Memphis Gold - A throw back to the blues legends of yore.
Memphis Gold is a throwback to the blues men of yore who learned their licks at the knee of legendary patriarch like Charlie Patton.
Every time Memphis Gold and The Scrap Iron Band, consisting of several members over the years like: Steve Wolf on Bass Guitar, Joe Wells on Drums, Mike Nelson on Rhythm Guitar, Rowe Oliver on Bass, Kurt Gibbons on Keys, Charlie Sayles on Harmonica, Jay Summer our on Harmonica just to name a few, take the stage; this true blues man carries the audience on a journey back in time, to the days when cotton was king on the Mississippi Delta.
Vizions of Rock caught up with Memphis for an exclusive one-on-one.
Vizions of Rock: Where did the name come from and why?
GOLD: Memphis Gold came from when I had two Gold teeth in the front of my mouth and when I first met my wife, she started calling me Memphis Gold because I was from Memphis and had those two gold teeth in front.
Vizions of Rock: How did the band get together and how long have you been together?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I put Memphis Gold band together in 1995 from at a jam in Washington DC at a club called Vegas Lounge, but have had multiple members since then!
Vizions of Rock: You have played all over the world. How is the blues received overseas oppose to here in the USA?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I have performed in 42 countries to date. Playing over the years abroad has been very gratifying! People really break out and lay the red carpet for me. I’m treated like a king! Here in the US you’re just another band trying to make a meager living!
Vizions of Rock: You have shared the stage with many blues legends. What musician that you shared the stage with meant the most to you and why?
MEMPHIS GOLD: It’s hard to say but sharing the stage with Jessie Mae Hemphill, Lil Jimmy King and Charlie Sayles. Jessie Mae was like a mom to me and always had harsh words when I missed a note! Lil Jimmy King was like my baby brother and we had lots of road time together! Charlie Sayles and I came from being homeless on the streets to playing all over the world together.
Vizions of Rock: How has the music industry changed over the years and if you could change anything about it, what would it be?
MEMPHIS GOLD: The music industry has not changed in that the record labels/companies still want to own you. I’ve changed things by owning all my music and copyrights and publishing!
Vizions of Rock: As a follow up, how has blues music, as an art form, changed over the last 50 years?
MEMPHIS GOLD: Blues music has changed in that Rockabilly has infiltrated blues music and everybody in the younger generation now thinks that that is blues music and it’s not!
Vizions of Rock: What is your favorite guitar to play and why?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I have several types of guitars, Gibson’s, Fenders, Washburn. They all love me, and I love them. They do what I tell them to do and don’t talk back unless I tell them!
Vizions of Rock: Who are your influences?
MEMPHIS GOLD: My Father John Chandler, Reverend Utah Smith, Howlin Wolf, RL Burnside, Albert King, B.B. King.
Vizions of Rock: How did the evolution of your music come together?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I grew up on Beale street in Memphis Tennessee and played as small boy in the Pentecostal Holiness Faith, Church of God In Christ. I played on Sunday’s at church with My Father John R Chandler, Reverend Robert (Tim) Wilkins and during Holy Convocation Meetings, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Rev Utah Smith (I got Two Wings). Please see (That’s no way to get Along) Rev Robert (Tim) Wilkins
Vizions of Rock: What do you enjoy most about being a musician?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I love entertaining people and seeing them have a good time dancing and listening to my music! I also enjoy writing and recording my own music.
Vizions of Rock: What message are you trying to communicate with your music?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I try to communicate things that happens in life and how it’s lived, also situations that I’ve experienced as well as the good and the bad.
Vizions of Rock: Do you have a booking agent, who handles your touring?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I am my own booking agent and Wife handles all my touring for the last 25 years.
Vizions of Rock: What advice would you give someone wanting to follow in your footsteps, aside from “don’t quite your day job” and “stay in school”?
MEMPHIS GOLD: You have got to be all in or not! Remember if someone comes up to you in your band after a gig and says they had fun playing with you, never play with them again! Performing and playing music is not fun, I enjoy it but it’s not fun, it’s a job! That’s why people don’t take musicians seriously!
Vizions of Rock: What is on the horizon for the future?
MEMPHIS GOLD: I have lots of music in the tank and am looking forward to finishing CD’s that I have projected in the next few years! I am also looking forward to summer when I go overseas quite often!
Vizions of Rock: What makes Memphis Gold unique?
MEMPHIS GOLD: My style of music makes me unique, it’s called Beale Street Sanctified Gutbucket Blues.
Vizions of Rock: Is there a tagline or a specific message to portray you as a musician that you want the world to know?
MEMPHIS GOLD: Sanctified Gutbucket Blues. I am a genuine article, perhaps a throwback to the blues men of yore who learned their licks at the knee of legendary patriarch like Charlie Patton. And having done so, serves as one of the last links to the days when cotton was king on the Mississippi Delta."
Vizions of Rock: How can we find you music?
MEMPHIS GOLD: You can find my music on Spotify, Cdbaby, Amazon , iTunes, Apple Music.
