FELIX CAVALIERE’S RASCALS play The Coach House Sep. 10; press photo
When looking for a healthy musical playlist, there is nothing like the classics. The Rascals easily fall into this category with their string of 60s hit singles such as the number-one hit “Groovin’”. “It’s A Beautiful Morning,” “Good Lovin’,” along with numerous others, filled the airwaves and featured vocalist Felix Cavaliere’s blue-eyed soul. He will be performing the all-time hits at The Coach House Sep. 10.
From the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, to the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, to the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Hammond Organ Hall of Fame, Felix Cavaliere has been doing something right in his 50 years in the business. Concert Guide Live had a chance to talk with him and see what he’s been up to aside from the inductions.
CONCERT GUIDE LIVE: What is blue-eyed soul?
FELIX CAVALIERE: I think it’s a way of people saying there’s white people who sing R & B. It was penned when The Righteous Brothers were around.
CGL: Why did you start making music? What inspired you?
CAVALIERE: As I became about Junior High School age, a friend of mine mentioned a radio show from Cleveland called Allen Freed’s Rock ‘n Roll show and I heard what was the beginning of Rock ‘n Roll music. And it just spoke to me.
CGL: Who gave you your first instrument?
CAVALIERE: Well, actually it was a Baldwin piano and I guess it came from my mom.
CGL: How old were you when you heard yourself on the radio?
CAVALIERE: Oh my goodness I think I was like 20. But I remember it vividly. We were walking on the streets of New York and it was quite a revelation for us. Bunch of kids started out and got a record deal and next thing you know they play it on the radio. The first time it was magical.
Basically I had a transistor radio and was warned it was going to happen. The band was living together and didn’t want to miss it. We heard “and now we have a new release from a group of guys from New York,” and next thing you know we’re going out of our mind.
CGL: What’s your favorite song that’s not as well known?
CAVALIERE: Oh wow from our work. I don’t know we had a really good singing group attached from our band. We did a song called “Island of Love” that only album buyers have heard. Singing groups came in the 50’s and more band type in the 60’s. It’s a lot of fun to sing with guys who can really sing. It is a nice feeling. I used to write songs just for us to sing and it worked and a lot of times that wasn’t necessarily a single.
CGL: Are you still writing music?
CAVALIERE: Yeah, that’s why I moved here (Nashville). I came down here to continue to write. It’s an amazing place for music.
CGL: Who would you like to share the stage with?
CAVALIERE: I’ve never worked with a dancer. I’d like to try that one day. It would be pretty interesting. Like Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake. They are both really good dancers.
CGL: What’s your favorite award you’ve won and why?
CAVALIERE: Uh, I think the Songwriters Hall of Fame is the nicest one. It’s so little publicized and televised and hasn’t turned into a circus.
CGL: If you weren’t a musician what do you think you’d be doing?
CAVALIERE: I think I’d be a doctor and be in a healing field. I’ve always been attracted to that I think because of my family. Everyone in my family is in medicine in one form or another. I was the guy that changed the loop a little bit.
CGL: How much longer do you plan on playing live shows?
CAVALIERE: Good question. I have no idea. When people want to hear you it’s awfully hard to say no. I don’t want to go. As long as I keep my body in shape, which I work very hard at, and keep my voice in shape, thank God, I’d like to continue.
CGL: Are you a family man now?
CAVALIERE: Oh yeah, I got a bunch of kids. I got a bunch of grandkids.
CGL: Do your kids listen to “Good Lovin’’’?
CAVALIERE: (Haha) I guess they’ve heard it a few times.