What Up - April 2000

"I don't expect people to understand me, but to just interpret me."

I am a biased James Intveld fan – have been from the first moment I heard him sing sometime in the mid 1980’s. He was then, and remains, the epitome of class, the kind of entertainer that made Sinatra, Dino , Ella, Basie and Elvis legendary. He is the kind of performer I cut my teeth on in the showrooms and lounges of the Reno casinos I grew up around. There are so very few entertainers today who can thrill an audience the way I demand to be thrilled just as I was when I was three years old and saw the fabulous Mills Brothers for the first time at the historical Riverside Hotel & Casino. James Intveld is carrying on in that tradition.

More, he is as comfortable in a fancy silk suit singing in front of millions as he is in Levis and a T-shirt performing for an audience of 50. He is always elegant and he never fails to please a crowd. This is the was it should be.

Sadly, the business of entertainment has become less about talent and more about selling a commodity; less about quality and style than about bottom lines and market shares. As for James Intveld, who has been about this business of making music, film and entertaining since he was a very young man just out of high school, he has traveled that road to a place where he finds himself today; an independent man of integrity and distinction who is finished with all the nonsense. His bottom line is the quality of his life and the art he is making. Having just returned from a glorious trip to South By Southwest, the annual music industry showcase held in Austin, Texas, he is reflecting upon the first wave of critical acclaim he has garnered from the March 4, 2000 release of his second solo CD, Somewhere Down The Road, on his own record label, Mollenaart Records. This brilliant follow up to the 1996 Bear Family project, James Intveld, speaks volumes about a man who has walked through the fire and come out on the other side. It also details the depth and breadth of the kind of talent that makes James Intveld so outstanding.

Born and raised early on in Compton, California, Jimmy was the second of three children, with an older sister and a younger brother. His father, also a talented singer, and mother exposed Jimmy and his siblings to a myriad of different music forms. Crosby, Nat King Cole , Hank Williams, Sr. and Lefty Frizzell were all a part of the early education of the Intveld children, Encouragement at home included sing-a-longs, performing at school and church and forming bands with friends. James, who is ambidextrous on a wide variety of instruments , including guitar, drums, bass and mandolin, sees this early experience as vital to his ability to survive a business that generally is willing to eat its own. A strong foundation from his family has served him well as has the work ethic instilled in each of the Intveld children by their parents.

As for his ambition to do it all, Intveld sees this as a result of his birth order. Laughing about it now the affable performer remarks , “I had an older sister and she was special because she was the girl . My brother, who was the baby, was special because he was the baby. I wanted to stand out, I wanted that attention.”

And he got plenty of attention and still does. His drive to perform music allowed him to move beyond church, school and his neighborhood. He entered the mysterious world of the LA club scene which introduced him to audiences at, among other places, the now defunct club Palomino in North Hollywood, the site of so much good C&W and roots music.

Along the way, Jim bought brother Ricky a drum kit and along with pal Pat Woodward, the brothers formed the Rockin’ Shadows. But, this was only a single step on the path James Intveld was taking. Soon, Rick Nelson asked both Ricky Intveld and Woodward to join his Stone Canyon Band, an offer they could hardly refuse, and James was on his own again.

Never one to stagnate, James Intveld established himself as an intricate part of the LA country and roots music scene, even going so far as to give birth to the idea of a weekly Barndance and an annual Elvis birthday show. He also found himself performing and working with friends and peers like Dale Watson, Dwight Yoakam, Rosie Flores, Lester Butler, the Nelsons, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. More then once he was tapped by major labels to become ‘the next big thing.’ But, as he states quite candidly, “I've had lots of chances to do some manufactured kind of thing.” That is not who James Intveld is and compromising his music was not in his plan.

His work on the Town South of Bakersfield trilogy is also noteworthy as is his work as the singing voice of the John Waters film character, Cry Baby. More, his career as an actor is just as telling as is his music. His film credits include “Indian Runner,“ “Thing Called Love,” and the latest Beach Boys TV biopic. He continues to work on his acting skills, in front of and behind the camera, with his acting troop, “Theatre Rats” and is directing a film called “Booger.”

As for the new album, he is very pleased. Asked about the differences between his first and second CD projects he ponders for a moment then answers pointedly, “I am in a different place (now). I was sad and depressed when I wrote the first record. I've leveled off a lot since then.”

The intuitive Intveld, who is intelligent, charming and gentle by nature, reflects upon his words and adds, “Even though things may not be all great, when things are bad, I'm not beating myself up. I'm coping with it much better and the songs (on Somewhere Down The Road) reflect this attitude.”

Continuing this line of thought, James Intveld notes, “The record has less of the ‘crying in your beer-down and out’ feeling.”

