kindness toward us that makes us perfect. We can't do that by ourselves.

He wants you to talk to Him, rely on Him, and allow Him to be in every part of your life and everything. That’s my own personal beliefs, and anything else is none of my business. What you have worked out with God that's your business. My thing is to be compassionate, to love Him above all else, and to love my neighbor as myself. 

The love of God is indeed eternal! We are having a very interesting conversation. I want to take you back in time and park there for a moment. In your childhood, who was your best friend, and what kind of mischief did you get into with your friend that you are sure your parents would have killed you for if they knew?  Oh wow! When I was in elementary school, I remember I had a best friend name Vicky Luckett, and she was tough. She was a fighter. She could run fast, but I wasn’t very athletic. 

Although I was a good kid, I didn’t want to be; I wanted to be like everyone else. So, when she acted tough, I tried to be tough too. In addition to that, I didn't want to do my work right either. So, Mr. Lind, my 5th-grade teacher, decided that he would write a letter to my mom and tell her what I was doing, and then suddenly, I wasn't so cool anymore. (laughs)

I had to change because I had a soft heart. This idea of being a tough school kid didn't last long. So, as a child, that was one of my naughtiest acts.

In those days, we knew that if we acted up in school, we would get a swift one on the backside. (laughs) Exactly. 

Wow, that's awesome! Out of all your family members, who do you resemble the most, and in what ways? My great uncle and great aunt raised me, but I also know who my biological parents are. Thinking about it now, I have to say I'm probably more like my birth mother. I get my voice from my father, and my toughness comes from my mother. Like her, I summarize things by listening and watching. She was also a leader and a great organizer. So yes, I'm more like my biological mother.  

You started off your career as an independent artist. Let’s talk about your experiences. Playing the piano can open many doors for you. Though I started as the singer who hired bands, I had a couple of instances where the main keyboard player left on the day of the show. I was forced to play the piano because they walked out. 

I could play for myself, write charts, arrange arrangements, and hire a band. This is where my years of experience playing for a church choir came in handy. Furthermore, I am grateful to Lee Farrell, who taught me the art of reading and writing music in high school. This was what enabled me to direct the songs I sang. I spoke the language.  Over those years, I developed a musical education by working in clubs around the country. 

Do you have a favorite genre of music? That whole mix of styles shaped my style. My mentor taught me how to sing these songs in a way that would preserve my voice because initially, I wanted to go into classical music as a lyric soprano, and she said no, it's the chest voice that's going to do It for you. Mentorship gave me the skills I needed to become an individual package, allowing me to fit into many different scenarios. Until I met "Tears for Fears," I was my own boss. Playing the piano was rare among women in those days.

As you know, I have a low voice. Hearing a woman with such a low tone singing and playing the piano was rare. Even in pop and R&B music genres, there were guys who sang higher than me.  

Due to my educational background and the music I had under my belt, I could go out on my own to either be put into a trio situation that involved me playing piano, bass, and sometimes guitar or playing piano bars. In that case, I would sing and play the piano. Having the statement, "has a piano, will travel," has worked well for me, and it is what I have done for most of my professional life since most people want to hire musicians but do not have budgets for large groups. 

I still have that versatility today. Recently, I performed with the Bremen Philharmonic in Bremen, Germany, and four shows in Holland. While there, I had my band with me, but then I'll come home, and you do something myself. I’ll play the piano, then stand up and sing because versatility is the key to a successful career.

Absolutely. Not only are you versatile, but you are extremely talented! In today's world, that is rare because the world has become so digitalized. Ms. Adams, at what point did you transition from becoming an independent artist to a household name? In 1987 I received a call from Roland Orzabal of "Tears for Fears." They saw me performing in Kansas City two years earlier, in 1985, at the Hyatt Duck Club. It just so happens that they were staying in the hotel, and I was playing in the club, and they enjoyed listening to me, and two years later, you know, in 1987 and found me.  

What led you to reconnect? They called the hotel and asked how to reach me by phone. The hotel called the agent, who then called me. They gave him my home number and said Roland Orzabal of "Tears for Fears" heard me that night and was blown away by how moving my performance was. The cool thing was that they even told me what I sang the night they heard me.

Wow! That’s impressive! Yes. So, he informed me that they had written a song called “Woman in Chains” and wanted me to sing with them on their new CD.

