Photo courtesy of Patty and Paul Malloy
I originally launched this blog to write my own musings about music and the Rock and Romance cruise. I also hoped my fellow passengers and maybe even a few of the artists performing on the cruise would share their thoughts and perspectives. With that said, I’m thrilled today to bring you my first post with an incredibly talented artist who will be on our cruise in March!
Mr. Danny Seraphine, drummer extraordinaire, co-founder of Chicago, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Grammy Award winner, took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us. Thank you, Danny!
If you’ve ever tapped your toes to Chicago’s classic tunes, you’ve heard the incredible percussion of Danny Seraphine. Danny started playing drums at nine-years-old and performed in Dick Clark’s road band prior to helping form Chicago in 1967. Within two years, they released the double album Chicago Transit Authority which stayed on the Billboard chart for a whopping 171 weeks, spawning hits like “I’m a Man”, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is”, and “Beginnings”. And that was literally just the “beginning” of Danny’s career that has spanned nearly 60 years.
As a little girl, my mom would put on Chicago albums while we did our Saturday morning chores, and the music made the dreariness of dusting not quite as bad. And “Beginnings” turned the tediousness of cleaning bathroom mirrors into a near celebration—with that percussive finale being largely responsible for my lifelong love of dancing. To this day, I get downright frustrated by the abbreviated Top 40 radio version of “Beginnings” that cuts that spectacularly rhythmic conclusion. Hopefully, we’ll get to hear the full seven-and-a-half minute, album version on the cruise! I’ll be there dancing along with a pina colada in my hand, instead of a spray bottle of Windex!
Without further ado, here’s my Q and A with Danny Seraphine.
What is your perspective on remaining passionate about your work as you get older, and do you have any advice for your fans of a certain age, who are inspired by not just your music, but also your seemingly boundless energy and excitement for what you do. As I’ve gotten older, I appreciate the opportunity to play for the Chicago fans and still turn people on with our music. After having it taken away from me, I don’t take it for granted anymore.
As for advice, I would say don’t let life get in the way of your dreams. Follow your passion. If you really want to do something, don’t put it off. Just do it.
On the Rock & Romance cruise, you’ll have a ship full of music aficionados who love discussing things like their first concert and their favorite concert of all time. Can you share with us your first concert experience? And who absolutely blew you away when you saw them perform live?
My first concert was Roy Orbison and his band in Chicago in 1963. It was an outdoor show at the Harlem Irving Plaza. I remember how the drummer really rocked out and played hard. That really inspired me.
I have two boys (ages 16 and 18) who prefer listening to Chicago and other great artists from the 1960s and 1970s rather than much of the music of today. Many of their friends are also listening to older music, or they’re not into music at all. What is your take on popular music today, and how do you think it should transform to attract new, younger audiences? It’s too contrived, computerized, and over-sanitized with things like Autotune and Quantize. I don’t believe that’s what these artists really want. There are many, many great artists today – super talented – and I know they would like to have the opportunities that we had in the 60s and 70s: to create and just be yourself, instead of conforming to a very rigid, over-processed standard and be able to express themselves as they truly are— without all the technological artificialities.
Your more recent albums Sacred Ground and Full Circle are fantastic. As a big fan of Chicago, your band California Transit Authority is right up my alley, but I can see how someone who isn’t as familiar with Chicago would love the songs, too. Can you share a bit about any new albums or projects in the works? It’s all in the talking stages at this point. I would really love to do another record with CTA. This project is a labor of love for me—we’ve been together for 17 years. One more album would be great, but nothing is in the works yet. As for the songs, I think we would lean towards the second round of all new originals, but there’s always a chance we’d remake a classic Chicago or a deep Chicago track.
I read that you have your own signature drumstick. What makes a great drumstick? What’s different about my drumstick is that it has a recessed area in the balance point of the stick. In other words, it forces the drummer to stay in the balanced area of the stick. It becomes weightless, so to speak. I use a stick called 5A, which is the most popular size today with drummers – not too heavy and not too light. It’s good for Rock and Jazz.
Can you share a bit about writing your book Street Player? Would you ever consider writing another book? I wanted to get the story straight because I heard the band’s version of how it was formed. A lot of what I heard was revisionist history, and it bothered me. I wanted people to know my side of the story: the truth. As for another book, I haven’t really thought about a follow up to Street Player: my Chicago Story. But you never know.
Once again, a big thank you to Danny Seraphine and his team who enabled this blog to be written! We can’t wait to see you on the Rock and Romance Cruise in March!
Song of the Day: Beginnings - Chicago
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