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A Conversation with
Tony Joe White
(continued)
PM: Talking about co-writes and stuff, I really like that sometimes you write with your wife, Leann, and there's even a three-way with Jody that begins the record, "Run For Cover."
TJW: Yep. Leann and I, through the years, we may not write two or three songs a year, but they're always happening songs, and usually end up with somebody big or something big happens to them.
PM: Wow.
TJW: I mean, "Undercover Agent," for instance, laid around on pieces of paper all over the house for weeks and weeks where I finally started picking up on it, or even knowing what it was about.
PM: Now, does Leann write solo, too, or only with you?
TJW: She'll write a lot of things down, and then come to me, and then we'll hook the guitar up, and I'll see what's fitting what, or this and that. I may change it a little bit, or we may start a new one while we're trying to work on that one. You can't ever really put any structure on it.
PM: Yeah. Is she strictly on a lyrical side?
TJW: That's it. That's all.
PM: Yeah, right. How about on the written word side of things--do you find time or make time to read much? Do you like that?
TJW: I read a lot, yeah, especially at night, in hotels and things like that. I mean, reading--I hardly ever watch TV, so yeah, reading is my deal.
PM: Anything that turned you on lately?
TJW: I have really been into the writer James Lee Burke. He writes mostly about New Orleans, the New Orleans detective. And a lot of the characters I really like in it. Him, and also there's a guy--it's a Spanish name, we just finished a book--it was The Book Cemetery or something like that. God, it's great.
PM: You're an artist that tours globally and is, oddly, more appreciated around the world than he is at home. I guess it's just the culture we live in. Do you have a favorite place that you like to play, a certain spot in the world?
TJW: Well, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Europe and Australia. Europe because it's where it first started, my first hit, and the people in France. I love to play in Australia, because it reminds me of early Texas, early Louisiana days, where people get just a little bit wilder, and get up on stage with you, and jumping.
PM: Really?
[laughter]
TJW: Yeah. It's wild, man. But then, again, I was in New Orleans and then over in Lafayette last weekend, and it was the same kind of happening. So I thought, well, that's good to know, playing in good old America, and the people are rockin', so...
PM: Yeah, they can still come out of their bag around here.
TJW: Yes, I still felt good about it.
PM: [laughs] Are you what you'd call a spiritual guy in any respect?
TJW: Yeah. I am. My church is the sky and the land and all. I'm more Indian, you know, Cherokee, than anything. So I don't go to church, but I do believe in all of it, the spirit and God, and what he's made, and everything.
PM: Well, yeah, I certainly feel like I'm talking to a very spiritual guy.
So I hope to see at least one of your shows around town this week. I know you're doing an in-store at Grimey's that I'd like to see. Is that today or tomorrow, or do you know?
TJW: That's tomorrow afternoon. I think it's at 4:00 o'clock.
PM: Okay. Well, I plan on coming out there and shaking your hand and getting to meet you.
TJW: That'd be great, man.
PM: Because I'm really, really grateful for your time this morning. And I really think the world of your music.
TJW: Well, I'm looking forward to meeting you there, and we'll hook up, then.
Here are two Video Clips of Tony Joe White from the Mercy Lounge, Nashville (the Americana Music Conference 2006), doing the classics "Polk Salad Annie" (Clip 1) and "Rainy Night In Georgia" (Clip 2).
print (pdf) listen to audio clips tonyjoewhite.com
buy Uncovered here or here PM review of Uncovered
more photography by Jim Marshall
thanks to Doug Benjamin at Waterloo Records, Austin
our 2004 interview with J.J. Cale
