ARTIST
DIRECTORY
JAMSOURCE
/ RUNWAY Fashion Source Magazine founder and
publisher Carolyn D. Baker launched it's newest
publication. If you didn't get the June issue
of JSRW Magazine print, you can download it
by below. Cynthia Allen gets up close with Peggy
Scott-Adams with an exclusive interview.
C.A.
- Let me start this interview by saying
it’s truly an honor and privilege to
be speaking with a legendary Grammy nominated
female artist that I’ve always admired
and respected. You are best known for the
hit song “Bill” and have had such
a remarkable career thank you for allowing
Jamource Magazine this wonderful opportunity.
Tell your fans a little bit about yourself
and how you got started singing.
Peggy
Scott-Adams - The pleasure is all
mine I’m thankful for this opportunity,
I was born in Opp, Alabama my mom was a gospel
promoter, we moved to Pensacola, FL when I
was four years old and in the eighties, I
moved to the West Coast and now I currently
reside back in Pensacola, FL. Singing was
something that just came natural to me I wasn’t
seeking to be in the music business, I wanted
to be a school teacher. A friend of mine name
Ben E. King was the one that introduced me
to the music industry and allowed me to travel
with him on the road. In 1968 I collaborated
with Jo Jo Benson we recorded four consecutive
million sellers titled “Lover’s
Holiday,” “Pickin,” Wild Mountain
Berries,” and “Soulshake”.
C.A. - You
are best known for the controversial hit song
titled “Bill” what was the inspiration
and was it a real-life experience for you?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - No it was not based
on a personal experience of mine, actually
it was written by a my good friend Jimmy Lewis,
it was inspired by an episode he saw on the
Oprah Winfrey Show.
C.A. - I
notice a lot of your songs deal with relationships
and abuse why is that and what message would
you like women to get from listening to your
music?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - Jimmy Lewis wrote
every song from 1997 until 2004 the inspiration
was based on real issues that women are subjected
to in relationships. I don’t write any
of my songs but I would like for women to
be empowered, motivated and know their worth
and be role models for their daughters.
C.A. - How
did you become known as the lady with the
“Big Voice” also the name Peggy
Scott was given to you by whom and why?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - DJ Papa Rock gave
me the title lady with the “Big Voice”
because I was short and petite and Ben E.
King suggested I change my name because I
had an unusual last name.
C.A.
- Who are some of the artists that
you’ve toured with and who were some
of your favorites? Also, where are some of
the places and venues that you’ve toured?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - The list is endless
but to name a few that I’ve toured with
are legends such as Bobby Blue Bland, Jo Jo
Benson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and the
Temptations. Some of my favorites includes
Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett and Johnnie Taylor
also I did a duet titled “Back to Love”
with Ray Charles in 1990 that was a very memorable
experience for me. I’ve toured all over
the United States and in Europe, playing in
such venues as the Apollo Theater, Madison
Square Garden, The Spectrum and the list goes
on.
C.A. - I
know a lot of artists have been known to do
drugs and alcohol have you ever done such
and if so how did you overcome it and if not
how did you avoid not getting caught up?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - That’s a good
question and it’s by the grace of God
and that I come from a deeply religious background
and up bringing that I never got into drugs,
alcohol, fame and the ego of the business.
C.A. - As
a blues singer why do you think blues artists
get less air time and are treated differently
from the R&B artists?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - I don’t consider
myself as a blues singer, I consider myself
as an old-school R&B singer. I think a
lot of artists are being labeled as blues
that are soul and old-school R&B because
the industry does not feel that there is a
demand. I feel that’s not true because
if our music was given equal amount of air
time as the R&B artists a lot more people
would get to know who the artists are and
there would be a greater demand.
C.A. - What
are your thoughts on how the music industry
has changed, do you think it’s for the
better or worse for artists?
Peggy
Scott-Adams -
I think for the worse because of the lack
of good singing and for the better because
more artists are choosing to be independent
which allows them to be in more control of
their music.
C.A. - It’s
been a while since your fans has heard from
you what caused you to take a hiatus from
the music industry and what has caused you
to make a comeback?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - In the early eighties
I married a successful politician and businessman
named Robert L. Adams Sr. who owned and operated
a mortuary so I focused on my marriage and
worked as a mortician learning the business.
I received a phone call from my friend Jimmy
Lewis in 1997 it was he who ignited the phenomenal
comeback with the Grammy nominated album “Help
Yourself”, which contained the smash
hit “Bill”. It was the most controversial
talked about and most requested song of 1997,
prompting interviews with major print media
and television shows such as: The Oprah Winfrey
Show; CNN; Showbiz Today and Fox Television
stations. The album remained on Billboard’s
Blues chart for 67 weeks and peaked #1 for
28 weeks on the Blues charts, #9 on the R&B
charts and #72 on the Pop charts.
C.A. - What
is something that your fans might find interesting
about your funeral home and is it still in
existence today?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - Yes, even though
I now live in Pensacola, FL, I still own the
business it is the Robert L. Mortuary located
in Compton, CA it’s one of the few funeral
homes that offers bullet-proof glass partitions
and drive-thru open-casket displays. The reasoning
for this is during the 1980’s the threats
of graveside gang shoot-outs in Compton.
C.A. - I
understand you did a documentary can you tell
your fans about that?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - Yes, I was included
in the 2003 documentary “Martin Scorsese
Presents the Blues” and the 5-Set CD
collection of 120 greatest blues renditions
of all times, that was produced by movie producers
Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood.
C.A. - You’ve
suffered a lot of personal tragedies can you
tell your fans a little about that and how
did you found the strength to continue to
move forward also was it the inspiration for
you doing a gospel album?
Peggy
Scott-Adams - The personal loss
of my late husband, brother and friend and
producer Jimmy Lewis was the inspiration for
the gospel album titled “God Can and
He Will”. They will always be in my heart
and I will always cherish the memories. Also,
being a devout believer I continue to stay
strong in my faith and I take each day in
stride.
C.A. - It
been such an honor speaking with you thanks
again for allowing Jamsource Magazine and
your fans this opportunity to get to know
you a little better, in closing do you have
anything else you would like to share?
Peggy
Scott-Adams -
This has been my pleasure as well the only
other thing I would like to say is “without
a shadow of doubt I don’t know what tomorrow
holds but I do know who holds tomorrow”!!!
Funk
Nation Band * Back Up Band for Peggy Scott-Adams
Funk
Nation is all-around group straight out of
Montgomery, Alabama which consist of artists
and musicians that was established in 2007
by Chinese Williams, lead guitar. Group members
Samuel Rowling, bass, Antonio Golshon, keyboard,
Daniel Brown, keyboard, Marcus Donerlson,
Drummer have performed on a variety of festivals,
concerts and private occasions with local
and legendary artists such as; Peggy Scott
Adams, Carl Sims, Donnie Ray, Columbus Toy,and
De'Aundray Robinson.
JAMSOURCE
/ RUNWAY Fashion Source Magazine: Download
