Rodney W. Richmond began writing songs for his debut solo CD, "Star in the Window," several years ago. But another musical project slowed things down.
That project is the band Whitetail, which has become a wildly popular local band, performing country, classic rock and Southern rock. The band has been constantly busy since forming two years ago. A look at its MySpace page lists several gigs a week, up through New Year's Eve, when it performs at North Side Improvement League.
"The band has just exploded," said Mr. Richmond, Whitetail's lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player.
Mr. Richmond was seated at Nana's Cafe at the Medical Arts Building on Clinton Street. He works in the building as a physician assistant in the office of Dr. Jon Emerton. The cafe is owned by his wife, Betty.
Instead of a cowboy hat he wears for his shows, Mr. Richmond sported a NASCAR cap. Before taking a seat, he grabbed a cup of coffee and apologized for postponing the interview a few hours due to a full load of morning patients.
Between his profession and music, Mr. Richmond, a 1984 graduate of Henderson Central School, is busy these days, especially after the release of his solo CD "Star in the Window." The title track is just one on the CD that pays tribute to American military families.
A Sunday CD release party in the Paddock Arcade for "Star in the Window" will be a benefit for American Gold Star Mothers.
RED, WHITE AND BLUE
The "Star in the Window" in the song references banners displayed in windows of families of deployed military personnel. The banners have been a tradition since World War I. When a service member is deployed, the banner features a blue star. If the soldier represented by the banner is killed while serving, a gold star is displayed.
"Star in the Window" is the first release of Adams-based Red, White and Blue Records, operated by Rodney and his wife, who also manages her husband's solo act and Whitetail. She serves as sound technician for the band and even took the cover photograph on her husband's CD; a situation which found her one day on a ladder in dangerously high wind gusts attempting to get the right photo angle of her husband.
The CD was produced at Cupit Studio in Nashville with seasoned Nashville session musicians.
Mr. Richmond, a volunteer firefighter and paramedicwith the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department, has strong military roots, having served in the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard for a total of 24 years. He said he wrote "Star in the Window" mainly to recognize the families of deployed soldiers.
"They are often the unsung heroes of our military," he said. "They hold down the fort and put up with God knows what as they wait for their loved ones to come home."
Mr. Richmond wrote or co-wrote the 12 songs on "Star in the Window." His wife helped to pen a bonus track, "Can't Turn the Wine Back to Water." The two sing that as a duet.
ALSO INSPIRED BY PROFESSION
Mr. Richmond has found the medical profession to be inspirational for his songwriting
"In medicine, you tend to meet a lot of people and hear a lot of stories," he said. "There's nothing more compelling in a story than reality."
He notes his song, "She is My Hero" was inspired by a scene he witnessed at Samaritan Medical Center.
The wife of an elderly man had just died. "Her husband just poured his heart out right after she died," Mr. Richmond said. "It was one of the most emotional things I've ever seen: he by her bedside for 20 minutes telling her about their lives."
With "Don't Miss a Beat," Mr. Richmond explores the other end of the aging spectrum. He said that song explores the little things children do that aren't appreciated by adults until those children are grown. "It has the line, 'Memories aren't given. They are earned,'" Mr. Richmond said.
Mr. Richmond plans to sing songs from his solo CD at Whitetail concerts. He explained it didn't take long for the band to see success. At one of its first rehearsals in Henderson, its music was overheard by a bar owner, who invited the band to perform at his establishment.
"I told him, 'Don't expect too much," Mr. Richmond said. "'We just met each other.'"
He was asked if there's a reason for Whitetail's success.
"Our drive to get to be the best is shared by everybody in the band," Mr. Richmond said. "Our shows are at times bigger than life. We bring out fog, light shows and beach balls. It's a whole party atmosphere, and I think that's what sets us apart."
■ ■ ■
Besides Mr. Richmond Whitetail consists of:
■ Patrick Town of Syracuse on guitar and vocals. His musical influences include Eric Clapton, Rick Derringer and the Allman Brothers.
■ Howard Keech, who grew up in the Watertown and Dexter areas. He's a self-taught bass player with more than 30 years of experience. He lives in Watertown.
■ Timothy Martuzas, guitar, keyboard, mandolin and vocals, was born in Watertown but grew up in Mississippi on the Gulf Coast near New Orleans. He's a 1988 graduate of the Musicians Institute of California. He has worked as a professional musician for 22 years, playing in several bands. He also teaches music and is a stringed instrument craftsman and repairman He lives in Watertown.
■ Drum player James (Jim) Pike was born in Carthage and started playing drums at age 5. He has been playing in rock and country bands since 1976. The Clayton resident has been playing professionally for more than 30 years.
NEWS FEEDS
