Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were your
highlights?
Chuck Hancock: Last Year was great, We finished recoeding
our 1st county Album On A Personal Note, we also appeared at the
American Music Theatre in Lancaster PA with Ray Price and Gene Watson
(to an absolute packed house) we released „They Don’t Stay
Little Long Enough“, our first single off the album. It went #1 in
Oct, in the Inspirational Country Charts and is in the top 20 on the
Country Charts as well. We have just returned from the ICM Awards
show in Nashville where I performed „They Don’t Stay Little Long
Enough“ and recieved two awards, Songwriter of the Year and Male
Vocalist of the Year. So far this year has been a „Great“ One.
Lamitschka: What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?
Chuck Hancock: „On A Personal Note“ it features 12
songs that I have written with two cover songs and It is doing great
Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD?
Is there a story behind the name?
Chuck Hancock: Yes, Long story, sometimes when we travel,
my wife drives and I play my guitar. I asked her if she had
something I could write on just in case I had an idea for a song.
She handed me a small note pad with a heading „On A Personal Note“,
I couldnt come up with an idea, and I just kept starring at that note
pad. Thus came the idea for the song „ On A Personal Note“. My
album touches on several of my favorite country styles, and actually
has a couple of songs that you might would hear on todays country,
but I wanted to produce the album with lots of traditional country
feeling, lots of fiddle and steel guitar out front in the music.
You’ll hear Texas shuffle, Texas swing, Hurting Country, even a
song with a Buffett feel. So its kind of a „Personal Note“ from
me to the listeners.
Lamitschka: Please tell us about the songs on your album
(influences, etc).
Chuck Hancock: My publicist and promoter Marty Martel
decided we needed a couple of cover tunes, because we wanted to
really break into the market in other countries. Being a new artist
to these listeners we felt they would like to hear a few songs that
they would recognize from the original artist. I chose the first
song to be an old favorite called „Step Aside“. Its my kind of
song and I stylized it a tad to make it my version of this great
song, I think it turned out ok. The #2 song Almost Dancing is one
of my favorites, the idea came from when my wife and I were watching
the movie FootLoose on TV, it seems the preacher would not let his
daughter go to the prom because he didn’t believe in dancing. Long
Story short at the end of the movie the preacher condeded to allow
her to dance at the prom. There was the final scene where he and his
wife were standing outside listening to the music and they swayed
just a little. Then he walkd off and his wife looked back and said
you know, „ We were almost dancing“. That hit me like WOW what
an idea for a song. So one hour later we had „Almost Dancing“.
Our third cut – „Just can’t get the Texas out of me“ is
influenced by me being born and raised in the great state of Texas.
A true Texan’s roots run deep and no matter how far away or how
long away, he is still a Texan. I spend a good bit of time in Texas
when I can and I love Texas swing and Twin fiddles, another one of my
favorites. The 4th cut „Can’t Make It Past Your Memory“ is
another 4/4 shuffle, with Ray Price enfluences. This is one of my
publiscist Marty Martel’s favorites. The # 5 cut is a love song I
wrote for my wife, Cynthia, and we did this with strings and nice
back ground vocals, I could hear Ray Price sing this song, except I
wrote a Conway Twitty style recitation that is a little different,
maybe some will find there way back. Also I might mention that
throughout this album several of the songs we had me sing background
on. Its perfect matched because Im singing both parts and I think it
worked well for us. The #6 song „Just Can’t One Night Stand It“
is a up tempo, fast line dance tune that has a great feel to it. I
think it will do well on radio. The # 7 song „Through The Eyes of
a Fool. This is one song I may have 2nd thoughts on the production.
It’s a great song, I did the 1st part of the song in a 2/4 time and
the last solo in 4/4 shuffle. Not sure I shouldn’t have done the
4/4 from the beginning. It really a great song. I just like the
movement of the last half better. # 8 „These sunny beaches and me.
I wanted to break up the consistency a little, so I wrote a fun, in
the sun type song that almost has a Jimmy Buffett flavor, but would
appeal to a younger listener perhaps we should say. # 9 „On A
Personal Note. We already talked about how this song came about.
The story is unique and I think this song could be played on todays
country radio. Hope you like the song, it is not as traditional as
the others. #10 „Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me“.
This is an old Ray Price song that I stylized a tad to make it my
version. But no one does it like Price. Hopefully you will hear
some small differences that maybe you’ll enjoy, I hope so. # 11
song „Where Lonely Gets Too Loud“ Here is a song that focuses on
the Hurt (after the leaving). I wanted to get that Vera
Gosdin feel
in the song, he sings the best hurtin songs. I invited James Payne
to give me some thoughts that would help capture the loneliness and
this is what we came out with. #12 – „Forever Don’t Last That
Long“ I originally wrote this as a slower song, as I worked with
my arranger, Mike Schrimpfth, we actually changed the arrangement to
a more groovy up tempo song, I like it and hope you will as well. #
13 song „They Don’t Stay Little Long Enough“. What can I say,
our 1st single off the album goes #1 in record time-It is just one of
those songs that everyone relates to. I think the song will be
timeless. It is one of my favorites. #14 song „ The way You Move
Me. Here is one of those unique sounding songs that the younger
crowd seems to like, certainly not traditional but not so far off
that it unbearable. I kind of like some of the lyrics, they have a
younger feel and the arrangement is different. So that is the album
layout. My traditional roots up front to my Texas swing, and boot
scootin country. You’ll hear hurtin country and some nice love
ballads and ending up with some song that might be heard on todays
country stations. Its not a pigeon holed project, just a „Personal
Note“ of Chuck Hancock music.
