Jackie DeShannon – Living Her Dreams By David Rabadi
This conversation is with a remarkable, talented and beautiful woman that has had a career in the music industry so many people dream of. She is a singer and songwriter and a force to reckon with. Here is the woman of the hour Jackie DeShannon.
David:
I want to start off by congratulating you. I heard you are being inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in April.
Jackie:
Thank you. Here is how it works, The Country Music Hall of Fame has this program called Poets and Prophets and they feature various songwriters and interviews on people who write songs. They ask different questions and it’s kind of exciting that they have selected me. There aren’t a lot of women in there. So, I am glad to be a part of it.
David:
Wow congrats, that is amazing.
Jackie:
It’s sponsored by the Country Music Hall of Fame and it’s one of their special programs.
David:
Nice, you have had such a long career. What is the most difficult decision you had to make to fulfill your destiny?
Jackie:
I think, leaving home. You know going out on my own and not being able to have my family with me. We are very, very, close. Back in the day, I traveled a lot by myself. I did various personal appearances. I did whatever I had in front of me to advance my career. I think that was the most difficult thing.
David:
I am close to my family too. I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t want to go to Hollywood because I didn’t want to miss out seeing my nieces and nephews growing up.
Jackie:
Well, I understand that completely, you know you are speaking to the choir, and I feel the same exact way. It is a tough decision. But I think you have to go with what is in your heart and what is in your soul and that is what you have to live with.
David:
That is very profound and very true. If you could go back to your teenage self, what would you tell yourself?
Jackie:
Oh, to go to law school. I would tell my teenage self to learn about copyrights and how to protect your job and how the business side of the music industry is practiced. And how the income and royalties from your publishing rights is broken down as a songwriter. I didn’t have a business sense at all. I just thought the most important thing is to write the song and get that out there and just as important is how to get your song out there and have knowledge of the business aspect and how to maintain yourself as an artist throughout the years. Learn how the royalties come in to you as an artist. You really don’t know whether you are getting the full amount or not. I know it sounds pretty cold, and it sounds very important. I will go into it a little bit more in the interview with Poets and Prophets.
David:
Ok, that is very wise. A music artist just wants to create music through their passion and they don’t know the business end of it. You hear a lot of stories about people having multi-million dollar record deals and have no money because of the publishing rights. That is very true, that people should know all aspects of the business in any business you are in.
Jackie:
That is very true. I used to think that people would do the
right thing. If I had $2 coming, I would think the $2 is coming. I was very naïve, and I think being informed is just as important. You need to understand that your material will be around for a while and need to know how that works.
David:
Can you tell me the moment you were inspired to become a singer/songwriter? What was the inspiration?
Jackie:
The inspiration I had in the beginning to become a songwriter was when I was appearing on a radio show in Chicago and they had various country artists and different genres and I was told that if I wanted to get my song on a radio show, I should write my own songs and so I started to write poetry and what I thought was songs and I didn’t know that was going to be the way I break into the industry.
David:
Who were musical artists that influenced you in your music?
Jackie:
Well, my dad, mom and aunt grew up in a very universal household and my aunt played classical music, my mom played with big bands and my dad and his brother sang country blues. So, I grew up with a lot of different styles of music and I was influenced by all of them really.
David:
Nice, when you look back at your career, do you have any regrets?
Jackie:
Yes, my regret is what we were just speaking about, which is not having enough business savvy. I was very unaware of the process what happens when you write a song business wise, but knew the creative part of creating music. That is something I wish I would have known when I first started in the industry.
David:
Do you have a favorite song you like to perform?
Jackie:
Well, I guess my favorite would have to be “Put A Little Love In Your Heart.” That song has always been my nearest and dearest song. I have a background of singing gospel music when I was 6 years old. Gospel music has always been very important to me. That is my favorite song.
David:
What advice would you give struggling people trying to make it in the industry?
Jackie:
With all the technology available, I guess I feel you have to work really hard and know how the business works to have a good strong background what happens to your songs after you write and demo them. What should you expect, how to deal with royalties you might be able to receive. It’s a bit complicated these days, don’t you think?
David:
I agree. I am not a good singer, but it’s always been a passion of mine because I love music so much.
Jackie:
That is what I understand today. Even though you have millions and millions of downloads, it is not what I grew up with. It’s very true. It is very wise and true and I think that is why you have business agents and you have to have a position to understand every aspect of your career because you do not know what peoples intentions are, that is why I stress this because you need to be informed. You need to take a class on the business side of the music industry so you can be prepared and understand what you are getting into. You make a record or however you express yourself and all the sudden you do not get the royalties you expected, then you won’t be disappointed as much. I think one of the things that strike me is if my song is not commercial or did I not have the proper marketing. That is another thing, marketing is very, very important. If people don’t hear it, then they don’t know about it. You need to know where to go to have a decent amount of marketing for your song.
David:
That is very true. Could you tell me who in the new generation of singers is your favorite music artist or who do you listen to?
Jackie:
There are so many, I can’t even to begin to tell you. So many people just pop up now and I just think it’s great. I love so many of them. It is very difficult to say who is my favorite. There are so many great artists, especially women. When I was getting started in the recording industry, women weren’t getting a lot of air-time and now there are so many. I am really happy where women are today in the business.
David:
It’s been a struggle for women in a lot of different areas and it’s good to know women today have a voice and there should have been equality since the beginning of time. It is nice to know they have a voice now and they are being taken serious. They say it’s a man’s world, but I think that is changing. Can you give me some words of wisdom to all the readers?
Jackie:
You have to follow the dream and believe in yourself. That is where it all starts, and you have to be passionate and not stop if someone says to you that is not good or we don’t like that. I believe the artist themselves is the judge of when the song is finished or not finished. No one comes in and says oh well, this isn’t a good song, but you believe it’s a good song. I would say sit with it. Do not give up. Never give up and keep that dream going and the passion in your heart and the dream in your heart that something will happen. One thing leads to another and eventually you persevere and believe that your dream can come true.
David:
Wonderful, thank you so much taking the time to speaking with me. I really enjoyed our chat.
Jackie:
Thank you very much for having me. I loved talking to you and I feel like I know you.
