In Due Time

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Rising South Carolina artist Kelvin Armstrong released his EP In Due Time last month. After listening to the album it’s hard to believe that the talented singer who is also a songwriter and guitarist has only been singing professionally 2 years.  The album is a perfect blend of acoustic, R&B, soul, blues and a tad of country.  If we had to describe Armstrong’s voice it would be a combination of Anthony Hamilton, John Mayer, Lyfe Jennings and D’angelo. The title of the EP speaks for itself in that the album was released during a time when music seems to lack substance.  In Due Time delivers the type of feel good music that is missing from the music industry today.  While most artists seem to be going main-stream, Armstrong decided to take listeners on an alternate route. Each song on the EP tells its own unique story. You can tell each song poured from his soul and you can feel his raw emotion in each lyric. It is definitely an album you can listen to the entire way through.

The EP opens with Peaches & Cream.The song is far from what you might imagine when you first hear the title. It’s a song about life and the difficulties you might face on this journey that we all must take. It also speaks about fighting for what you believe in.

Falling was one of the most touching and personal songs on the album. Kelvin expressed that the song was about a dark place in his life where he found himself battling with depression. People underestimate the severity of depression and the toll it can take on a person’s life. Kelvin was able to get through those difficult times and transfer his pain into music.

Cold Woman is a song about playing the fool in a relationship. It’s something that happens to the best of us. When opening your heart to someone you’re taking a gamble and sometimes you get burned.

Many people have a belief in God and have faith that no matter what obstacles they encounter in life they feel like God is there guiding them through the ups and downs. The song Stones Throw questions God’s presence during the difficult times in life.

The album concludes with Selfish, a song that speaks on being deeply in love. Many of us find ourselves in relationships that are destructive but the love for that person is so strong that we hold on even though it’s not a healthy relationship.  A line from the song states: “I don’t want to be by myself even though loving you is bad for my health.”

 

We had the pleasure of attending Kelvin’s album release party for “In Due Time” this past Sunday at Wet Willie’s in Columbia, South Carolina. The event was held on the second floor of the venue and there wasn’t an empty seat in the room. Kelvin took to the stage with his guitar in the dimly lit room filled with his friends, family, fans, and music lovers anxiously waiting to hear the vocals of the rising star. Kelvin shared the stage with a few special guests which included his sister Kyshona Armstrong, another talented musician. He put on quite a show singing songs from his EP as well as a few extra songs in the mix. Listening to him live made you appreciate his music even more. His future is definitely bright and we wish him much success.

 

 The Double Scoop with Kelvin Armstrong @ his EP release partyIMG_0147

Check out footage from the show below. You can also view it on Double Scoop TV.

 

GULF COAST BLUES BOY

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Author: The Double Scoop

I met Jamell Richardson on the set of the movie Get On Up a little over a year ago.  I was cast as an extra in the movie and he was cast to play Jimmy Nolen, the lead guitarist for James Brown. Jamell had one of those contagious personalities; the type of personality that people are immediately drawn to. He was very personable and funny and was well known among the other cast and crew members.  His outgoing personality makes it hard for him to ever meet a stranger so it wasn’t a surprise that we connected on the set.  Since the movie ended Jamell’s career has really taken off so Ashley and I decided to catch up with him for an interview so that people who are unaware of the artist can get a better idea of who he is.

Check out our interview below.

TDS: Where are you originally from?

JR: Mobile, Alabama

TDS: What influenced your decision to start playing the guitar?

JR: B.B. King was a big influence. I actually started playing the guitar when I was only two years old and started professionally recording at age 13.  I am self taught.

TDS: Being that you are only 26 what made you want to become a blues musician?

JR: I consider myself to be a soul artist more so than a blues musician. I grew up in a traditional Pentecostal church where my grandmother was the church pastor. Blues music reminded me a lot of the music that I heard in church growing up.

TDS: Who are some blues artists that you have worked with during your career?

JR: Bobby Womack, Bobby Bland, and Shirley Brown just to name a few

 

TDS: You recently released your first EP “Gulf Coast Blues Boy”.  How long did you work on it and what is your favorite song off the EP?

JR: I worked on the EP about 2 to 3 months and I would have to say my favorite song is  “Can’t hurt me no mo”.

TDS: Last year you were in the James Brown biopic Get On Up and was cast as Jimmy Nolen. Tell us about that experience and how you were cast for the role.

JR: Initially when I submitted for a role in the movie I wasn’t selected. At the time my friend Mike and I were band members for Mel Walters and Mike got a phone call to come in for his final audition for the movie.  I ended up riding to the audition with him because he didn’t have time to drive me to my car.  At the audition some of the producers walked up to me because they noticed that I resembled some of James Brown’s band members. I was initially cast for the role of Les Bowie but was later cast as Jimmy Nolen after one of the other musicians dropped out. I was shocked that I was cast for the role.

TDS: Initially you didn’t have a speaking line in the movie. How did you end up getting a speaking role?

JR: During the time of filming I was still playing with Mel Walters. There was a conflict between the filming time and the dates I was supposed to play with the band so I decided to quit the band and continue with filming. I definitely took a leap of faith. The day after I quit I woke up and spoke into existence that I would get speaking lines. That same day on set we were filming a scene where James Brown and his band members were arguing about him not paying them. The directors felt that the scene was too dry and missing something so one of them came up to me and told me to say F- you to James Brown. He told me not to tell anyone so when I said it everyone was kind of caught off guard and the moment was very organic. 

The overall movie experience was amazing; I had the opportunity to work alongside great actors like Dan Akyroyd, Viola Davis, Jim Scott and Chadwick Boseman. On the set I gave guitar lessons to singer Aloe Blacc to help him prepare for some of his scenes. I’m still on a high from the whole experience. In my career I’ve always felt the need to stay in the background even though I knew I was supposed to be a front man. Being a part of the movie has helped me to see that more clearly.

TDS: Are you interested in pursuing any more acting jobs and do you have any upcoming projects?

JR: I’m not opposed to it but music is my heart. Music got me into acting. I’m currently working on a new album called “Bringing It Back” which I plan to release in late April or May.  The title of the album represents bringing back real music, real life and real things. I feel that it is the type of music that everyone can listen to.

TDS: How can people contact you and hear some of your work?

JR: For bookings bluesboyent@gmail.com

Facebook: Jamell Richardson “The Gulf Coast Blues Boy”

IG: @JamellRichardson

Youtube: Jamell Richardson

www.jamellrichardson.com

It was a pleasure interviewing Jamell and we are very excited to see him advance even more in his career. You can purchase his EP on Itunes here.

Jamell Richardson “Gulf Coast Blues Boy” features special guest Erica Washington @ BayFest Music Festival 2014.

Mobile, AL