The concept of "artist" was recognized for all that it could be, including actors, musicians, and conductors. On Sept 24, at the annual gala award presentation event, attendees are in for something unusual and will certainly feel the funkier groove.
Although they have kept a low profile in their hometown of Fairfield for the last twenty years, Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth have been busy writing, recording and producing music in their home studio on Greenfield Hill. Playfully called "Cock Island" after some testy roosters, thought to be hens, were hatched in a home incubator, (a school project gone wrong), the studio has been the creative hub for numerous musicians and the birthplace for three Tom Tom Club albums including "Dark Sneak Love Action," (1990); "The Good the Bad and the Funky," (2000); and "Live at the Clubhouse," (2002).
Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz met while attending the Rhode Island School of Design. After they graduated in 1974 they moved to New York to pursue careers in art. Longtime musicians, their plans changed when they formed the band Talking Heads with roommate David Byrne. With Franz on drums, Tina Weymouth on Bass, and Byrne singing vocals, the music world was forever changed. They had their first gig at the famed club CBGB's, where they opened for the Ramones. After scoring a record contract with Sire Records in 1976, Talking Heads went on, with the addition of Jerry Harrison on keyboards and guitar, to record ten albums which included many groundbreaking songs that are virtual anthems of the era. "Psycho Killer," "Take Me to the River," "Burning Down the House," and "Wild, Wild Life" are just a few of the chart toppers that echoed throughout the late 70's and early 80's. With petite and lovely Tina Weymouth commanding her bass guitar, and the bizarre stage presence of David Byrne, they were a natural hit on the newly founded MTV cable station. Originally considered a punk rock band, Sire Records president Seymour Stein relabeled the music "New Wave" to appeal to radio stations uncomfortable with the word punk.
During the roughly seventeen years the Talking Heads recorded and toured the world, all of the members took time off to pursue individual projects. In 1981, after four studio albums and five years touring internationally with Talking Heads, Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth signed with Island Records and recorded what would be the first album for the Tom Tom Club. With Tina's voice and an array of talented musicians in the tropical setting of the Bahamas, Franz and Weymouth created a new sound, an eclectic hybrid of music they called "fresh" and "freestyle." It appealed to a new audience interested in dance music, R & B, and a burgeoning interest in hip-hop. Two songs became mega hits, "Wordy Rappinghood," one of the very first Rap songs ever recorded, and "Genius of Love," which has been covered by dozens of artists over the years including Tupac Shakur, Ziggy Marley, Mariah Carey and the Black Eyed Peas. The hit earned Tom Tom Club a gold record in 1982.
While Weymouth and Franz continued to perform with Talking Heads as their main focus, their fledgling band Tom Tom Club would continue to grow, eventually recording six albums and touring all over the world during breaks from the Talking Heads schedule. Eventually a steady group of performers became linked to Tom Tom Club, including the late Charles Pettigrew, on vocals, Steve Scales on percussion, and Bruce Martin on keyboards and percussion. Victoria Clamp joined the group in 1989 as a vocalist, and Mystic Bowie, in 2000. Asked to describe the music of Tom Tom Club Weymouth responds, "Dance music that is "freestyle" - reggae, hip-hop, with an atmospheric, ambient element.
Talking Heads officially broke up in 1994, ten years after their last world tour, and eight years after recording their last studio album. After a bitter falling out with their band mate David Byrne, Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth started producing other artists in their Fairfield studio. An attempt to revive the Talking Heads legacy was made when they joined Jerry Harrison to record an album and tour as The Heads. Stymied by a lawsuit by David Byrne and the corporate restructuring of the record company they were working with, it would be the only album for The Heads. Only a momentous event would bring the group together again - an induction to the 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Over ten years had passed since the Talking Heads had performed together and the five days of rehearsals for the induction performance reminded Franz and Weymouth how good it was. They had always been open to the possibility of getting back together, but David Byrne has steadfastly refused. Tina Weymouth prefers to remember the good times and her husband's sentiments that night, "I want to thank the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for giving this band a happy ending!" Chris Franz and Weymouth, clearly recognized by their peers and fans as major contributors to the music world, are none the less thrilled to be acknowledged by their hometown. Franz explains, "It's wonderful to be honored --- great to be Artist of the Year. We're very understated in general. We never made a big deal about what we do. On stage, or in the recording studio we're very excited and people know who we are - but not at Stop & Shop. I don't wear my leather pants to Stop & Shop!"
Weymouth, who at 55 is still stunning, becomes visually animated when she speaks about the state of the music industry today. Lambasting the huge Clear Channel Communications monopoly and the effect that internet downloading has had on their, and every recording artist's pocketbooks, she is pessimistic. "The problem is with international pirates. One out of every three CDs is pirated. It makes it really hard for artists to survive and work toward a unique creation." These days the music industry has changed dramatically, not only with the advent of internet piracy, but the widespread use of MP3 devices as well. Asked whether i-Tunes, for example, had helped or hurt their career, Franz humorously says, "Out checks from i-tunes has been rather parsimonious. A windfall they are not. Maybe one day. I do think it's a good idea."
Still, when asked for advice for budding musicians Weymouth says, "The world needs you to do it. When we started, the greatest recession since the depression was going on. Bad time to start. But you just have to get out there and take one day at a time. Work to conceive something, focus on something with real merit. Be modest. Put one foot in front of the other to arrive at something." Franz adds, "The reason to become an artist is because you can't not do it."
These days Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz are on hiatus, busy renovating their Fairfield home, and eagerly watching as their two sons, Robin, 22, and Egan, 18, begin music careers of their own. They are looking forward to the Fairfield Arts Council Artist of the Year Event, where Tom Tom Club will perform with Steve Scales on percussion, Victoria Clamp, vocals, Bruce Martin, percussion and keyboards, Fuzz (of Deep Banana Blackout) on guitar, Mystic Bowie, vocals, and turntablist Kid Ginseng. Renowned bassist and composer Brian Torff, currently music program director at Fairfield University, will act as master of ceremonies in addition to performing a tribute to the Artists of the Year. Also lauding the duo will be Frank and Tracy Veldkamp of Holland, who founded the Web site TalkingHeads.com and redesigned the TomTomClub.com site. Longtime fans, they met while Tom Tom Club was on tour in Holland in 1996. Frank Veldkamp does Web site design for the government of the Nederlands, and together he and his wife have what Chris Franz calls "the coolest record store in the Hague."
Fairfield Arts Council president Ryan Odinak says "I am excited about honoring Chris and Tina this year. Their music will appeal to several generations, from those who grew up with Talking Heads to those that have continued to follow the work of Tom Tom Club. They have demonstrated artistic excellence at the highest level, the criterion for being honored as an Artist of the Year." Odinak, a long time fan, will likely be an early purchaser of the dual disc release of the entire Talking Heads catalogue. The ten-disk re-mastered set, which will feature DVD audio 5.1 surround sound, will be available for the holiday season.
The performance and a reception will be held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, Saturday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. Dancing shoes are recommended - as attendees, in for what will certainly be a musical carpet ride, will want to get down - and funky.
Ticket prices are $40, $75, $150, $150, $500, and $1,000, and may be purchased by calling the Ouick Center Box Office at (203) 254-4010 or 1-(877) - ARTS-396. For further information call the Fairfield Arts Council at (203) 319-1419