What got this band together and started in this business?

What got us started in this business? Don't really know - if we'd stopped to think about it, we might all be more gainfully employed by now! All the members have been playing music for the last 20+ years in various bands, including several where Craig & Brad were in the
same band. The Taters started out as "Burnt Taters" in 1997, with Craig & Brad playing as a duo. The band changed to just "the Taters" in 2002 as they began work on their third CD.

Who writes and produces all the material for the band?

Most of the songs are written by Craig, or co-written by Craig and long-time collaborator Gary Walker. Brad is also writing more these days, and contributed two great new songs to the latest CD, "RECESS". Craig & Brad do all the arranging & producing, and Stu helped out a lot for this new CD.

Who is the bands musical influence, and what is your musical background like?

Where to start! I think almost anything we've ever listened to is bound to influence us somehow. Some obvious ones that show up in our sound are The Everly Brothers, The Beatles, Roy Orbison... Craig is also a huge fan of Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Nick Lowe, and Lindsey Buckingham, as well as some of the classic songwriters like Cole Porter (Craig named his kid after Cole Porter!). He can also be found listening to Vic Mizzy whenever he can find it!

Brad grew up on lots of songwriters from the late 60's & 70's, like Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan, and John Denver, but is also a big fan of Nick Lowe, Ry Cooder, and Louis Jordan, as well as some of the great jazz composers like Duke Ellington & Hoagy Carmichael.

Both guys also share a love of classic vocal groups (Mills Brothers, Beach Boys), older country music (Hank Williams - of course!, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens), early 70's AM radio hits, and lots of old movies!

Any other members in your family that are musicians?

None that we know of, though both Craig and Brad have kids that are big music fans (especially Tater fans!)

What is the TOP reason why you want to play music?

Just have to do it. It's in there, and it has to come out. I don't think any of us would stop playing, even if we couldn't be in a band, or make any money at it. Even if we did it as a hobby, we'd keep at it, which is what everyone should do who feels the urge. We have
people come up to us all the time and tell us, "I used to play guitar" or some other instrument, but they gave it up as they grew older, got jobs, etc. I think that's a big mistake,
and probably comes from the misconception (in Western culture, anyway),  that, when you grow up, everyone has some "specialty", and that's all they should really focus on (their 'career'). Everything else is seen as less important, or as just a diversion.

In many older societies, playing music was much more a part of the cultural lingua franca, and it was almost assumed that someone in the family would work at some musical instrument. Nowadays, as with so many things, we leave it to the "pro's" to make our music for us. And, while I DON'T want to discourage anyone from coming out to a Taters show,
or buying the CDs, I love it when we hear someone tell us that seeing us made them pull out their guitar again, or inspired their kid to want to play drums, or whatever.

What has been your best show?

A few years ago, we opened a show for Jimmie Dale Gilmore (another personal favorite!), and, when it came time for his set, we were invited up to back him up on 3 or 4 songs. It was the first time he'd ever heard us, but he must have liked what he saw. It was a tremendous
high for us, and so much fun!

Any good stories you want to tell us?

I could, but they are usually not mine ...

Any embarrassing moments on stage?

Just the usual stuff - forgetting words, chords, where we are, etc... last week we invited a friend up to sing on a song, and at one point Craig leaned in to share a harmony on his mic. They both smashed heads together, and can't remember what the rest of the song sounded
like for a minute or so!

Where can people access your music on the web?

The best place is at our website - www.theTaters.com You can listen to sound clips, find links to MP3s, and order CDs (we especially like the last option!)

Has the band played in front of or with any acts our readers would know?

As the Taters, we've shared the bill with Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Wayne Hancock, America, Kansas, Little River Band, 1964, and lots of regional, mid-Atlantic acts.

© 2003 KJAG Radio and The Taters

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