Latest news with #ClassicPop
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Daryl Hall believes that he helped break down racial barriers in music
Daryl Hall believes that he blazed a trail for modern artists. The 78-year-old singer found fame as the lead vocalist in duo Hall and Oates - alongside John Oates - during the 1970s and 1980s and considers himself a "pioneer" for helping to destroy racial barriers in music. Daryl told Classic Pop magazine: "I was one of those pioneers in breaking down those barriers between Black music and white music, whatever that means. "My earliest success was on Black radio in America. I had to break into the white pop world in America. That was secondary, after the fact. So that's where my roots are. That's where my initial success started." The 'Maneater' vocalist added: "I think it had a lot to do with me as a singer and my background. "Being from Philly, a very colourblind area, helped me be able to break those barriers down. Luckily, I figured out how to do it." Daryl is now performing solo as he finds himself embroiled in an legal battle with John after he sued his musical partner in 2023 to prevent him from selling their stake in publishing company Whole Oats Enterprises and admits that he feels less constrained playing alone. He explained: "I really was restricted. When I was (performing) with John on stage, we had this rule that we couldn't play any other work than what we did under the Hall and Oates name. "And it was very restrictive to me, because I love all those solo songs - I wrote most of them - but there was a lot that I had been doing over the years that I couldn't play. I had no outlet. "So now, I'm completely liberated and it's much more fun." Daryl also believes that his soulful singing voice has gotten better with age. The 'Private Eyes' hitmaker explained: "Well, with age and maturity, my voice has mellowed and kind of opened up in a way. I had maybe more high note facility as a young guy. You know, I could sing into the stratosphere. Now, I've lost a little of that, but I've gained other things. "I'm basically a soul singer, and I think my voice is more appropriate sounding to my emotions and my soulful thing than it used to be when I was a young kid. "So, it came from wisdom and experience. And a few whiskeys, too."
Perth Now
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Erasure's Andy Bell believes that he was born to sing
Erasure star Andy Bell says that singing was his natural calling. The 61-year-old musician had hits such as 'A Little Respect' and 'Sometimes' alongside Vince Clarke during the 1980s and believes he was born to use his voice. Andy told Classic Pop magazine: "My voice was my friend. I always liked my voice. "I was forever singing in bed. I'd have the blankets over me, singing away, my parents telling me: 'Go to sleep!' "I wasn't even singing along to the radio, I'd just lie there making up songs. I loved feeling the vibration in my skeleton that singing gave me. I didn't really decide to be a singer, I just couldn't not do this." Andy explained that the success of Erasure has only fuelled his desire to perform even further. The singer said: "I live for the stage. That's not because of the adulation, nice as it is. That adulation, it's silly. Performing is just in my bones, I was born with it. The flamboyance of my Erasure costumes, that was a character that developed. "Eventually, the character becomes less and less important, because you are who you are." Andy is releasing the solo album 'Ten Crowns' next month but revealed that he will be working with Vince once again on another Erasure project next. He said of the pair's relationship: "The love and respect Vince and I have for each other always allows us our own space. That space helps each other grow. "More than anything, Vince is my mate. We're friends, we're not going to abandon each other. When I saw Vince recently in Brooklyn, we went to his local pub. We promptly got spotted and I was: 'Oh no! Not at your local! Sorry, Vince.'" Andy was satisfied that Vince – who also enjoyed success with the groups Depeche Mode and Yazoo – enjoyed seeing him perform solo. He explained: "Seeing me live must have been strange for Vince, but he really liked it. It's the first time Vince has seen me as a performer – seeing me from the front, after so many years being behind me on stage. He was: 'Wow!', which was really nice."
