Speaker 1: You would never mix up your peanut butter with watermelon,
or even Taylor Swift with the piano. Guys, then again
you might, well, that's what this is all about. Arro
dot net a r r oe dot net, seventeen different
podcasts to choose from for your driving or just being
at work, entertainment. How are you doing today, I hear you, Well,
I'll tell you what. You have been a part of
my life, the entire journey. And the reason why is
because my father used to come into my room because
I wanted to be a radio jock as a preteen,
and he would come in there and he would listen
to every single song that I was going to put
on my radio station. And every time that I would
put on one of your forty five's, my dad would go, see,
this is it. This is what you need. This is
what you need to base this radio station on. And Melwo,
I mean, you have no idea how much you you
played a major role in the creation of my career.
Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad because this is it.
Speaker 1: And the thing is is the fact that you're sharing this.
It is amazing to me because Joel Whitburn and even
Rolling Stone Magazine did not give me what you're sharing
with me, and this is it marvelous and getting better,
because that's the attitude I love to hear from my
favorite people.
Speaker 2: Oh okay, great, I'm glad.
Speaker 1: So to jump onto that train to write a book, though,
that means you got to step inside that closet that
you've thrown everything into, or go underneath the bed, or
go up into the attic. You got a journey you took,
that's right.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a challenging one too, because for me, first
of all, it's my first book, and it's not the
same as doing a concert. Of course, you're reaching people,
but you have to do it in a different way.
And when you're doing a concert or a play, the
script is written for you, so you know what your
guidelines are. But here, I think I wanted to be
cautious that, especially some of the downs didn't hurt anybody else.
That's the main thing.
Speaker 1: How do you stay in control of something like that,
because that means you've got to go back in there
and refeel that emotion.
Speaker 2: Well, that's not the difficult part because I've had a
lot of time to get healing and distance from some
of the things that happened to me what the challenge
would be. You can't do that by yourself because it
can't be just your decision because you have no idea
what some people even know about you. So I had
a team with people kind of help me set the guidelines.
What should you say, what shouldn't you? And some of
them I agree with, and some of them, well, it's
my story. So I can't just let them say what
they want. I have to pick. I have to try
to choose that. You know, Okay, you might have to
have a little clothe me, but you got to talk
about this. I know what people are saying, or well
maybe they're right, but you don't really know. It's not
an easy choice.
Speaker 1: Well see, you bring up a very interesting point there
in the way of it's what people don't know about you.
And that's exactly one of the reasons why I became
the jock that I did on the radio was because
not enough people were doing the Casey Kasem thing or
the Dick Clark thing. Tell me the story about this artist,
so that when I go get that album, I'm going
to be much more in love with them, right.
Speaker 2: I mean, that's the point is to a love relationship
by exposing yourself and communicating with people and finding out
about them. We know all of us have terrible things
about us, but we're not hiding those things, but we're
trying to focus on how do we unite with so
much tearing at you? And I think that's what makes
any story interesting.
Speaker 1: So did you ever use what I call hidden speak
as a way to get your music out there? And
hidden speak is that one thing that you know how
you're truly feeling, or how an event took place, but
through the power of writing and creative spirit, you were
able to take that experience and twist it and turn
it into a brilliant love song or a jazz piece.
Speaker 2: I would if I was a songwriter, but I ain't why.
Speaker 1: You had me convinced that you were the mac daddy.
Oh my god.
Speaker 2: One of the things I've learned is when you collaborate
with people, make sure that they will fit with regardless
of what they're doing with you. Make sure you learn
how they function, so you don't try to make them.
You don't try to remake them. You see what do
they do and how how do they How do they function? Yeah?
And uh, then then you try to pay yourself with
them and in terms of telling my story, I've had
a team where people just help me do it. That's all.
I think. The spirit is there for anybody to talk
about themselves or tell their stories. Maybe not necessarily do
a book, but I think everybody can write a book
really well.
Speaker 1: I mean, what the thing about it is, though, is
that look at the collaboration that you've done with Kevin Taylor.
