Carol Chase DownSouthJukin.com

Interview 2004

A few weeks ago I Emailed Carol to compliment her on her new CD and to ask her to give us her opinion of the site and her Bio Page.  She immediately Emailed me back and so graciously excepted my humble invitation.  Since that time we have corresponded back and forth and I will tell you, she has as big a heart as she does a voice.  She is an amazing woman who truly loves her job and the fans.  I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it. 

Carol, let me say what an honor and pleasure it is to have this opportunity.  I would also like to thank you for your awesome hospitality the past few weeks.  Your kindness is only exceeded by your talent and beauty.

 I just got your new CD “Blue Highway” from your web site.  I think I may have worn it out already (if that is

 possible).  Great Stuff!  In your interviews you name a lot of rock influences.  My question is this, how does

 someone with so many Rock influences put out such a great country blues CD?

I'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT MUSICAL INFLUENCES, FROM ROCK AND R&B TO COUNTRY. I HAVE SUNG ALL TYPES OF MUSIC IN MY MUSICAL CAREER AND THAT'S PROBABLY ONE REASON WHY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT MYSELF ALL THIS TIME IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. THAT ISN'T AN EASY THING TO DO. MY C.D. HAS A LOT OF INFLUENCES IN IT. I REMEMBER RAY CHARLES SAYING THAT HE COULD SING COUNTRY AS WELL AS ROCK AND R&B. HE'S BEEN ONE OF MY IDOLS IN THE MUSIC WORLD AND HAS NEVER BEEN PUT INTO A CERTAIN CATEGORY. GOOD MUSIC IS JUST THAT, NO MATTER WHAT CATEGORY IT'S CLASSIFIED IN. WHO KNOWS, THE NEXT C.D. COULD BE TOTALLY BLUES OR A LOT MORE ROCK. WHATEVER IT IS, IT'LL SOUND LIKE ME, AND I GUESS THAT'S WHAT MATTERS MOST.

 

 With your hectic Skynyrd schedule, how did you find time to write, record, and release the CD?

I RECORDED MY C.D. WITH MUSICIANS THAT I HAD WORKED WITH IN THE STUDIOS HERE IN NASHVILLE, DOING PUBLISHING DEMOS AND BACKGROUNDS ON MAJOR RECORDS. I AM A WRITER AND HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME. I WROTE SOME OF THE SONGS MORE RECENTLY THAN OTHERS AND SOME OF THEM WEREN'T COUNTRY ENOUGH WHEN I WROTE THEM AWHILE BACK. I 'TWEAKED' THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN MORE OF A GROOVE THAT I'M CURRENTLY FEELING. I CUT THE TRACKS IN ABOUT 12 OR 13 HOURS AND HAD VOCALS AND OVERDUBS COMPLETED IN A WEEK. AFTER ALL, I TOOK OUT A HOME EQUITY LOAN AND PAID FOR IT ALL MYSELF, (HOME EQUITY PRODUCTIONS). TIME WAS COSTLY SO I MOVED FAST. I WAS PREPARED WHEN I WENT IN THE STUDIO AND THAT'S THE KEY.

 

Where do you find your lyrical inspiration?

SOME OF THE LYRICS ARE INSPIRED BY EMOTIONS THAT I'M FEELING AT THE TIME. OTHERS START WITH JUST A TITLE OR A 'HOOK' LINE. "I'M THE BLUES" WAS SOMETHING THAT JUST CAME TO ME ONE NIGHT AND I WORKED ON IT FOR AWHILE TO MAKE IT SAY WHAT I WAS FEELING. "BLUE HIGHWAY" WAS CO-WRITTEN WITH MY GOOD FRIEND AND EXTREMELY TALENTED GUY, RUSSELL SMITH. WE HAD A SIMILAR FEELING OF ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY FROM WHAT COULD BE GOOD FOR US.. IN TERMS OF RELATIONSHIPS.. AND WROTE IT ONE DAY. I WRITE BOTH MUSIC AND LYRICS LIKE MOST OF MY CO-WRITERS DO. WE JUST FEEL WHERE IT SHOULD GO. SOMETIMES WE GET IT TOTALLY RIGHT AND COME UP WITH A HIT.

