BEST OF TASTY CLIPS: Will Downing salutes artistic friends in new book, recording
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
The velvety smooth WILL DOWNING temporarily dropped the mic recently to get behind the lens and shoot for his new photography book, “Still Sounds: Photos of Recording Artists You Know and Love.” Freda Payne adorns the cover of the compilation featuring striking images of Jeffrey Osborne, Stevie Wonder, LL Cool J, Stephanie Mills, Toni Braxton, Frankie Beverly, Anita Baker, Jonathan Butler, Avery Sunshine, Earth, Wind & Fire and many more.
When we chatted some years ago, “The Prince of Sophisticated Soul” was paying tribute to the great ladies of the music industry with his outstanding album “Black Pearls.” The Shanachie release features his stamp on hits by Chaka Khan, Deniece Williams, Brenda Russell, Angela Winbush, Jean Carn and The Emotions to name a few.
Laughs flowed while swapping stories about the late Phyllis Hyman, who served as the inspiration for this collection. Downing used to open for the statuesque vocalist early in his career. “Meet Me on the Moon,” he recalled. “Man, she used to kill that song. I kind of took a shot at it. I really enjoyed how it came out and it got the ball rolling.”
This is one of those discs that you will be compelled to sing along to. Downing knew that altering these gems too much would be a huge mistake.
“People know these songs and the melodies,” he said of the tracks now embellished with his signature deep tones. “From a subject matter perspective, some of these songs you don’t think of a man singing — [Like Cherelle’s Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis-penned] “Everything I Miss at Home.”
Downing did affirm that it is harder these days as a male vocalist.
“Right now, we’re in an age where it’s not only what you hear but what you see,” he said. “So, it’s eye candy as well. You can’t beat that. These women are beautiful and they’re singing their behinds off. For men, it’s like you really have to come with your ‘A’ game in order to compete. So, it’s rough out here.”
“But one good thing about being who I am is that me and maybe one or two artists are in a lane by ourselves,” he added. “There are very few baritone basses. All the guys are trying to sing high. Me and Jaheim have our own thing out there.”
Like Alicia Keys and Dave Chappelle, Downing bristles a bit at the recording of his shows though he wouldn’t ban phones like the aforementioned.
“Regardless of what I say it’s going to happen,” he said. “It just takes away from the specialness of the concert for the next person that’s going to see it. If you think it’s bad for performers, it’s probably doubly bad for comedians. At least I can change it up. If a punchline has already circulated around the world, who’s going to come to see you? Everyone knows the joke already.”
As for concepts he’d like to tackle in the future, expect an inspirational gospel record.
“That’s something my mom has been on me for a long time,” Downing said. “I would also like to do a duet record with folks like Anita Baker and Lalah Hathaway. I tour with Lalah all the time and we’ve never done [one] so that has to happen before I leave the planet or they kick me out of the industry.”
His upcoming shows include a June 12 date at Brian Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway and a headlining concert June 20 at Beverly Hills’ Saban Theatre with After 7 and Freddie Jackson. For more info on the tour, “Still Sounds” and Downing’s latest EP “Still In Love,” visit theprinceofsophisticatedsoul.com.
For 12 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. Now, we are collecting some of those past columns into what we call the Best of Tasty Clips. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