That’s awesome! It's like a modern-day Cinderella story. Therefore, do it with excellence whatever you do because you never know when God will open the door for you or whom He will use to do it. Exactly. So, they came to Kansas City to meet me and stayed for about three days. They came to my house, and we hung out. I recorded it with them for the whole month in January of the following year. I toured for six months playing in a piano bar in Scandinavia. That had been scheduled, so it was on the way to Scandinavia that I recorded with them. After completing that project, I went on my way.

That's great! In what ways did that experience benefit you?  Because of my work with them, they told the record company that everybody would be coming after her when this record came out, and you'd be smart to be the first to offer a record deal. So, that’s exactly what happened. I ended up getting a record deal with the same company they were with, “Polygram Fontana.”; the rest is history.  

Did you tour with Tears for Fears? Yes, the six months I spent touring with them worldwide differed from the smaller venues I had been playing. With them, I played in arenas, stadiums, and large venues such as those. People were screaming and hollering and suddenly knew my name in Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, and the UK. I went to all these beautiful places, and they were screaming when I started to sing; in my mind, I was thinking about what was happening at the time; I was drowning in thoughts of the moment. But it was lots of fun!

It wasn't an overnight success because this happened 17 years into my professional career. That break came when I was already in my mid-30s, and I am glad it happened when it did because, at that point in my life, I was better prepared to handle such a change.

Yes, and sometimes it's probably better that way because when you're young, that's when you kind of "wild out" in the industry. Unfortunately, many younger people are not mentally prepared to deal with all the success in Hollywood at that age. And sadly, many of them succumb to the industry's dark side because of that.

When you're more mature and have lived a lot longer, you understand who you are and your boundaries. Also, because you were able to live a normal life before success, you're more grounded and sensible. Therefore, I agree that starting your professional career in your mid-30s is a blessing in disguise. Yes.

Your deep and rich voice makes me think of Nina Simone, as you sing passionately, play piano, and are a female pianist. Has anyone ever told you that before? Yes, absolutely, and I found her quite an inspiration. I loved what she did and what she meant to so many people.  

I think it's so interesting that her name and music are coming up more often now than ever. She's in movies, on soundtracks, in commercials, and everything. That's the kind of career and longevity I aspire to as well. I want the kind of career that never loses its savor or goes out of style. 

Exactly just like Levi's! (laughs) Exactly, yes, that's right.

Out on the road, do you encounter the same experiences men face with women fans because of their celebrity ISM? Is this also true for women? Do many men fans also push on woman celebrities because of their fame? Other celebrity women may experience that, but it's never been my experience. (laughs) When I was with Tears for Fears, I was on the other side of the coin. They were very earthy people, and I was this little Christian lady on the bus. When they swore, they always said, "sorry, Oleta" (laughs)  

Hilarious! That's respect! I love it! Yeah, I heard a lot of swearing, but it didn't stop them. (laughs) I was a Christian lady because I had just accepted Christ in 1987 when I got that call from Tears for Fears. So, even though I was raised in the church, I was a newbie. At that point, it was real to me. My daily routine included reading my Bible and praying. It was as if everything was a new miracle, no matter how big or small. I was walking down the street listening to Richard Smallwood or whomever I was listening to with a big smile and practically skipping down the road because I felt the joy of Christ in my life. Even strangers would ask me what was wrong with me. (laughs)

Skipping symbolizes joy, peace, and happiness on a whole different level. If more people went outside and started skipping, the world would be a kinder place to live in. (laughs) Yes. And that was in 1988. It's weird to be in a rock band when you're a newbie Christian, but it was beautiful because I was mature and grounded. It's not to say that no one has ever approached me, but that answer was simple. It wasn't a big deal. I never had to fight anyone off. All I had to do was say "no" once.  

I'm glad to hear that. I always believe that limits cannot exist without boundaries. In my life, I live by that statement. Setting healthy boundaries is crucial. I learned something from Roland about being a celebrity. He said, “you create your own hysteria.” So, if you want people to notice you when you're walking down the street and suddenly go, oh my gosh, can I get your autograph? You either react in a way that promotes it or calms it down. I've always chosen to calm it down by being a regular person. Even the way that I promote myself on stage, I don't encourage that. I’m always down to earth and just myself wherever I go. I'm a real person, just like everyone else. When you're that way, it doesn't stir that up in the others. Do you know what I'm saying?

Yes, without a doubt. It's called humility. The quality of humility is one of the critical ingredients to longevity in the entertainment industry. As it relates to one's talent, God opens the door, while love and humility keep it open. Everyone wants everyone to know that they know a cocky celebrity, but no one wants to be friends with one. Exactly. Whatever I sing, something about my aura, personality, and spirit inspires others. Even if there is sensuality, it doesn't promote hysteria to the point of them wanting to sleep with you. Even if they want to, there's respect there, and that's how I carry myself. Guys would never walk up to Michelle Obama licking their lips and saying, “you know I want to love you all night long.” Right?