 

The CD shows several pictures of you with guitars.  Are you an accomplished player?  Do you play on stage

out side of Skynyrd?

I WRITE ON GUITAR MOSTLY, ALTHOUGH I DO PLAY A LITTLE KEYBOARD. I LIKE ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ON STAGE I PLAY RHYTHM GUITAR ON SOME SONGS. I CAN PLAY BLUES.. I TAKE A LEAD EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. I WOULDN'T SAY I'M AN ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN, I NEVER PRACTICE, BUT I CAN PLAY ON STAGE. I USED TO DO WRITERS NIGHTS HERE IN NASHVILLE BEFORE I JOINED L.S. BUT HAVEN'T DONE THAT FOR AWHILE. I'M ABOUT READY TO PICK UP THE GUITAR AND START GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT IT AGAIN.

 

You had mentioned to me you were considering putting together a band to do some gigs after the Skynyrd tour. 

 Are you considering touring or will it just be some local gigs?

ON MY TIME OFF I'D LIKE TO PLAY A FEW LOCAL GIGS. IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL FOR SURE AND AFTER ALL, I DON'T HAVE A BAND TOGETHER. IN NASHVILLE, YOU USUALLY 'PAY TO PLAY'. THERE IS SO MUCH TALENT THAT CLUBS, THAT BOOK ARTISTS THAT PLAY ORIGINAL MUSIC, USUALLY DON'T PAY FOR THE TALENT. SO, I HAVE TO PUT THAT ALL TOGETHER WHEN I GET HOME. I KNOW A LOT OF MUSICIANS SO IT WON'T BE HARD. I JUST HAVE TO BE ECONOMICAL AND SAVE MY MONEY FOR THE LOCAL GIGS. I'M GETTING INTEREST IN EUROPE, CONCERNING MY NEW C.D.,AND PLAYING OVER THERE, ON A SMALL SCALE, COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.

    Well, I know I would love to see you live.  From the chat rooms and message boards I have poked around in, I know I am not the only one.

 

       You have said Rickey Medlocke had given you the call to come try out for Skynyrd.  How did you two 

        become acquainted?

I MET RICKEY IN EARLY 1996 THROUGH A MUTUAL MUSICIAN FRIEND OF OURS. WE TALKED SEVERAL TIMES AND WHEN HE GOT THE CALL TO GET BACK IN THE BAND, THERE WAS ALSO AN OPENING FOR A BACKGROUND SINGER. HE HAPPENED TO CALL OUR MUTUAL FRIEND AND HE SUGGESTED ME. RICKEY MENTIONED MY NAME TO THE DRUMMER, OWEN HALE, WHO I'D DONE A LOT OF SESSIONS WITH IN NASHVILLE, AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT I'D BE GREAT FOR THE JOB. I GOT A CALL FROM RICKEY TELLING ME OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND IN TWO DAYS I ARRIVED IN FT. MEYERS TO AUDITION AND HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE MAY 1996. RICKEY, HUEY, AND I ALL ENTERED THE GROUP ON THAT SUMMER TOUR.

 

 

When I saw you at Arizona State Fair show this year, I noticed a caravan of RV’s and busses, etc.  It appeared

the Band had their families with them.  As a matter of fact my daughter and I were fortunate enough to be sitting

 next to a young lady who I believe was Lisa Van Zant (very Sweet lady).  You are I believe a single mother.  Is

 your daughter on the road with you?

I'VE BEEN A SINGLE MOTHER SINCE MY DAUGHTER WAS 5. SHE'S NOW 27 AND HAS GRADUATED FROM UCLA AND IS A PERSONAL TRAINER HERE IN NASHVILLE. SHE JOINS ME EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE FOR A FEW DAYS BUT STAYS BUSY DOING HER OWN THING. SHE ALSO WRITES SONGS, PLAYS BASS, AND HAS HER OWN BAND TOGETHER.  NONE OF OUR FAMILIES TRAVEL WITH US. WE HAVE A OCCASIONAL VISITOR FROM TIME TO TIME BUT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH OUT THERE ON OUR OWN. IF WE STAY IN ONE PLACE FOR TWO DAYS OR SO, A FAMILY MEMBER MAY FLY OUT TO SEE US, BUT 90% OF THE TIME WE'RE ON OUR OWN.

