Episode Title: The Power Of Iconic Songs Feat. Kipper Jones

Episode Info: In this episode Durell is joined by iconic singer and songwriter Kipper Jones. Kipper and Durell start off the episode talking about his early upbringing in Flint Michigan and Los Angeles California. Kipper and Durell talk about the fact that making great as well as iconic songs is truly about being collaborative. Kipper stresses the importance of building and having a great team and being able to always know what’s going on in your music business and “signing your own check. Kipper talks about going to high school with Wilton Felder & Wayne Henderson from “The Crusaders”, and eventually getting the opportunity to audition for Tammy Ellison's mother Marilyn McLeod who was a part of a very successful songwriting team with Pam Sawyer. Kipper then landed his first professional gig as a demo singer working for Motown Records.


Kipper and Durell talk about the life and passing Of DMX and the fact that he was truly an iconic artist who impacted so many even though he definitely had his demons. They speak about creating art and how that translates into emotion and how that impacts so many people. Kipper and Durell discuss how each generation has “its own thing” and that it doesn’t do anybody any good to be a hater. Kipper says there will be a time when what the young people are doing today will become old. Durell shares with Kipper that he deserves to have his flowers because of the power of the iconic songs that he has written during his career. Kipper is passionate about having a powerful product because nothing else matters if the song isn’t impactful because other than that you are wasting your time.

Kipper and Durell then discuss the vast and eclectic type of artists that he’s worked with over his career like Darius Rucker formerly of Hootie & The Blowfish and the fact that he absolutely loves Country music. He shares that there’s something special about the stories that are told in country music and that he’s ready to offer something to the genre. Kipper and Durell speak about how blacks are trendsetters in mostly every major music genre, and that people love black culture except when the police officers come.

Kipper shared how he got signed as the first male black artist to Virgin Music and he released his one and only major label release in 1990 entitled “Ordinary Story”. His album got many great reviews from publications like USA Today and L.A. Times. Kipper talks about even though he had all these departments within the label, if they aren’t all working together it’s easy to get caught up in major label end fighting. Kipper felt his album ultimately didn’t receive the marketing and promotion it deserved.

Kipper talked about how he got the opportunity to write and produce for Vanessa Williams . He wrote a couple songs called “Comfort Zone” which became the title track and “Freedom Dance” which became a huge anthem for the LGBT Community. Vanessa’s album “The Comfort Zone” went double platinum. He then began working with Keith Crouch for what he thought would be for Vanessa’s third album and ultimately came up with this great groove that became “I Wanna Be Down” which the A&R at East West Records wanted to demo the song on a 14 year old teen named Brandy. He also wrote 2 of her other hit singles “Baby” & “Brokenhearted”. He also talks about why her mother Sonja Norwood was so protective of Brandy in making sure she kept her innocence for as long as possible.

Durell and Kipper end the episode talking about the educational element that he brings through a series of seminars & workshops he put together called ``ThePower Of A Great Song”, “ A Songwriter's Life” ``Soul In The Sanctuary” & “The Arbiters”. Kipper also shares why after such a long and successful career, why he decided to attend Berklee College to get his degree so he can continue to give back to the next generation as an educator.

For More Information On Kipper Jones please visit his website below:

https://kipperjones.com/