Gordon Chambers the Grammy Man


Introducing Gordon Chambers

Gordon Chambers is no stranger to the music industry. In fact, he has been writing songs since the age of 7. The Teaneck, New Jersey native is currently signed to L.A. Reid's prestigious Hitco Music publishing company where he has written for over 60 recording artists, including household names Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, and Marc Anthony. He is best known for his 1994 Grammy winning hit "I Apologize" for Anita Baker and his 1995 #1 Grammy-nominated smash "If You Love Me" for the trio Brownstone (which was later featured as the theme song of the film "Living Out Loud"). More recently, the eight-time ASCAP winner has written and producers for superstars Yolanda Adams (“Someone Watching Over Me&rdquo, Patti Labelle and Ron Isley ("Gotta Go Solo&rdquo Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown ("My Love"), R&B crooner Carl Thomas ("My Valentine"), breakthrough soul singer Angie Stone "No More Rain (In This Cloud)," and pop sensation Beyonce ("After All Is Said And Done"). Over the years, his compositions have been performed at the ESSENCE awards, the American Music Awards, and the Goodwill Games--as well as six major motion pictures.

Now in his 10th year in the business, songwriting still doesn't feel like a job to the Brooklyn-based still-single Chambers. It is, instead, he says, "a labor of love and a dream come true." As a way of giving back, he performs for charities and frequently speaks to students all over the country. He has received community service awards from the New York youth organizations Boys Harbor and the Bay Shore Schools Arts Education Fund.
With such impressive credits to his name, Gordon Chambers is no doubt a phenomenal man. Ever humble, he’s got a warm personality, hearty laughter, and sincere kindness just as impressive as his songwriting credits. With the first sound of his music, you are immediately drawn into the magical places that Gordon loves taking his listeners to. His debut CD, “Introducing Gordon Chambers” is the perfect mood music for any lovers’ rendezvous. Its catchy tunes and soulful beats help to quickly pass the time even if you’re busy at work or perfectly set the tone for when you’re at play. We wanted to know more about this talented artist. Luckily for us, Gordon happily obliged these curious minds!
The following is an account of an interview that we had with Gordon Chambers.
Q. What created your interest in songwriting?
A. After hearing Motown records as a child and growing up in a family of music lovers, I was destined to have a love of music.

Q. How did you start writing for some of today’s greatest artists like Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Patti LaBelle Whitney Houston, and Yolanda Adams’ current hit ‘Someone Watching Over Me?’
A. Living in New York and networking with producers provided me with access to various projects.
Q. When you write songs for various artists, do you base the lyrics on the person’s style or do you write songs based on your love of music, and those lyrics just happened to fit a particular artist’s style?
A. It depends. Sometimes when I’m writing for assignments, I’ll try to integrate the person’s style as much as possible into what I’m doing. Mostly, I’m trying to write as best a song as possible. So it’s a combination.
Q. In writing songs for such great singers, what words of wisdom can you share about the music industry, and what has helped guide you throughout your career?
A. The music industry is tough. You have to really want it badly. You have to figure out a niche for yourself...a place where you think you fit. You’ve got to love it, live for it, and breathe it. You have to be willing to die for it because it takes that much out of you.
Q. How do you think your experience as the artist is different than your experience as the songwriter?
A. To me there’s no difference because it’s all communication. I’m trying to create ideas. Whether I’m singing the songs or writing them, it’s the same type of musicality, they’re just different mediums.
Q. With this being an independent project, how are you promoting the CD?
A. A lot of promotion is being done through the Internet. I recently began working with a publicist who will be raising the profile of the CD. Word of mouth, promoters in different cities, radio, doing different gigs, and an organic approach is being used to promote the CD.
Q. What part of the country do you find your music to be the most popular?
A. I find that my music is most popular in New York, Detroit, DC, Atlanta, London, and Japan (even though I’ve never been to Japan) because I’m getting played on the radio a lot; and there are certain record stores that have supported my record. I’ve also had some decent media exposure in those cities (except Japan) and have done shows in those areas. 
Q. What’s your opinion of performers that are more live performers than in studio performers?
A. Having worked both mediums, I think these are very different art forms. I won’t hate on an artist that is not great live. As long as an artist does well and tries his or her best to connect with the listeners, you can’t hate on them.
Q. What do you do to make your live performances memorable?
A. By featuring the musicians a lot, I always remember that people don’t come to see me, they come to see an experience. And as many notes as I hit, it’s really about my band and how I connect with the band, and how we create an experience together for the audience, which is way beyond what I can do alone. I consider every person on my stage as a star, and I’m not afraid to share my stage. I also do little bits and pieces of my songs from the album, and bits and pieces of songs that I’ve written for other people, and also cover tunes. That type of format keeps it moving. It’s like one big party.
Q. Who is your favorite artist to work with and whom would you like to work with in the future?

A. I love working with Whitney. I had a great time working with her. Aretha and Patti are people that I worked with and had a really good time with...we bonded. In the future, I’d really like to work with more people in the pop world, like Sting, Seal, Annie Lennox, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Usher, and Mary J. Blige.
Q. If people wanted to contact you to purchase the CD, or speak to you about your current and future plans, how would they contact you?
A. They can buy it via my web site at www.gordonchambers.com in the shop section.  In New York, people can also purchase my CD from Tower, Discorama, Nubian Heritage and Bondy’s. The full list of stores around the country where it is available is also listed on the website. It can be ordered at any Tower store or via Amazon.com as well. If you join my announcement list on my website, we’ll email you whenever we have a gig anywhere in the world. Would love to meet all of you and sign your cd’s! Thanks for reading this.