A Talk With Arnold McCuller
Joel Risberg - February 5, 1998
Arnold McCuller has toured and recorded with James Taylor for more than twenty years. You'll hear him prominently on every JT album since "Flag" and at most live performances. In fact, when Arnold brings the crowd to its feet with a solo at the end of "Shower the People," JT likes to turn to the crowd and remark: "He's good, isn't he? A little too good."
He lives in Los Angeles and performs solo shows when he's not on the road with other artists.
What's your musical background? Were you from a musical family?
Yes. They're both deceased now, but both my parents were singers. My father sang professionally in the army and my mother sang in church and that's basically where I got my training -- in Cleveland, Ohio. Most of my training is from church and school in Cleveland. All-city chorus -- A lot of choral work. That's where I learned harmony.
After leaving Cleveland I was hired to do the Broadway musical "Hair." I travelled with it in the touring company for two years: 1970 to 72. In '72 I worked in musical theatre, but I found it easier to work on records doing backing vocals, which subsequently got me some live performances with certain people. Myself and David Lasley were recommended to James [Taylor] by some studio musicians who'd worked with us. When he decided he wanted singers and called us, we just went and sang with him for a few hours and started working right after that.
So you've been working with him continually since then?
Off and on, yeah. Continually in the sense of whenever there's a tour. I tour with him sporadically and I've recorded records with him. My first record was the "Flag" record and I've done every record subsequent.
Who else have you worked with other than JT?
Currently, Phil Collins and Lyle Lovett.
Are there any cities that are particularly fun to play in?
Boston, New York -- you know, the cities where he's most popular are the most fun to play in. Wherever his audiences are really into him.
When you're touring with the band, is it a very close-knit group? Do you all spend a lot of time together beyond performances and rehearsals?
We spend a lot of time together because we're working together and we're travelling together. That's quite a lot of time in itself. And usually James and I exercise together.
What events led to you making your solo albums?
I've done three. My first album was in 1984 on AVI records called "A Part Of Me That's You." That was just released on vinyl. And the second record I did was for Virgin in 1990. It wasn't released, but it was a completed album.
I met a man who was involved in adult-contempory promotion -- Tom Callahan -- when I was working on the Virgin product. And Tom liked me so much that he asked me to try to put out another record. He thought that I was talented enough to continue pursuing a solo career. So he put me together with Dana Walden, the producer. And the three of us basically made "Exception To the Rule" and put it out on our own.
What about the future?
I'm hoping to start recording another album. I don't know what the means will be, but I'm always working on material for myself. I think as some point this year I'll know a little more, but I don't have any specifics. I've done some recording -- I've recorded like five songs. I recorded those last year.
I had a chance to see one of Mr. McCuller's solo performances April 30th at Genghis Cohen in Hollywood and was amazed. JT fans would be especially pleased to know that he opened his show with "Is That the Way You Look?"
Also, in January Mr. McCuller did a live chat here at James Taylor Online. Since then I've helped him create his own official web site at http://www.arnoldmcculler.com/