DeepSummary
The episode begins with Speaker A promoting Disneyland as the "happiest place on earth" where one can experience different adventures like flying the Millennium Falcon or meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The discussion then shifts to an advertisement for Discover credit card's 24/7 customer service. After that, a promotion for IBM's Watson X code Assistant AI highlights its ability to generate code quickly and create a modern foundation for businesses.
The main segment starts with Questlove introducing James Poyser, a musician, producer, and member of The Roots. James recounts his childhood, growing up in England with Jamaican parents and moving to West Philadelphia at age 9. He discusses his early experiences with music, starting with playing drums and bass in church, and eventually transitioning to keyboards. James shares stories about gigs with gospel choirs, getting feedback on his songwriting skills, and his journey from studying engineering to pursuing music full-time.
James explains how he met Questlove and The Roots crew, working at Philadelphia International Records and collaborating with artists like The Whitehead Brothers and Lou Rawls. He also talks about his first major placements, including working on the Fame movie soundtrack and a remix for Foreign Exchange. The conversation delves into James' thoughts on the evolution of gospel music and the role of the black church in shaping musicians.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- James Poyser had a unique upbringing, being born in England to Jamaican parents and moving to West Philadelphia at age 9, which shaped his musical journey.
- Poyser's early musical experiences revolved around playing drums, bass, and eventually keyboards in church, where he honed his skills and gained exposure.
- The black church played a significant role in nurturing and shaping musicians, providing opportunities for performance and a breeding ground for talent.
- Poyser's transition from studying engineering to pursuing music full-time was a pivotal moment in his career, leading him to collaborate with various artists and work on major projects.
- The evolution of gospel music has been influenced by the increasing technical abilities and musicianship of performers, with contemporary gospel music becoming more complex and challenging.
- Networking and making connections within the music industry, such as Poyser's interactions with Questlove, The Roots crew, and Philadelphia International Records, can open doors and lead to career-defining opportunities.
- Perseverance and a willingness to learn and grow as a musician are essential qualities that helped Poyser overcome early setbacks and criticism to eventually find success.
- Poyser's ability to transition from being a musician to a producer allowed him to expand his creative contributions and leave a lasting impact on various projects.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “If you and your crew want to have a blast, head to the happiest place on earth, the Disneyland resort. It's that place where you could be whatever you want to be.“ by Speaker A
- “If an application needs to be modernized, then you'll need time, resources, and caffeine. If that sounds daunting, then you need Watson X code Assistant AI designed to multiply developer productivity so you can generate code quickly.“ by Speaker A
- “Everybody knows, okay, practice the stuff. Go do it. Go do a gig. You know, there's a gospel concert with like 40 people on it. You go up there and do two songs. You know, you gotta. Do you have your own DX seven or you share. Sometimes you bring your stuff in or sometimes you share.“ by James Poyser
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Episode Information
Questlove Supreme
iHeartPodcasts
6/19/24
Questlove Supreme's Black Music Month programming continues with a special interview with James Poyser. In Part 1, the incredible musician, producer, and member of The Roots retraces his steps from an English-born child of Jamaican parents to West Philadelphia. He also recalls cutting his teeth in Gospel music before ultimately getting down with DJ Jazzy Jeff's A Touch Of Jazz production team. Along the way, James remembers meeting Ahmir and making a line-skipping series of cameos on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
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