Talktime| Gary lawyer
He started his career as a nightclub singer in New York City and has been singing Western music since 1980. In the Capital for a performance at Siri Fort, the man with the golden voice talks to Shalini Saksena about his journey and how he is blessed to still be singing
Why do you keep choosing Mumbai and not Delhi for your performancesIJ
It was such a successful event in Mumbai, if I may be allowed to say so myself. I got a standing ovation and could have gone on the whole night. I just hope we get a similar crowd in Delhi, it would be such a lovely evening in the capital as well. It is not as if I only perform in Mumbai; I travel all over. My life is that of a typical musician. I go to Goa, Chennai, Pune and Bengaluru. In fact, my performance in Mumbai was the first at Tata Theatre in this last one year.
You are the first Indian to have been signed for a Western album. How did that happenIJ
I started singing in New York and could have made a career there but circumstances brought me back. Second, it was my choice to come back and be with my family and friends. I am not the kind of musician who can imagine a life on the go. To cut a long story short I came back to India not with the intentions of doing music but as fate would have it, I sang at a friend’s concert where record executives were also present and gave me a deal right away. I then started singing jingles. A promoter asked me if I would do a concert and that’s how the whole thing started.
Usually people start from India and go abroad. You did the opposite. WhyIJ
Yes, I did completely the other way round. Back in the early 1980s, there was not much to do or play for in the country. I had access to New York City where all the music was happening. So I started singing there.
You don’t have a music manager or an agent. WhyIJ
I don’t hire one because I can’t fire one. I am very comfortable in my own skin. I am in total control of my being. I find it easy of not having a person who will speak on my behalf. I know what I want and what I have to say. I don’t want to be in a space where a person will tell me what I have to do. I am very much my own man.
How does the title — ‘the man with the golden voice’ sit with youIJ
I don’t know — people just refer me to that tagline — and I say this humbly. Just the other day an article saying: ‘Should he (I) be called the golden voice’IJ ‘No’, the article said. ‘In my opinion he should be called the platinum voice’. It is good since it is a compliment. The thought is genuine behind the words.
What is the scope for Jazz, Pop and Blues todayIJ
To be honest, there is not much scope now either. There is a lot riding on Bollywood. You have western musician who start off playing western but end up playing in a studio. While we do have a huge fan base for western music but it is still an untapped market.
Is there a reason why you have stayed away from BollywoodIJ
The industry is just not for me. I have had the biggest Bollywood music directors trying to force me. But I am a purely western singer. Though I speak many languages but am not in tune with Bollywood.
nAny particular artiste whose work you likeIJ
There are many and would rather not mention their names since I know them personally. I many mention a few and leave out a few which will not be correct. There is a lot of talent all over the place since we are a land of talent.
Has social media helped youIJ
Here, I have not helped myself. I am basically shy about using social media. At best, I will use to promote a performance two days before my performance that I am performing at such and such person. I am not a self-promoting person. I don’t Tweet which is the way to go. It is nobody’s fault but my own — due to my personality. I probably don’t share because I have got my share and put up what is informative. In that sense, I am missing out on such a powerful medium.
What are the challenges for youIJ
I am satiated at this point of my career. I can pick and choose my performances. I have done eight albums of original music including two abroad. I have recently uploaded eight to 10 music videos on my website. I have done everything that I have wanted to do including this performance in Delhi, which has been in the planning for two years.