“I can remember listening to records with my father as young as 4 or 5 years old. I grew up down in Memphis, TN so soul music was a huge part of my life.”
“My dad had a collection filled with all the old Stax and Malaco Records. Artists like Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, Booker T & the M.G.’s, and Otis Redding were in constant rotation on our old console record player that seemed, as a 4 year old, gigantic. Those times with my father were so special to me. I wanted to be like him—what he liked I liked.
That’s why I’m so drawn to vinyl. There’s just something about that comforting sound that you just don’t get anywhere else. There’s an imperfect innocence, a sense of truth, a raw, sexy realness that comes from a record.
When I was growing up, cassettes and CDs were in transition and then later Mp3s. Honestly, I think all of that just made people lazy. Listening to music changed drastically with the move from vinyl. People don’t listen to entire records anymore. And artists seldom make records that are meant to be listened to from beginning to end.
Since the days of vinyl, the art of music has slowly been stripped away. There’s a reason why younger generations are starting to discover records and why our parents are dusting off the old players and rediscovering them. We’re all yearning for it. It’s like an old message that’s coming around again—like a message that needs to be heard.
It’s important for me, as an artist, to do what I can to bring that message back. Vinyl was the first and vinyl will be the last. Why put your music on something that won’t last?
To this day, putting on a record brings me right back to Memphis on a Saturday morning. Momma is cooking up breakfast, “Let’s Stay Together” is spinning on the player, and there’s just an overall feeling of old fun, peace, and happiness.
Just like momma’s cooking, vinyl is food for the soul. Good, old-fashioned soul food. That’s what it’s all about.”
—Gedeon Luke
Gedeon Luke & The People release their debut LP, Live Free & Love independently on June 3rd.
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PHOTO: KYLE C. MUMFORD
Gedeon Luke & The People Tour Dates:
5/21 – Jammin’ Java – Vienna,VA
5/22 – Double Door Inn – Charlotte, NC
5/24 – 12th and Porter – Nashville, TN
5/25 – Leavitt Shell – Memphis, TN
5/27 – Schuba’s – Chicago, IL
5/28 – Bernie’s Distillery – Columbus, OH
5/30 – Pocahontas Live- Chesterfield, VA
5/31 – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA
6/13 – Summer Sounds – Greensburg, PA