I mean, now I understand this even better because now
now I go into it, I'm going, oh my god,
because collaboration is one of my hot words. I love
that word collaboration. So when you speak of it, you're
on my street.
Speaker 2: Okay, Because so then you you can understand how Kevin
Taylor will take all the information and stories and testimonies
over time and pieces together and put them in sections
and stuff. Then he would put them in order, and
he would put them in a language that's not just
you're talking with each other, but it's a book. It's poetic,
it's organized, it's entertaining. That's what Kevin did.
Speaker 1: See. I love a person like that because I am
so guilty of going into my own daily writing saying
there's nobody else that that files the way that I
do there's nobody else that will sit there and you know,
create these chapters and these folders and things. And now
I need to meet Kevin too, because you obviously learned
this from Kevin. Because I mean, you've got to be
able to put something in that box and come back
to it when it's time to use it.
Speaker 2: Right. You can't just put it out there because there's
once again, you know all the orders because you've lived
this in all the different pieces of somewhere in your subconscious.
But that's not what You can't give them all of
your subconscious. You have to give them what you have
been to your collaboration, what you know from your own experience. No,
they want and need for this particular subject, this particular time.
Because this is my first book, I hope it will
only be the first, and I'll do more so I'll
cover other areas in other books. Have that in mind
as my first guidance kind of limitation. Don't go outside borders.
That's what I'm saying, borders.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean the way that you really put it
in here inside the storylines is the fact that and
I think this is such a major inspiration in my
heart is instead of asking what's next. You pretty much
commanded it. This is next. I love that attitude because
it's like so many times people go, so what are
you gonna do next? I don't know, I don't know,
and it's like not mel but more she knows exactly
what she's going to do.
Speaker 2: Well, that's my team, though, because we know we have
to put it together and we have to know what's next.
Especially after longevity, you can't just sit there and bask.
You know, people say, well, what how do you like
back back, back back, I want to remember back, but
you got to plan for what's next because it's here.
Speaker 1: It's so true that you say that, because you know,
so many people like to live in their past or
they like to live so far in the future, when
you're living in this moment of now, when it is here.
Now we can take on that roller coaster ride that
you're talking about inside these chapters, because I mean, you
face that journey, you face that wall, and here you
are today and it's like, oh my god, she made it.
Speaker 2: But also you gotta know what's next, because you got
to know it's going to be a roller coador. It
could be so get in this. Give them the company
that makes good roller coasters, you know, the belts are
closed if you don't get flown out.
Speaker 1: You know, you know the plan now, and you know
that's the way the entertainment industry really works. Because just
when you think you're climbing that hill and you're gonna
have a smooth ride down the other side, ah, there's
gonna be something that's gonna get in a way pasisely.
Speaker 2: And it's a good example of how life can be.
So I'm saying that, you know, these kinds of examples
are good for everybody, regardless of what their life is.
Speaker 1: See, because I think we're all born creative. Just something
stands in the way of going I'm gonna go a
different direction. I'm going to become a follower instead of
a leader.
Speaker 2: Right, But we're still creatures of creativity, no matter how
limited or broad it is, or what area it is.
That's where creatures are creative. We're made like that.
Speaker 1: Now, mail, but I got it, Okay, Now you're touching
another area. I've got an iHeartRadio channel called creativity is
an addiction. Do you believe that creativity is an addiction
or do you think it's a wave of life.
Speaker 2: It's a wave of life. It's a it's a part
of everybody. Even if you don't have all your mental facilities,
you're going to be creative. I mean, well, I don't
think it's you that do it. I think that's what's
in you. I think God puts in you so it
does itself.
Speaker 1: Yeah, because you can't shake it. I don't care who
you are and how strong you might be, you can't
shake it.
Speaker 2: I don't think so. I mean I noticed that people
who are really creative, especially in the way that we're
talking about now, that you can recognize that's what he's
creative without. They have a certain patterns that they live
in do just like a person who's tall or short.
