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CEO - JOEL CRAFTON
Of Craftone Music
aka/ Black Pinoy
World Famous

Craftone Music opens the doors to all celebrities past and present. Our goal is to broaden the mind of all music lovers while gaining new fans. If you would like Craftone Music
to do a celebrity interview on your artist please contact us at
CelebrityInterviews



CEO   Joel Crafton does a Celebrity interview on Jazz great LONNIE LISTON SMITH:
JC:   I grew up in with so much music around me there was always the sound of Lonnie Liston Smith Coming out of my brother Freddie’s room it was unlike anything I have heard before the rhythmic jazz piano
sound that complimented beats as if it had colors that could light up a room.
As Lonnie Liston smith and I talked during this interview I found out he is truly a unique person with so much
passion for people. Maybe because as Lonnie told me he has a strong Gospel background for his father
was in a Group called the harmonizing four that traveled all around the world. And possibly because of that
experience that embedded the qualities that are needed for survival as Lonnie explained there was so much
music around the house Gospel, R&B, Jazz.  In Lonnie’s house there was a piano and who ever took
interest in it his father let them take lesions so Lonnie took advantage of the opportunity to learn.
LS: All through High school  and Collage I sang bass in the choir  and played  Tuba  in all the marching
bands I Just wanted to do everything music it was fun being out the in all the games . In those days those
Tubas where not like they are today back then they were very heavy.  When I was in High School we
played R&B music things like that but one day I heard someone playing a record I said what was that
they said it was charley Parker Jazz I said that is what I want to do.
When I played with Miles Davis Bob Thiele said to me people are talking about you all over the world.

Bob Thiele owned Flying Dutchman Records and my first records were on Flying Dutchman Records.
Then Bob said to me it’s time for you to do your own cd. We flew back from LA and I recorded a song titled, Astral Traveling and Cosmic Funk the next album Expansions took the world by storm and that was the beginning of my solo career. JC: Lonnie what motivated you to come up with some of the song titles you have come up with?
 LS: Well Joel as I traveled overseas I found out how universal music really is even though people don¢t speak
the same langue they understand the music.  Music is powerful, Music is Magical, Music can heal you, and
Music can make you feel good and that is what I wanted to do. The first time I ever wrote lyrics was Expansions, expand your mind the next album so we can have a visions of a new world so people can live in peace and harmony  that is what I wanted to do with music so that is how I come up with all those different song  titles.

JC: Let me bring all your fans up to date in 2008-You can also visit Lonnie liston smith website
The Lonnie Liston smith band name is: LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES.

  • Credits and history of   Lonnie Liston smith songs:
  •  Expansions , Flying Dutchman (1975)
  • "Expansions" 12" , Bluebird (1975)
  • Visions of a New World , Flying Dutchman (1975)
  • Renaissance , RCA (1976)
  • Live! ,RCA Victor (1977)
  • "Space Princess" 12", Columbia Records (1978)
  • The Best Of , RCA (1978)
  • Dreams of Tomorrow , Doctor Jazz (1979)
  • "Give Peace A Chance (Make Love Not War)" 12" , CBS (1980)
  • Dreams Of Tomorrow , Doctor Jazz Records (1983)
  • "Never Too Late" 12" , PRT Records (1983)
  • "Never Too Late/Divine Light" 7" , PRT Records (1983)
  • New World Visions - The Very Best Of Lonnie Liston Smith , BMG (1993)
  • "Expansions/'Til You Take My Love" 12" , Simply Vinyl (2001)
  • Explorations (2xCD) , Columbia Records (2002)
  • Introducing , BMG (2002)

Artists who have sampled Lonnie Liston Smith songs

  • Expansions , Flying Dutchman (1975)

"Expansions"
Stetsasonic - "Talkin' All That Jazz"

  • Visions of a New World , Flying Dutchman (1975)

"Devika (Goddess)"
Digable Planets - "Pacifics"

  • Dreams of Tomorrow , Doctor Jazz (1979)

"Dreams of Tomorrow"
Jay-Z - "Dead Presidents II"
Total - "Rain"
"A Garden of Peace"
Jay-Z - "Dead Presidents II"
Mary J. Blige - "Take Me as I Am"
Stacie Orrico - "Is It Me"

  • Exotic Mysteries, (1979)

"Mystical Dreamer (A Tribute To Miles Davis)"
Three 6 Mafia - "Smoke If U Got It"
Tracks appear on

  • Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  • Driver: Parallel Lines
  • Grand Theft Auto IV

JC: It was a pleasure doing this Lonnie Liston Smith interview for his contribution and passion for people he has developed his inner self that is transposed into great music that echoes throughout the world as he travels.

Thank you
Lonnie Liston Smith.  

 

 

 

©CraftoneMusic.com 2008-
a Joel Crafton Interview of eM.