Right. They better not! (laughs) Right, because she carries herself in such a way, it demands respect, and that's what it means to have class. I believe this is something that all women should take note of. So, that's not what I put out there.

Wow, that is very well put. I know that your wise advice will bless people. That is awesome, and I feel the same way. Oleta, you are amazing! Now, you've went platinum and sold millions of albums. It's just incredible! Two of my favorite songs from you are “Holy is The Lamb” and “Get Here if You Can.” My husband is British lives in the UK. So, for obvious reasons, Get Here if You Can "is one of my favorites because it's something we were personally experiencing. Have you ever experienced a long-distance relationship? Why did you choose to sing that song? I discovered this song in 1988 when I was on that Scandinavian tour playing at a piano bar in Sweden, Norway, and Holland, and I was alone. Well, I was in Oslo and, sometimes when you have downtime, you walk around and do a bit of looking around in shops and so forth.

Sometimes, I'd go to dress shops or walk around. But one day, while in this dress shop, I heard Brenda Russell singing this new song called "Get Here," I thought to myself, oh wow! I recognized her voice and felt the piece was beautiful, and it turned out that John, my now husband, then boyfriend, and my drummer of 40 years who lived in the states, also heard it. So, when John listened to the song; You ready for this?  

Yes. When John heard the song, he sent the cassette tape to me so I could listen to the entire album. (laughs)  

Cassette tape! Love it! Yes! The cassette! So, when I got back to the states, we started playing this song in our gigs, and it quickly became a popular song. He couldn't be with me when I was in Scandinavia, so it touched him. He set the alarm for 4:00 a.m. for him to call me, and we would talk for an hour or so.  And, of course, he must have been working to pay off his phone bill at that point.  

Right, it's not like today, where we have Zoom, Facetime, Skype, and WhatsApp. That's right. So, we could relate instantly to the song, but then it became my own and worked for many different situations. People tell me that they use this song for weddings and funerals. This song became extremely popular during Desert Storm when many people were separated from their loved ones due to the war.

The song also has touched those who have lost loved ones. And for me, I think of the many times when I needed God to come closer and reach and help me through a particular situation. So, while I sing it for others and they're thinking of their plights, I'm also singing it for myself concerning whatever I am going through, which still resonates in many ways.

It's a beautiful song and what makes it even better is how you sing it. And I'm sure many people used this song to help them get through COVID while separated from their loved ones. "Get Here" to separated loved ones is like Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in The Sky" to people in love. Both timeless songs mark significant and emotional times in their lives. Another one I love is “Holy is The Lamb” can you tell me how that song came to be? Yes, Holy is The Lamb was written by Fred White, a singer/background singer that sings on some of the biggest stages in the world with artists like Eric Clapton and others of the sort. I was in a recording session with Brenda Russell, and we recorded another song.

Fred was on this call, and during a break, Syreeta Wright said, Fred, you should play that song for Oleta, and I said, what song? He said, oh, I wrote this song. He sat down and played it for me, and I told him that someday when I do a gospel song, I would love to record it. Then I told him to send it to me. He agreed. So, a few years went by, and when I got ready to put together my gospel record, I called him and asked him if he had given out that song yet. He said no; I asked him to send it to me, so he sent it. Isn't it funny how what's meant to be yours will be yours? 

Yes, when God has a plan for our lives, He will ensure His plan is carried out. He's such a good God! Yes, that's why you don't have to worry about not getting yours. If something passes you by, don't worry. In my lifetime, I've learned that what's yours is yours, so don't fret about it.

Absolutely. I believe that. Are you still working with many of the same musicians you worked with before your professional career took off? Oh, absolutely. I did that for a very long time. When I started touring, I used some of my former players. I grew up with one of the musicians I used and have known him since childhood. He played bass for me, and I took him to Africa, South Africa, and European tours. I took local people from Kansas City and allowed them to see what it was like on a larger scale. I still live in Kansas City, and the other players are in California. 

Now, my players are from California, but they're that caliber of musicians that, instead of having a lot of rehearsals, John and I will do a demo and send it to them online. Back then, we didn't have all that.  

I hired musicians based on skill, ability, and chemistry. It is imperative that we have good chemistry with them and that their personalities are such that we can travel together comfortably. I didn't care if they were the best musicians in the unit; if they were difficult to get along with, I wouldn't hire them. It's just too much to have to deal with. Many times, you're with these folks 24/7. Therefore, it's so important to choose the right musicians. 