It's part of who you're made to be.
Speaker 1: Please do not move. There's more with Melbournmore coming up
next the name of her book This is It Marvelous
and getting better. We are back with Melbournemore. So now
when it comes to your creativity, I mean when, when
do you know that it's time to step into that?
Because somewhere along the line, something whispered into your heart
that said, Melba, now is the time release the story.
Speaker 2: Oh no, my daughter said that, she said, Mama, everybody
got a book.
Speaker 1: With you, Okay, yep, just say it's.
Speaker 2: Time for you to do this. So but as far
as the other aspect of creativity, now that I know that,
first of all, I'm an artist, so that means you
focus on your creativity. So I kind of organized my
life so that I take the first part of my day.
Give you to the Lord, be quiet, see what he
wants to do with this day, because he's the reds
the creator of everything.
Speaker 1: Right yep.
Speaker 2: Because we'll create, but we'll create the wrong things. We'll
create chaos. So you want to put everything in order,
or you let him put it in order, and say, okay,
what do you want to do? What do you want
me to do with this day? How do you want
to start it? And you try to do it you can,
and then you see what he's telling me. Then you say,
this is it. It's going to do it. But then
you show it to people and I say, oh god,
she knows exactly what it is. It makes you look good.
Speaker 1: My hands are raised in the air and I'm saying, hey, amen, amen,
oh my god, you are speaking. This is the kind
of language that a lot of people need to understand.
It's that creativity is going to reach out and bite you.
But don't run away from it. Face the chariot, face
the fire, Get in there, get it done, because on
the opposite side of that is going to be somebody
that needs exactly what you're willing to deliver, and you're.
Speaker 2: Going to get such great reward that you will enjoy
yourself too. You will be denied anything you get, way
way more than you had any idea you would if
you But you can get the courage. It's not always easy.
Speaker 1: To do that. Yeah, you really got me on chapter six, though, girl,
Because on the other side of the rainbow, how many
times have we said that, you know, it's almost like
the grass is greener on the other side of the
fans ooh those Capital years ooh man, I mean we
all heard those stories of what it's like to be
at Capitol Records.
Speaker 2: Unbelievable, and I do some incredible things with them. Because
of the circumstances there, I was able to record the
lift of your voice and sing. There had many, many,
many hit records. I think that's where I probably had
well the culmination of a lot of my dance hits.
I think most of the hit songs that I've had
have been dance records. I can't, but people could dance
formula to me. Yeah.
Speaker 1: But did you ever have a point though, I mean,
you know when that iconic building, I mean you you
sit there and you and you go wow, when when
before you step into it, did you have a moment
with God that said you know where you were being
grateful that? Because once you step inside that Capitol building,
Oh my god, it's a world all its own and
it's in control of a creative universe.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, And you see who else you're around was and
you realize you're in the number yep. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
you get it. You get it in England. Yeah, I
mean I never thought, oh I'm great, I'm I'm Oh
my god, look who's here? Look who's here? Look where
I am? You realize yeah, that's you too.
Speaker 1: Yeah. One of those people, the ever popular and so
lovable Dion Warwick. My god, I've got I've had so
many beautiful conversations with Dion. What what is it about
that generation sound where it really does feel like that
you're more grateful for what has happened than saying nah
I went to number one, I went to It just
seems like you're going, But you can too. That's what
I keep picking up is that you can too, but
you're gonna have to do the journey as well.
Speaker 2: Maybe it was a time in our country when we
healed somewhat from slavery. In all the years of coming
up out of that and all the different stages of
different races and culturals, cultures coming together. That makes us America.
And that's expressed in the music. And you have it expressed,
I think in different ears in different ways. And Miss
Dion has a powerful gentleness and her songwriters that she
moment wake up, yes, wake er, I see a little bit.
Isn't that sweet? Things like that? Well, I mean, did
you're so sweet? And and they're dance they're dance songs.
They're not like you know, like the song that I
have now it is called no Filter.
Speaker 1: It's not really.