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?
Chuck Hancock: „They Don’t Stay Little Long Enough“
prompts the listener to remember their children growing up so fast
and the memories, the empty nest leaves you with. Everyone can
relate, the parent and the child. We may not all be parents, but we
were all children
Lamitschka: What will your next single be?
Chuck Hancock: I think Marty Martel, will decide, It will be
Can’t Get Past Your Memory which is now being played on
UKCountryRadio.com
Lamitschka: What kind of songs do you like to record the
most?
Chuck Hancock: I love these all, but I guess I would have
to say traditional country , dance tunes and also songs with feelings
and emotions
Lamitschka: How much creative control do you have over your
music?
Chuck Hancock: Total, however I like to get other
opinions as the songs move along toward recording. There are certain
people I may ask concerning melody, others concerning lyrics and
structure, but in the end I decide how and when we record it.
Lamitschka: There’s a lot of work that goes into a number
one hit. What did it take to make it in your case?
Chuck Hancock: A great deal from a lot of committed
people. First the song needs to be a quality product with potential,
the promoters and publicist have to sell the sizzle to the DJ‘s,
and they have to play it enough to catch on and ultimately the
listeners have to like it enough to give the radio people feed back
and request the song Heavy. There is a lot of great songs out there.
Lamitschka: Who inspires you musically and how deep do your
musical roots run?
Chuck Hancock: I have loved music from the time I was a
little boy. My father’s side of the family was very musically
inclined. They all playied in church at one time or another, many
played dances, my dad and my Aunt Jewell have written songs. My aunt
Jewell has had songs recorded by many Nashville artist, including
Hank William SR. (My Son Calls Another Man Daddy) I played in
country bands in Texas and toured the midwest for years. My
enfluence was Ray Price,
Merle Haggard and Vera Gosdin. All the Texas swinger Jonny Bush,
Daryll McCall and so many great ones.
Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s music scene
versus its past and where do you see it going in the future?
Chuck Hancock: You know todays country is not bad, it just
different. I don’t think mainstream will ever get back to the
traditional country sounds that we all love, but my hope is maybe
meet in the middle. I hope to see some traditional sounds coming
back. I have written a song that i will pitch to George Jones,
called „This Ain’t My Country Anymore“. I think that pretty
much covers that question.
Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s music industry?
Chuck Hancock: I think the internet has leveled the
playing field for some of us. The independent artist has a vehicle
to get his or her music out there without having to go give the big
record companies the lions share of the revenue. Still can’t get
players on mainstream stations, but several independents are doing
well.
Lamitschka: If you had the chance to change something about
the music industry, what would it be?
Chuck Hancock: The age ceiling, There are still so many
artist over 30 years old who can’t get the big break and they have
so much to offer the industry. This industry is missing a lot of
quality, but no shortage on quantity.
Lamitschka: What inspired you to become a songwriter?
Chuck Hancock: I am a hopeless romantic and writing has
always been my best form of expression. When I’m writing the world
stand still for me. When I hear a song that someone has written ,
that just blows me away, I always think now why didn’t I think of
that? It’s just what I love to do.
Lamitschka: When you get time off, how do you like to relax?
Chuck Hancock: With my sons, We still love to team rope,
hunt and jsut hang out. We like our horses, and sometimes I’ll try
my hand at golf. I’m thankful I don’t have to make a living
doing that.
Lamitschka: Is there anything in your life that you would
change if you could?
Chuck Hancock:Yes and No. I wish I had persued music more
aggressively in my younger years. But things are turning out pretty
good now, so yes and no.
Lamitschka: What hopes and desires do you have?
Chuck Hancock: I hope I can write some hit songs that
will be recorded by some of the Icons in the industry and I really
want to come to Europe and other countries to perform my music. That
is on my bucket list.
Lamitschka: What can your fans expect to see when they see
you in concert?
Chuck Hancock: Just an old country cowboy that loves to
sing his songs to folks who love to hear them. I interact with my
fans and get up close and personal with them. They are an important
part of my show, because without them there wouldn’t be a show.
Youll see some energy , feel some emotions and hopefully become a fan
of my music
Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information
about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will fans
find there?
Chuck Hancock: Yes, we have chuckhancock.com. Still
working on it but it shows tour dates. You can download my music,
buy caps and T shirts, albums and join our fan club.
Lamitschka: What message would you like to send your
European fans?
Chuck Hancock: Get ready to meet me in person soon. My
goal is to do some shows over there and im a pretty determined old
Texas cowboy that’ll Git er Done.
Lamitschka: How do you feel about being winning the
Songwriter and Male Vocalist of the Year? What has it done for
your career?
Chuck Hancock: It will allow me to become more recognized
in the industry, exposure is the key and these kinds of things
usually help you get more exposure
Lamitschka: Describe what a perfect day is like for you.
Chuck Hancock: I slept good the night before, wake up
feeling good, no stress, have a great cup of coffee on my veranda
looking at my horses, spend some quiet time with my Lord and Savior,
have breakfast with my boys, go out and rope a while, write a great
song in the afternoon , have a great dinner and evening with my wife,
play with my dog and pray that I can do it again tomorrow.
Lamitschka: Most careers don’t last as long as yours.
What’s given your career the staying power?
Chuck Hancock: A true passion, committment to get better
at the kraft, keep thanking God for this opportunity, being sincere
and real with your fans and always appreciate the disk jockies who
have our careers in their hands.