That's awesome! 4 Grammy nominations and more than two and a half million records sold! What does that feel like for you? I don't think about it often. I have my gold and platinum records and haven't put them up yet. They're in the closet behind the door. (laughs) I suppose someday I might, but I've always been the kind of person where when I do a show, you do it to the best of your ability, and when the people are up on their feet and giving you a standing ovation, and you walk off the stage, that's the end of that. Here's how I see it. It is important to remember that once the shows are over, you must begin anew tomorrow, and I do this to keep my feet on the ground.

Every time I perform, I hope it will be a good show and people will enjoy themselves. I have high expectations for every performance. I want them to be top-notch, not just musically, but I want people to take away something inside their hearts that will last more than just one or two hours. I attribute that to our connection with our audience while on stage. I always hope they carry something so meaningful that they desire to have that experience again. Not all the time, but we've successfully achieved that goal for the most part.

As far as the number of records sold, you never see that day-to-day. I don't see a little number scrolling up higher and higher, and I don't feel it when driving around Kansas City. However, it is sort of a kick in the pants to be in Price Chopper, our local grocery store and suddenly hear my song, Circle of One, and then it's interrupted by someone saying, "I need a checker on aisle two. (laughs)  

Right! I hate that! Especially when I hear a song I like. (laughs) It's so much fun when you're in an elevator, and you hear a song you wrote that's been turned into elevator music. That's like one of the highest compliments you can get. "Circle of One" turned into elevator music. I love it! Also, to hear how my music has impacted so many people's lives and all the positive comments that make me happy makes me feel joyful.

I live minute by minute, hour by hour. I keep my feet on the ground and am pretty much down to earth. We pretty much stay to ourselves except for when we go to church. Most church people know that we're in the business, but they don't have a clear picture of how far that goes, and that's great. That's the way we want it. 

Are you and your husband involved in church activities? Yes, we are very active in our church, but we don't live a celebrity life. I will say that I'm glad to hear my name mentioned. That tells me I did what I set out to do. I am content now. I don’t have anything else to prove. I'm grateful to God for allowing me to eat, pay my bills and pay my house off, which I did years ago. 

Parise God! Gina, I've been blessed. I never tried to buy an island. We had no desire for that. On the contrary, we're just grateful for every single blessing that God has given to us. At this point, all we're trying to do is survive this COVID thing and pray that it will soon be over.

With the music industry changing from what it was to what it is today, a digital social media world, coming from a yesteryear generation, what are your thoughts on today's digital music industry? Wow, that's a great question. Let me start by saying what I think hasn't changed.

OK. They're still trying to find artists like the ones already present. It is common for people judging talent shows like "The Voice" and "American Idol" to look for the next Mariah, Whitney, or whoever.  Often, they don't make provision for individuality or creativity. As I was coming up in the industry, they wanted people who could really yell high. 

Thank goodness for the Internet, YouTube, and other platforms today. If you want to find unique artists, they are there, but they must get in by the back door by first acquiring their following and making so much noise that they are forced to pay attention. That's what Jacob Collier did. Some jazz artists are outstanding and do a wide range of music, but getting a deal isn't always easy.

Now, you don't have to rely upon a record company. I think that's the main difference. There aren't that many record companies around to sign you anyway. And since technology has changed, it allows you to go on and build your following despite having a Record company or the lack thereof. That's the difference. With today's technology, you can have your studio in your own bedroom and quickly put out records. You can even get someone to play certain parts on your music for favors, and if you put it online and get your following, you can make enough noise and create a successful career.  

As before, you had to have a record company to do the big thing. It's still difficult to get radio play today. Payola is probably still going on with some of these record companies. Unfortunately, when they brought that delight, absolutely nothing changed. Getting airplay is still a problem. Nevertheless, many people now can listen to YouTube channels that have nothing to do with record companies, like iTunes and Spotify. 

Before, you were at the mercies of record companies, and now the whole thing is wide open. So, what I'm hoping is that there's more change in terms of the listening audience to where artists don't rely solely on the radio stations or the record companies telling you what they like and instead that they take the time to explore and find all the other music that's out there. Does that make sense?

Yes, it does make sense. The funny thing about today's music industry is that although it is challenging, at the same time, it's equally liberating. This is a time that artists can be themselves and be free to be creative and express their uniqueness, as you mentioned earlier.