Speaker 2: But but it's sweet and gentle. I think it's just
it's the time of the culbination of all the people.
Because you you you make records for masses of people,
not for yourself or for uh and for for genres,
which means whole categories. So there has to be a
whole spirit that you touch the center of when when
you do that, and when you talk about Dion's era
and some of the music that she did, that occurs
to me, that's definitely a strong, strong song, strong part
of the gentleman there was. I remember during that time too,
was a little bit later when disco came in, at
the moment you had a disco record. Ye. To say
how certain music in a certain times really kind of
penomizes what the era is feeling like, or what it's about,
what the spirit of it.
Speaker 1: Is one of the things that you do inside this book.
And I'm so so blessed by the opportunity to go
through your list. You credit a lot lot of people,
and I'm so proud of you for doing that because
it didn't just take meil but to get here, it
took all these people, and well.
Speaker 2: I couldn't think of all of them.
Speaker 1: I was gonna ask you about that. I was gonna say,
how did you even remember this list? Because I can
give you four or five, but my god.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, Well it's important because I think too every
day when you get up and go do something, how
can I have an interview if you weren't there?
Speaker 2: Yeah, Like, it's very basic. And then as I'm running
my first book. It's a kourage me. Oh my goodness.
You know this is what I do every day. But
I can't not do that now because it's only one page.
You know, one's face. It's a paramon in your mind.
This is not you by yourself, so you try to
think of everybody that you can.
Speaker 1: So then when when you talk about waking up to
take on the day, I mean, is that the reason
why creative people like to wake up at two, three, four,
five o'clock in the morning because we can't wait to
get the day started.
Speaker 2: Well, it's joy because the energy is action things. These
are realities that are in your mind first. So it's
like doing something actually and it activates you. If people
don't sleep well because they can't really turn off their minds.
Speaker 1: I can't. I'm with you on that. I can relay
with that. Really. Yes, I'm not that creative.
Speaker 2: I can sleep very well.
Speaker 1: Oh my god, to me, that's true. Oh it's crazy
because if it because the way that I try to
hide it. I'll research, i'll write, I'll do all these
different things. It's like, Okay, I'm feeding the monster, feeding
the monster, and all of a sudden, when when I
think I'm tired. The monster goes, let's do it again,
Come on, good, jump back.
Speaker 2: And the monster says it with such a joy you
can't resist.
Speaker 1: Right, It's so true. There are many times I'll go
into prayer. I say, Lord, please, come on, I've only
got so much energy in me. Man, come on, you
gotta give me a chance here.
Speaker 2: Yep, yeah, well I know I know that part. Because
you know God, he'll burn you out. If you want
to say, okay, can I take a break? Sea, you
do not because you ask not.
Speaker 1: Where can people go to find out more about what
you're doing, Melbolle, because you talked about the new song
and you've got this brand new book. And here's the thing.
We are living in the first generation ever where every genre,
every group of people from the Generation Alpha to you know,
the baby boomers, everybody is calling every music their music.
So there's no separation between songs anymore.
Speaker 2: Right. I don't know that. I just know it's so
huge and it's growing by the mean by the day.
I can't keep up with the categories.
Speaker 1: Nope, neither can I. Nope. As long as we have you,
we're straight. Ask my dad. He'll tell you got to
get that mailbore get more of her on that side.
Speaker 2: So what you're already expressing is crossing generations, which I
think is a good thing. Wow.
Speaker 1: Wow, What is your website so people can follow you
and everything that you're doing so they can give you
some love.
Speaker 2: Yes, sir melvemore dot com is my website. The book
is going to be available on Amazon, and of course
you can always go on YouTube and find me Instagram
with no book the number one and more.
Speaker 1: I love it. Please come back to this show anytime
in the future. The door is always going to be
open for you, Melba.
Speaker 2: Thank you. You're incredible. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Will you be brilliant today? Okay, and you'll be creative?
Oh I will. I'll take you up on that now, heartbeat.
Speaker 2: Thank you.