Hey, Nelson...making me misty!
Nelson "FFWD" Cruz...How have you been?
So, let me see if I understand this. You decided to say all of these nice things about me and what I do, I get misty eyed and tearful, my pool of tears attacks my keyboard, electronic equipment, things get wet and then me and my world get electro-shocked?
Seriously, thanks for the words. They mean a lot to me. After all of these years, it's nice to be remembered for my small role in establishing Freestyle music here in Chicago. I have always, and will always support and promote the movement.
As law2k1 points out, I do webcast my Friday morning program out of WLUW. If you look elsewhere on ths eite, you'll notice that people are listening and conversing right here on Clubfreestyle.com!
Nelson, since you've let the world know of my role in the movement, it's only fair to let people know that it was you who started the "East-Midwest Connection". After you, Sweet Sensation, Denise Lopez and Corina came through my show back in 1987 or so, the floodgates opened. You were the one who told everyone on the East Coast about me and my station. It was you who gave me several private phone numbers to artists such as your self (busted!). You would send me advance copies of material months ahead of commercial release. After you were through spreading the gospel about Harv Roman at WCYC, everyone made certain to visit me while in town. George Lamond, Cynthia, TKA...you've seen the "Wall of Fame", it's huge. So for all I did, and continue to try and do for the Freestyle movement, it will always be you who planted the New York seed. As a result, I can now call you, Chunky, Legit, Cynthia, George, Kayel, Damon, Angel Clivilles and many others as both musical and personal friends.
I read with interest your take on "what really happened to Freestyle music". I'll agree that the George Lamond theory has it's merits, but so do the promoters (Gypsy) who ripped many of you off by "not having enough money" to pay your performance fees, the major radio stations who would play George, Lissette, occasionally Cynthia and no one else, the mixers, who at the time wouldn't credit the artists for their work and eventually were so busy programming their own label's artists that they didn't have room for anyone else, and even the Freestyle fans who in some cases, treated Freestyle like the flavor of the month and moved on to the next fad. There will always be fans dedicated to making efforts to log on and listen to shows like mine and Judy and Johnny's on WKTU (I'd like to name them all, but I don't want to miss anybody). I remember fans who didn't make an effort to help promote the music. As a matter of fact, some fans rebelled against Freestyle after a while saying that they were tired of the same acts coming in week after week. The same fans who turned their backs on Freestyle saying that the artists were not legitimate, were track artists and couldn't sing live.
At one point, the music was easy to find, but I guess it was easier to go to the MegaMall and get a bootleg (I'm sure that George and the others would thank you for the support.). In addition, the Chicago promoters made their money and ran straight to the bank. The only promoter who I remember treating all of you with respect was Tony Bitoy. Rent-A-Hall parties became extinct thanks to the knuckleheads who would deal drugs, fight and cause the parties to shut down (remember the Aragon?).
Then of course the artists themselves had to find another way to make their money. Some got "real jobs" (Bloomingdales, the Public School system, their own cleaning businesses, etc.), some tried to make it with smaller labels, and yes, some had to crossover into other segments of the music scene. Look at the list of successful Salsa stars...India, Marc Anthony, George Lamond, Lissette Melendez, Luis Damon, George Anthony, Nayobe, Chrissie I-eece...am I missing anyone? They didn't sell out. They just went back to their roots and paid tribute to what Mom and Dad used to listen to when they were young. Can you blame them? They had to make their money. When it comes to other forms of music, the fan base seems to be dedicated. Rap, country, R & B, rock, alternative and even classic rock fans are dedicated to their favorite form of music. Unfortunately, the dedication seems to fall along ethnic lines. Latinos?
We are passionate about our many tastes in music, but we spread ourselves too thin and developed love for other types of music-at the expense of Freestyle.
Am I making sense here? Or do I just have an overflow of moisture in my brain due to your words of testimony on my behalf?
I suppose that I am just mushy eyed. It probably had nothing to do with the record labels who decided to hand out bad contracts, not pay royalties, and blacklist their least favorite clients. I know, I had record label execs in the past call me up and "encourage" me to stop playing an artist who they were having trouble with.
Naw, it must be me having a bad Mother's Day.
On a positive note, yesterday I went to Sam Goody Water Tower and picked up the CD single for Rockell's "What U Did 2 Me". They also had a small collection of Freestyle compilations...hey it's a start! I also picked up the CD single for Destiny's Child's "Survivor", and guess who contributed a dance remix? Besides Chicago's very own Maurice? It's our friend Charlie Babie! I told you he was still in the mix here in Chicago! Apparently with Connie V. and Maurice Joshua at 200 Proof Productions...didn't someone ask "whatever happened to..."?
I better stop. This thread is getting a little long...
Harv Roman