As much as he is thrilled with the CD, Intveld is just as thrilled with the new support system he has found in manager Eddie Morris of ‘ Stellar artistS,’ and his new band, Michael Turner on lead, Bruce Witkin playing bass and drummer Shawn Nourse. At a recent performance at the Fountain Valley Abilene Rose, Intveld’s manager was buzzing around prior to the show, making sure things were in place and that James, the band and their guests were taken care of. It was obvious that Intveld and Morris share a vision and an affection for each other. As Morris noted in one telephone conversation, “Jimmy is the best.”

The fluid ease between Intveld and Turner is also apparent. Both in the studio and on stage Turner is the spark that lets the engine roar. A hard edged guitar swinger, he supports Intveld with every note. Turner, who co-produced Somewhere Down The Road with his boss, is a power house unto himself. A session player who has known Jimmy for years, it is this recent pairing that has allowed both frontman and guitarist to blossom. Jokingly Intveld says of his friend, “He is my Pete Anderson!”

As for Wilkins and Nourse, they work together to keep the bottom tight and both pay attention to what Intveld is doing on stage and to what Turner is laying down with his guitar. The end result is that this is the strongest band James Intveld has ever had behind him. He is comfortable and more at ease than ever, but still always observant of his audience and what is taking place around him on stage.

The music on Somewhere Down The Road is as elegant and as diverse as the man who makes the music come alive. Dorinda Wilson, a Los Angeles educator and music supporter, noted, “James is so soothing on this CD. I've been listening to it while dealing with some very difficult things in my life. Everything is magical. Even my mother loves it. She asked me to make a copy of “Somewhere Down The Road” ( the title cut) for her line dancing group!” Laughing Wilson adds, “I cant just see all these ‘church ladies’ dancing to James!”

As magical as the new music is, it is also true that James Intveld refuses to be put into a box. The entire CD reflects this attitude. Songs from the C&W twang of the title to the darker and blusier “ Stringin’ Me Along” highlight the Intveld style just as uniquely as do “All the Way From Memphis” and the ethereally beautiful “Love Calls.” The tune, “One Sweet Letter” is significant because it allows James to show off some of his jazzier flourishes as a vocalist while parading out a few details that suggest the vocal fashion of many popular vocalists from the Hit Parade era. More, all of this is wrapped up while Turner works out and sets some of his own fire to certain rock ‘n’ roll licks.

Just as good as the very classic C&W love song, “Living Without You,” delivered flawlessly and with all the raw emotion such a tune deserves. Vocally, Intveld is clarity personified as he demonstrates on “If I Should Lose You.” Still, he is able to cut things down to the barest basics and serves up a bluegrass and mountain gospel tune, “A Sinners Prayer,” a tune and a presentation that is worthy of a Johnny Cash, a Ralph Stanley or a Bill Monroe.

It is important to note that James Intveld still rocks like no one else on earth. His version of Buddy Holly's “Modern ‘Don Juan” is just as significant as is his cover of the Bonnie Owens tune, “Stop the World.”

Intveld’s goals for this project are clear. “I'd like to reach a broader audience if I could. And reach people on a human level.” Laughing, he adds, “If we could work out a ‘deal’ with an EFFECTIVE label, that would be great!”

It's been a long, rocky road for James Intveld. While he continues to work hard and is already in the studio with Mike Turner working on the next CD, he also found peace in his life at home. His family and his dog, Spike, seem to give him the greatest joy as he talks about them and the love they give to him. “My parents are both retired and they live near me now. I spent 20 years never seeing my parents, now I enjoy all the time we spend together. And, of course, he never forgets his brother and best friend, Ricky Intveld.

As for the future, it will be filled with tours, the U. S. and Europe where they have already had the good sense to declare James Intveld a ‘super star.’ James says to himself, “(I want) keep doing what I'm doing. But, I won't wait so long to put out the next record. As far as my acting, I'm working with my theatre group, “Theatre Rats,” we are in the middle of our first short film and I will continue to read for other films when I can.”

And, if he could, he would sit down and talk to his grandfather, Julian Intveld. “I never got to meet him...” Intveld believes that his grandfather could answer many of the questions he has about himself and like all inquiring people, Intveld know it begins and ends with your family.

Oh yes indeed, I am a biased, unabashed James Intveld fan. I will make no apologies nor will I rattle off excuses or detail certain rules of journalism that deserve to be broken to explain my blatant activism in regards to this man. And that is just it, really. James Intveld is a man and it is the man as much as the music, the acting, the behind-the-scenes expertise and the performing that inspires such delight. This is a man who has remained true to his ideals. A man who has learned some lessons the hard way and moved ahead in spite of detours in the road. This is someone who is worthy of admiration and respect, who loves his family, is as strong spiritually as he is morally or physically and continues to work very hard at what he does. And, as I said before, he does it all oh so very well. He is all class and elegance and he is the kind of man and entertainer this world needs more of.

As for James Intveld himself, he says matter-of-factly, “I don't expect people to understand me. But, just to interpret me.” This then is my interpretation of a fine man and a full-bodied, well rounded entertainer. Take heed, look, listen and learn. James Intveld is going to be around for a very long time – thank goodness.