We caught up with Rnb/Funk Legend, producer, author, and philanthropist, Dr. Larry Dodson, Jr. from the Legendary group, The Bar-Kays. How did you become or form the group as we now know as, The Bar-Kays? I WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE BAR-KAYS IN MARCH OF 1970 AND I BECAME THE FIRST AND ONLY LEAD SINGER THE BAND HAS EVER HAD.. AT THAT TIME I WAS SINGING WITH A LOCAL DU-WOP GROUP CALLED THE TEMPREES, WHICH I STARTED IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Tell us how you got involved in the music industry? I GOT INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALLY AFTER BECOMING THE LEAD SINGER OF THE BAR-KAYS WHERE I BEGAN TO RECORD PROFESSIONALLY. THE BAR-KAYS HAD ALREADY HAD A MILLION SELLING SINGLE CALLED “SOUL FINGER”. IT WAS THIER VERY FIRST RECORDING.
What inspires you to write music? AS A SONG WRITER, I AM INSPIRED TO WRITE SONGS FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND VERY OFTEN I AM INSPIRED TO WRITE ABOUT THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS , ESPECIALLY THIER LOVE EXPERIENCES. AND LASTLY I GET INSPIRED TO WRITE ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCES AND ITS MANY CHALLENGES.
How did you come up with the name Bar-Kays?
Do you still write music?
Tell us about the honorary doctorate degree you receive and how did that come about?
AS ONE OF THE MAIN SONGWRITERS OF THE BARKAYS I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED ON 95% OF ALL THE SONGS THE BAND HAS EVER RECORDED, BUT I MUST SAY I SELDOM WRITE ANYMORE.
Do you write music for your self or other? I WILL WRITE NOW ONLY IF I’M REALLY INSPIRED BY A PARTICULAR TITLE THAT JUST KINDA HAUNTS ME OR IF I AM ASKED TO WRITE OR CO-WRITE A SONG FOR ANOTHER ARTIST OR FOR A PARTICULAR THEME OR CAUSE. FOR INSTANCE I CO-WROTE AND PRODUCED THE SONG, “A MESSAGE FROM MEMPHIS” WHICH WAS A THEME SONG FOR A CD AND DVD WHICH FEATURED AN ALLSTAR CAST OF ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS FROM MEMPHIS SUPPORT OF THE VICTIMS OF HAITI.
What was your first record you put out? THE VERY FIRST RECORD I WAS ASSOCIATED WITH WAS A SONG CALLED “SANG AND DANCE”. IT WAS MY VERY FIRST VOCAL ON A BAR-KAYS RECORD. IT WAS LATER SAMPLED BY WILL SMITH AND USED IN A MULTI MILLION SELLING SINGLE CALLED “GET JIGGY WIT IT”. I ALSO RECIEVED A BMI AWARD FOR MY PARTICIPATION IN THE SINGLE.
THE BAR-KAYS NAME CAME AS A RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL BAND’S DESIRE TO HAVE A RANCH WHICH THEY WANTED TO CALL BAR-K RANCH ....SO GOES THE STORY!! THE BAND HAD THE NAME BEFORE I JOINED IN 1970.
THE HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE THAT I RECIEVED FROM LEMOYNE OWEN COLLEGE WAS A COMPLETE SUPRISE TO ME . I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH IT . I WAS AT HOME WITH MY WIFE , MY SON AND HIS FAMILY ONE NIGHT AND THEY CALLED ME INTO THE BEDROOM WHERE THEY WERE ALL GATHERED AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY LEMOYNE OWEN COLLEGE TELLING LARRY JR. THAT THEY WANTED TO AWARD ME WITH THIS HONOR AND I WAS LOST FOR WORDS AS THEY ALL LOOKED AT ME WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE THAT IN WILL NEVER EVER FORGET. MY WIFE OF 50 YEARS HAD ALREADY TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE OF GOING BACK TO COLLEGE DURING THAT TIME TO GET HER DEGREE AND IRONICALLY WE GRADUATED ON THE SAME DAY. SHE GRADUATED CUM LAUDE FROM SOUTHWEST COLLEGE AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE HER GRADUATE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE MY CEREMONY. WE ALL CELEBRATED THAT NIGHT AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. I WROTE THE BOOK “AND THE BAND PLAYS ON” WHICH IS THE STORY OF MY LIFE, AFTER MY SON
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