You need dollars to sell enough music to survive and to move your product to the next level. But at the end of the day, you should do what makes you happy and not be motivated by finances alone. If you're an artist, be an artist. Even if you must work full-time, there's no excuse for not doing what God has gifted you to do. Whether you make music full-time or part-time, I encourage you to do it and maintain your uniqueness.

In today's music industry, there's a sweet and sour dynamic. Although the industry is highly saturated, there is always room for everyone, but you have to work hard.

The social media world is filled with a variety of uniqueness. Everything you need can be found online. No matter what you want, whether it's jazz, dance, cooking, or whatever, it's all available. Social media brought independence and freedom of expression, so talent is not short, but there's also a new generation of people who don't believe in paying for creativity. These days, many people think they should have free access to everything. Even their mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandparents take things off the internet for free. The sad part is that they've taught them how to do it. It's a tragedy. This is what makes it sweet and sour. Yes, exactly. A lot of artists are saying, "Guess what?" The record companies are no longer in charge. That's great, but guess what? Spotify and iTunes are. You have to have millions of streams before getting $12.95. That's the unfair part.

Yeah, and that's a huge culture shock for artists from a generation of people who didn’t mind buying their records. Yes. Exactly.

Awesome! Would you mind telling me about any upcoming performances on your calendar? Do you have any new music coming out soon or in the future? Yes, I have dates through the end of the year. On September 10th, I'll be in the Chicago Jazz Getaway at Millennium Park with Brian Culbertson. I'll be a guest of his. On September 24th, I'll be in New Jersey, Maplewood, NJ, at the woodland; on the 25th, at Glenside, PA, at the Keswick with people Bryson. On October 14th, I'll be in Frederick, MD. On October 15th, we'll be back at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. 

We play that every year and I love that gig. On the 16th, we usually pair it with the Annapolis MD., Rams Head. On November 4th will be in Cerritos, CA. At the Cerritos Performing Arts Center. We'll perform with the 5th dimensions, Taylor Dayne and Peabo Bryson. 

It sounds like you have a full schedule, and I'm happy to hear that. What do you have going on for the Christmas season? We're doing an opening for the holiday season, but it's just one show. On December 6th and 7th, we're at Davies Hall in San Francisco for, The Colors of Christmas, and that'll be Peabo Bryson Ruben Studdard and Jody Watley. We've worked together before, and I've worked a lot with Peabo Bryson. 

What about new music? Well, I'm contemplating that. I'm trying to figure out how long I will do what I'm doing. I am a senior citizen now. And a beautiful one at that. Thank you very much.  

You don't look even look like a senior citizen. You go! Yeah. I'm 69, and I'm trying to decide how long I want to keep traveling and recording. I might have one more in me, but I want to have something important to say. I don't want just to put it out because, again, for the sake of putting a song out. As we discussed earlier, it costs a lot to do records. Not as much as it used to cost, but if you don't have that avenue to sell those records, it may not be cost-efficient. 

I hear what you're saying. That's all; I'll have to decide how to spend my money. Do I want to spend my money recording the album, or do I want to take a nice trip?  

Now that sounds like a great idea. Right about now, I would prefer to take a nice trip. (laughs) Last question, what words of wisdom would you like to leave with up-and-coming independent recording artists? The most important part of being an artist is playing because you love it, and if you don't, move out of the way and let somebody else do it. 

And people should feel that you love what you do. When you perform publicly outside your house, you must do it for the people, not just yourself. There needs to be that connection, or stay home and do it yourself. We're connected, and there should be joy and not frustration in music. Allow that joy to pass through you to the public and then back to you again. As I said before, remember what's yours is always going to be yours; nobody will take him away from you. 

That's beautiful. This interview has been excellent! I've absorbed so much of your wisdom. Your story will inspire our readers, and I am confident they will greatly enjoy reading it. Ms. Oleta Adams, it has been an honor to have this time with you as we went back down memory lane and brought it back to today. My prayer for you is that God will continue to bless you and your beautiful family and keep you safe in this time and that he will continue to give you the desires of your heart, be it done according to his will. God bless you, and I am so proud of all the accomplishments that you have made throughout the years. You have been an inspiration not only to me but to millions of people around the world. Thank you, Gina. That is so lovely. I accept that and wish the best for you and your career. It has been so wonderful talking to you; thanks.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Bye.

Bye.

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Photos by: Photographer: Diallo French

Black and white image - Photographer: John Cushon

Photographer: Shawn Flint Blair

All others are courtesy of Oleta Adams & Manger, Chevy Nash

END OF INTERVIEW