There is no way you have a 27 year old daughter, You are way to young :)  I would really love to hear your daughters work.  If she is anything like her Mother, she must be an amazing young lady and talent.

 

What would you say is your favorite part of singing with Lynyrd Skynyrd?

I PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST FUN WITH L.S. WHEN WE LOAD THE BUSES FOR THE GIG AND ARRIVE TO SEE ALL OUR FANS. THEN, OF COURSE, ON STAGE IS GREAT. SOME NIGHTS FLOW BETTER THAN OTHERS BUT OUR SHOWS ARE ENERGETIC AND THEY'RE ALWAYS DIFFERENT. FANS THAT COME TO SEE US A LOT FIND SOMETHING NEW GOING ON ALL THE TIME. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE 9 INDIVIDUALS UP THERE. WE PLAY OFF EACH OTHER AND WHEN AN AUDIENCE IS ENTHUSIASTIC, IT TOTALLY ENERGIZES US.

 

What would you say is the most memorable thing of this tour?

PLACES THAT WE GET TO SEE ARE THE THINGS I REMEMBER MOST. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PARTS OF THE U.S. PLACES LIKE SANTA FE, JACKSON HOLE, THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SO MANY OTHERS STAND OUT IN MY MIND. THE GUYS ALWAYS TEASE ME ABOUT WANTING TO LIVE IN JUST ABOUT EVERY PLACE THAT WE GO. THEY ASK," COULD YOU LIVE HERE CAROL?", AND I USUALLY SAY I COULD.

        

 

          Finally, What is a typical day on the "Blue Highway" for Carol Chase?

A TYPICAL DAY WOULD BE FINDING A WORK-OUT ROOM AND MAKING MYSELF GET DOWN THERE. THEN I ACCESS MY COMPUTER AND ANSWER EMAILS. SOMETIMES I GO TO THE MALL WITH DALE AND SOME OF THE GUYS. I READ A LOT AND VISIT WITH THE BUS DRIVERS. OVER THE YEARS I'VE MET SO MANY PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE U.S. AND I MET UP WITH THEM IN LOTS OF CITIES. I DON'T SIT STILL VERY LONG AND THE DAYS GO BY VERY QUICKLY. BUT I GUESS THAT'S HOW LIFE IS FOR EVERYONE. I TRY TO MAKE THE MOST OF MY TIME BECAUSE IT DOES MOVE FAST. I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE TO LOOK BACK AND REALIZE, AFTER IT'S ALL OVER, WHAT A GOOD TIME I WAS ACTUALLY HAVING. I TRY TO BE IN THE MOMENT AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT IT IS. I DON'T USUALLY GET TO THE SHOWS UNTIL ABOUT 45 MIN. BEFORE WE START. THAT LEAVES A LOT OF TIME TO GET THINGS DONE THAT NEED DOING. IT SEEMS TO ALL WORK OUT, JUST LIKE IT'S SUPPOSE TO.

 Well, I am certainly glad you answer your own Email.  You have been awesome.  Thank you again Carol.  I have sincerely enjoyed or correspondence and your opinions of the site.  All of us at DownSouthjukin.com really appreciate you taking time to do this interview.

THANKS BRUCE! CC

 

Well, I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this as much as Carol is a joy to talk to.  As I said, a very sweet woman.  I can not say it enough, Get Her CD!!  You will not be sorry. 

Check out the audio interview with Carol

Check out Carols Bio, Discography, and Photo Gallery 

http://www.danieljselby.com/Carol/c-disco.html 

Please Check out the Carol Chase Web site to purchase her new CD Blue Highway and to drop her a note.  Let her know you read it here.