Lamitschka: Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?
Randy Plummer: First of all, Thank you Mr. Lamitschka for this interview-it is an honor. I would describe myself as a Country Music & also Gospel Music singer, songwriter and performer. I live in Branson, MO, a tourist town in the middle of the United States. I have been performing here for 38 years.
Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?
Randy Plummer: It was great. I sang on 4 different shows in two different theaters here in Branson, MO. I sing and play bass on, “A Tribute To John Denver” which is a 10 am morning show and also at 5 pm on, A Tribute To George Strait-who is a big country music singer here in the United States. I also sing with a group called, The Max Bacon Family, doing country & Gospel music on Sundays only. All of these shows are in Branson, MO and run between February and the middle of December. Some of my highlights were that I released some origional songs on a world-wide music internet provider for Disc Jockeys to download music for their stations called, RadioActiveAirplay (RAA) and I had some No. 1 songs thru their internet download service. They have at least 4 genre’s of music that DJ’s can download to present to the world thru their stations. I enjoy writing music and it is a joy to have an association with RadioActiveAirplay where Disc Jockeys around the world can get a username and password and download music for free to present thru their stations.
Lamitschka: What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?
Randy Plummer:I have released a Christmas cd and also a Country & Gospel cd called, “Branson”. I wrote a song about Branson, Mo and have released it thru RAA and it hit No. 1 and I am very excited and thankful. I also released another song on RAA called, “An Ozark Prayer” and it just hit No. 1 within the last 3 weeks. I released a Gospel song from the same cd called, “One Of These Days” and it hit No. 1 too.
Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD? Is there a story behind the name?
Randy Plummer: I choose the title “Branson” for the cd because of me living in Branson and performing here along time. From 1973 till 1990 my parents Darrell & Rosie Plummer and myself had a theater here in Branson called, The Plummer Family Country Music Show. We had the 3rd Family Show here and we ran the theater for 18 years and sold out in 1990. All of my family moved away after we sold out but they are in music but I wanted to stay here and perform in Branson. I am currently in my 38th year of performing here.
Lamitschka: Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?
Randy Plummer: The songs, “Branson” & “An Ozark Prayer” are born out of my love for the town of Branson I live in. It is small town in the southwest corner of Missouri right above the Arkansas line and has a population of around 6 -7,000 people and usually over 6 million people come thru here a year. We have at least 120 music shows here now and Silver Dollar City Theme Park, Shepherd of the Hills Play where actors and actresses act in a play based out of this book by the same name at their own outdoor theater here in Branson. There is also a water theme park called, “White Water” and a lot of Go Carts and other attractions & shows for people to go to so with all of that in mind, I wanted to write and record a song remembering so many of our Branson attractions. I had put out a Christmas cd and I wrote a song on there called, “Ozark Country Christmas” and it hit No. 1 on RAA’s Christmas chart in November 2010. I like to write songs pertaining to our Missouri Ozarks as well as Gospel & Country Music and both of these cd give reference to our Ozarks. As You call tell Lamitschka, a lot of my influences are from my Ozark upbringing! ha
Lamitschka: Your current single is being played by radio. What do you feel is special about this song that makes people want to hear it?
Randy Plummer: I released both, “Branson” and “An Ozark Prayer” around the same time but on different charts and they each hit No. 1. and that shows me that people have an interest in hearing about the town of Branson and the Ozarks.
Lamitschka: What will your next single be?
Randy Plummer: It is a patriotic song called, “This Is Your Land”. I am releasing it in memory of the people who died in Twin Towers at New York from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and in honor of our military.
Lamitschka: You did a duet with James Marvell. How did that happen to come about?
Randy Plummer: I sang with James Marvell who used to be with the 60’s rock group,Mercy. They had a huge hit with a song called, “Love Can Make You Happy”. James and I and sometimes his wife Faye and I sang the old Gospel Classic, “Amazing Grace”. It was an honor and a joy to sing with them. We worked at the same place in Branson and I would ask him to join me on the song and he was a great singing partner.
Lamitschka: What is your favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what’s the story behind it?
Randy Plummer: I am not sure if this is my very favorite but one of my favorites is an original song I wrote over 20 years ago called, “Angel Wings”. It is a Gospel song and a song of hope. I have a big interest in the subject of Angels and how God uses them to protect His Children and one day I started getting the Angel Wings song and it came so quick when I was writing it that I felt like I was taking notes from God or an Angel and not having to labor over it at all. It came so fast I kinda felt like it wasn’t my own song. In reality none of the songs I have written are my songs…they truly are God’s songs…I am just the writer who jots them down.
Lamitschka: How much creative control do you have over your music?
