FRANK McCOMB
SOULMATE
Frank McComb is a rare commodity. He is a soulful man who speaks with a fluent tongue in jazz, R&B, funk, blues, gospel and pop. He can do it all. His impeccable vocal styling and piano work have not only made him a highly sought after session musician, but also a highly respected commodity in the music business. He started out playing piano at church when he was a young boy. By the time has was 17, he had started his own trio, playing in clubs in and around his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. He has played with such artists and musicians as George Duke, George Benson, Teena Marie, Phil Perry, Phyllis Hyman, Valerie Simpson, Philip Bailey, Gerald Levert, and countless others. His smooth vocals have often been compared to the likes of Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, but make no mistake, Frank McComb is one of a kind. In 2004, with the release of his CD Straight from the Vault, which was entirely self written, self produced, and self recorded, he won Soultracks Readers Choice Award for Best Album of the Year. In 2005, he went on to earn a spotlight with Jill Scott in Oprah Winfrey’s highly respected “O Magazine “, as one of Ms. Scott’s favorite CD’s.
Quiet on the Set Magazine was invited to a recent concert performance at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C., where Frank did not disappoint. We caught up with him prior to taking the stage to ask him a few questions.
QOTS: Frank, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You’ve been in the music business for almost 30 years now. How did you get started?
Frank McComb: I started out playing in clubs around Cleveland at the age of 15. I had my own trio at 17, and here I am now at 45 booking myself and playing all around the world.
QOTS: After being in the business for so long, what led you to go the independent route with your career? You’re basically managing, booking, producing, promoting, and distributing all your music and shows.
Frank McComb: I was signed to Motown records back in the day, and had enough material for two albums recorded, but neither project saw the light of day. Then, I went to Columbia Records and hooked up with Branford Marsalis and his group Buckshot LeFonque. It was a great experience and we got a great album out of it, but still there wasn’t the support.
QOTS: Why do you think that was?
Frank McComb: I just never got the support and the record company push it takes to promote a great album. That’s essential to the success of an artist. A prime example is Rahsaan Patterson. MCA at least got a couple of his records out and he got that push. I didn’t have that from either label.
QOTS: Was that an executive decision by the record companies or something else?
Frank McComb: It wasn’t personal. I simply got caught up in the business of the music industry. It really wasn’t about the music. I was a casualty in the politics of the business. With Motown, Polygram bought the label out for a lot of money. Where Columbia Records was concerned, there was an internal war between the Jazz department and the R&B department over who would get my completed record. In the end, they passed on me, and signed another artist (who shall remain nameless) who later went on to sign with Clive Davis and went on to become a huge success to this day.
QOTS: So you’re putting out your own music these days. How has that been for you?
Frank McComb: I found out some years ago that my music was being sold oversees for a huge amount of money. One of the records I did for Motown was selling in the U.K. for 25 pounds, which back then was the equivalent of fifty U.S. dollars. So, I decided from that day on to put out my own music. I formed my own production company and label titled Boobeeskoot Music, named after my daughter, and I haven’t looked back.
QOTS: It sounds like that was a good move for you.
Frank McComb: It was. After reviewing my history and remembering all my dark experiences I decided it was time to open my vault and pull out some of those tracks to share with the world. Since it was so hard for people to get the music I released with record companies (and never OFFICIALLY released-when they DID find it they had to pay a ridiculous price for it) why not record, package and sell my own music directly to the buying public? I believe this will cut out all the detours, layovers, traffic lights, stop signs and anything else causing delays for people who want my music.
QOTS: What’s next for Frank McComb?
Frank McComb: I have a new project that I’m currently in the process of finishing. There’s an EP out right now with the first release from the new CD on it. It’s entitled Soulmate. In it I’m speaking to a young lady telling her all the things she deserves from love…from a man. It’s a song that says if the guy you’re with can’t do the right things, then he’s not the one. You should be with your soulmate. I’m also planning to release a fan favorite CD comprised of all the songs from my catalogue that you guys request the most at shows and concerts. Also, I’m thinking of doing a Love Stories II. People tell me all the time how much they love that CD.
QOTS: I agree, that’s got to be my all time favorite Frank McComb CD. It’s definitely a classic.
Frank McComb: Thank you, I really appreciate that. With this machine, I pray that I can continue to record and release the kind of music I grew up listening to years ago when real chord changes existed, songs had a subject and the most important…there was integrity.
QOTS: Thank you, Frank. Continued success musically, and in all you do. Keep making music we love to listen to.
Frank McComb’s 4 song EP “Soulmate” is available online everywhere!
