Robbi Kumalo Transcript

November 25, 2007

Recorded Voice: Now back to Dr. Kent and friends.

Dr. Kent Gustavson: Welcome back to Sound Authors Radio. It’s the day after Thanksgiving and we are giving thanks for many things. The fourth segment of each show is devoted to an author of sound and it’s my pleasure to welcome guest Robbi Kumalo. Her stage name is Robbi K and her latest CD is called “Music Makes Me Happy”.Hello, Robbi.

Robbi: Hi, Dr. Kent.

Dr. Kent: The music is engaging, intelligent and fun, something you don’t often see from children’s music. It’s for kids but it doesn’t talk down to them and I have to say, it’s pretty enjoyable for adults as well. What’s Thanksgiving like at your house?

Robbi: Thanksgiving is interesting because my husband is not American. It’s always kind of like a nice holiday for him to celebrate even if he doesn’t understand the long story of why we celebrate Thanksgiving. But, it’s fun; I’m not the greatest cook. I cook better when I have company come over right here. So, we don’t have any company coming over this year. What did you do for Thanksgiving?

Dr. Kent: The South African side of the family doesn’t understand the Thanksgiving concept.

Robbi: Yes, yes, I think he likes it at the holiday, but it’s a hard one when you’re from another culture to have such an interesting holiday. But he likes to eat food, so it’s a good thing.

Dr. Kent: Robbi K’s musical partner and friend, of course, and husband is Bakithi Kumalo, the famous bass player of many of Paul Simon’s recordings and he is playing on this next track called “My Favorite Things.”

Robbi: I love this song.[musical interlude]

Dr. Kent: A question for your, Robbi. How important is it to you to have your music have intellect, to have an integrity?

Robbi: It’s very important not only integrity but just really serve you when you listen to music. My music, I wanted it to really serve the listener and sooth you and make you feel good and let your mind wander, all sorts of good things like that. So, it’s meant to feel and it’s meant to make your mind be stimulated and think as well. I think that’s a beautiful arrangement of “My Favorite Things” as a matter of fact.

Dr. Kent: What do your kids think? Do they like this music?

Robbi: Yes! I think they like it. I think the whole record has been inspired by my kids and spending time with them and observing them. All of the songs that sense of family-related significance I think.

Dr. Kent: And there are a few songs where your daughter sings lead, absolutely gorgeous singing.

Robbi: Isn’t she something else? She was eight years old when she recorded that record.

Dr. Kent: She’s got some pizzazz in there.

Robbi: I tell you, she sings better than I did when I was her age. She’s going to be amazing. She is amazing.

Dr. Kent: Tell me a little bit about your background. I know you sing back up with some folks.

Robbi: Yes, not that long ago. I used to tour and record with some great singers. I’m so lucky I’ve worked with Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Rod Stewart, John Hiatt. Edie Brickell, Paul Simon’s wife, she’s great; Mary J. Blige, so many different people. The Singing Policeman, I remember doing 9/11, the policeman that has that gorgeous voice, they called him the “Singing Policeman” around the Metro New York area. I think the world, he was like the singer, he always sings the anthem very solemnly then, just beautiful voice. I was his background singer. Daniel Rodriquez.

Dr. Kent: What made you go out and start being a children singer?

Robbi: Well, it actually found me when I was a kid. I was a senior in high school and there was a lot of politics getting cast in the play and I hated it, the auditioning for the school plays. But I love theater; I love theater so I was a little frustrated with the getting chorus parts all the time. So I said to one of my favorite teachers who directed some of the shows, “Man! I just want to perform.”And he’s like, “You should do children’s theater.” And I thought, “OK.” Then, we have done some children’s theater before, so he let me start a little group again that resurrected a children theater group at my high school. I wrote stuff, directed things, performed in, also at the shows around my community, at St. Joseph’s College in Patchup. That’s when I fell in love with doing children’s theater. So, that was when I was 17 years old.

Dr. Kent: So, one of my favorite songs, “Growing Up My Dad”, I hated it at the time, but in long road trips, my Dad would start singing a few of “My Favorite Things”. It drove me nuts, but now it’s one of my favorite songs because I remember those times when I was a child. I think a lot of parents will really love this CD as well as their children. I think we got to trust our kids to really enjoy good music. We don’t always have to play plastic keyboards and all that kind of pink music for our kids. We can give them intelligent music.

Robbi: We absolutely must, and we enjoy this music ourselves. So, trends are good and current pop music is great, but you have to have a balance it out, too. That’s what I’m trying to do on this record. There’s jazz, there is beautiful uplifting spiritual songs and arrangement of [xx] there’s some reggae, calypso types of music.

Dr. Kent: You’ve got some great guest on here also Guy Davis, and some others.

Robbi: Yes, Guy Davis, Jon Bowzer from Sha Na Na. [Hums] that guy, that guy.

Dr. Kent: Let’s listen to a little bit of “Feel the Beat”. That’s the opening track from Robbi’s album.

Robbi: Oh, yes.[musical interlude]

Dr. Kent: You can find Robbi K’s music at HiRobbi.com.

Robbi: Hi, Robbi! I want everybody to say hello to me. So, you’d go to HiRobbi.com.

Dr. Kent: Thanks so much for being on the show.

Robbi: You’re welcome. Thanks, Dr. Kent.

Dr. Kent: Thank you to Pat Williams, Lars Clausen and D. Castle-Shepard as well as Engineer Anthony Farabee, host guru Sonia Darte, Executive Producer Charlavan Hart, Sound Engineer Ruben Columbe, and Randy Jackman with the ecards.We’ll see you next week, have a safe one.[musical interlude]

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