CyberSoulMan: Blog
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Concert Review: Mel Waiters at the Reno/Tahoe Blues Festival

This is your West Coast Soul-Patrol correspondent filing a report on the star studded 4rth Annual Reno Tahoe Blues Festival. The two day event continues to attract upwards of 10,000 patrons of the Blues to the lush landscape of Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, Nevada.

The August 15-16, 2008 event featured the likes of Gladys Knight, The Whispers, Jonny Lang, Mavis Staples, Latimore, Bobby Rush, EC Scott, Betty Wright, Ernie Johnson and Mel Waiters.

We caught up with and interviewed Mel Waiters, Gentleman of Southern Soul after his blistering 90 minute Sunday set. A confident and generous bandleader, Mel Waiters gave props to his Righteous Sidekick Jesus Christ as well as ample leads to the other two talented vocalists in his revue Chandra Callaway and Sang'n Clarence. You heard me, Sang'n Clarence. He also showcased his great band. The name of the band? Hit It And Quit It. In our conversation, Mr. Waiters declared, "This is a business and to be successful you have to treat it as such. I make sure my organization looks good when they walk on stage." Indeed, they dispensed visual soul, spirit, class and energy.

A San Antonio native, steeped in the traditions of the church, Mr. Waiters secured his first professional gig at the ripe old age of nine. Being paid for what came naturally was a good feeling for the young Mel Waiters. He also did many successful years as a radio DJ. But the changing face of radio and the uncertainties of club DJing ultimately steered him back into performing. Right about that time, Mel purchased his first synthesizer. It was a Roland Juno I. Put it on layaway at Mid-County Music in Beaumont, Texas. Waiters said it took all of eight months to pay for the $700.00 keyboard. He jokes, "I thought I would never finish paying for it!"

He wrote a song called I Thought I Could Hit It And Quit It. Originally Mel presented it to the great Buddy Ace. Buddy wanted to record it, but his producer at the time, Leon Haywood didn't like the song and they passed on it.

Waiters decided to record it himself and when Baton Rouge radio DJ E. Rodney Jones broke the record a hit was born. Malaco records came calling and Waiters found himself recording and releasing back to back to dance records, Got My Whiskey and Hole In The Wall. In the artist's own words, I worked forever and a day and I'm still working. It's been lucrative and a lot of fun".

Mel unfailingly, at every show, gives more than just the obligatory passing reference to Jesus Christ in his performances. He states, "when you come from where I do, you pretty much keep Jesus up in there, cause you know where your solid rock is. There are so many things that are fake out in the world that I'm simply unwilling to fall for."

Very popular in the South and on the East coast, Waiters is excited by his recent performance forays out West. Having recently worked Inglewood, California, in addition to Reno, the Waiters troupe looks forward to increasing bookings on the left coast.

At the time of our interview Mel Waiters was under contract to Malaco Records, yet proud of the fact that he is fully self contained as an artistic entity. He has produced himself during his eleven year tenure at Malaco and has a solid fan base.

"I try to record music that the people that I know can relate to", says Waiters. "I don't stray from the genre that I started in. I've been pretty successful with it. I chose to reinvest the monies I've made into my career. I have a state of the art recording studio in my home. I can walk from my kitchen into my studio. Any button they push at Malaco, I can push at home and deliver them a finished product when I walk in their door. I've prepared myself to break away and stand on my own. But, I'm more humble now than I was in the beginning. It seems as though I am continually melting down. My colleagues, friends and advisors tell me I should be more firm in the business. I've helped so many people on this circuit, in this business. The standard bearers say that once you reach a certain level of professionalism, you don't do things like that. What I do on stage with my vocalists and background singers is unheard of. Generally, when one reaches this caliber

of entertainment, you don't showcase other talents in your revue as much as I do. I've produced CD's on Chandra Calloway and Sang'n Clarence on my label Brittney Records that are successful. I've also helped many people outside my organization."

To those fans he has yet to acquire, Mel Waiters forewarns folks keep their eyes and ears pealed for his sounds of positivity and undercover spirituality. "I'm the new blessed legend. I'm really working incognito for Jesus."

As Soul-Patrol goes to press, we have learned that Mel Waiters lost his grandmother, Mrs. Vivian Waiters who passed on January 8, 2009. Mel Waiters unfailingly acknowledged her at every performance for making him the man he is today. Mrs. Waiters was 99 years of age.

For more information and updates on Mel Waiters and his record label Brittney Records, please visit www.melwaiterslive.com

--T.Watts


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