Randy Plummer: I have total creative control over my music and I do have great Publishers-D.K. & Sherrie Brewster who have the, “Yet To Come Publishing” here at Branson, Mo and we work together to get the music out. Our publishing company is under Bill & Gloria Gaither’s, “Gaither Copyright Management” and I am very happy and honored to be associated with all these wonderful talented people. The Brewsters and Bill & Gloria Gaither are all winners of Dove Awards in the Gospel Music Industry. The Dove Award is one of the highest awards anyone can win.
Lamitschka: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?
Randy Plummer: Yes, I have a dear Friend, Mark Dean, who is a fellow singer and does a great job on Gospel music. He had a real bad heart attack and about died around 6 years ago and he told me that listening to, “Angel Wings” helped him get thru his difficult time and he ended up recording Angel Wings and he too had a No. 1 hit with it. I felt really thrilled and honored that he recorded this song.
Lamitschka: Who inspires you musically and how deep do your musical roots run?
Randy Plummer: My top inspiration is God. He has given me so much and the talent to write and record songs. At times when I was no more thinking about writing a song, He would give me one and I knew He is where it came from. Some of my other influences are Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, George Strait, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Loretta Lynn & George Jones are a few of my musicial influences but I have many and my musical roots run really deep!
Lamitschka: If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?
Randy Plummer: To make sure that all singer, writers and publishers got the money they deserve because I have heard that some don’t get their money and that is sad.
Lamitschka: What drives you?
Randy Plummer: A love for God and people and wanting to make someones day better and wanting to do this for a living-it isn’t all about the money-even tho that is important. With me it is about staying in there and doing my part.
Lamitschka: What’s unique about you that will differentiate you from other artists?
Randy Plummer: No one would want to be like me so that makes me stand out from the get go! ha Seriously, I am just myself and I do what Randy Plummer would do and not try to sound or be just like anyone else. God made us all individuals and if we live our lives with that in mind we will automatically be different and unique. With me I am a country guy and I sing country & Gospel music from the Missouri Ozarks and I think because of that sound I am probably unique in the recording world.
Lamitschka: What moments in your career stand out in your memory as highlights and achievements which you are proud of?
Randy Plummer: I was awarded, Male Vocalist of the Year for at least 6 years in Branson’s, The Best Is Yet To Come Annual Awards Show. I got to appear 4 times on The Nashville Networks TNN’s, Nashville Now Show. I got to do the National Day of Prayer program at Wayne Newton’s Theater several times with Mr. Newton. and I got to appear with Buddy Ebsen of The Beverly Hillbillies Show for several days back in the early 90’s. He was a Gem and I will never forget him!
Lamitschka: Is there anything in your life that you would change if you could?
Randy Plummer: Yes, I would love to have more money to do more in the recording world…like recording more original songs to keep in the can to use at later times so I could make many many more cds. I would love to have my own theater again so I could always have a place to perform close to home.
Lamitschka: What hopes and desires do you have?
Randy Plummer: To continue going upward and onward in music and to make a difference in this world. There is so much sadness and stress and even tho we live in an imperfect world…I do believe the focus so many times is on doomsday things….with me I want to make people happy and laugh and have a zest for life and to make an impact for God.
Lamitschka: Many European fans travel to the United States to attend the several of the music festivals for the opportunity to see so many of their favorite artists, bands and celebrities. Will you be participating and how will the fans be able to find you?
Randy Plummer: Yes, I will definitely be participating. I will be performing in Branson, MO starting in February and performing through the middle of December. I will be performing at…
The Little Opry Theater inside the Branson IMAX complex with James Garrett for the show, “A Tribute To John Denver” at 10 am Monday throught Saturday
The Little Opry Theate at 5 pm Monday through Saturday with James Garrett for the show, “A Tribute To George Strait”.
With the Max Bacon Family on Sundays only at 2 pm with their, Sunday Gospel Jubilee and also with their Sunday nite show at 7 pm called, “Ozark Mountain Jubilee”.
Lamitschka: What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?
Lamitschka: Do fans mob you everywhere you go or do they respect your privacy?
Randy Plummer: Most Fans respect my privacy but honestly, I love to talk with people so I don’t mind the talking whether I know them or not.
Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?
Randy Plummer: Yes, I have a website at www.randyplummer.com I have a lot of pictures thru the years and cd covers of cds of mine and if You want, You can order my Branson & Christmas cds and several others thru there too. I have a guestbook so I can read what folks want to write and I read them all.
Lamitschka: What message would you like to send your European fans?
Randy Plummer: I want Y’all to know that I love You and am excited to make many, Fans/Friends with You. I have heard so many great things of how artists from the USA have been so accepted in Europe.
Lamitschka: Fans are always hungry for good road stories. Do you have one you can share with us (come on don’t be shy)?