But when I pick up the bass, you’d be like, who is that man? Who is that bad boy playing the bass? Bass is my heart. RS: As a buck fifteen kid, I looked like a little, little punk. RS: I had go to the boys departments to try to find a suit to match their suits. You know.ĪS: Yeah, you had to go to the boys department. RS: Yeah, I was, I I was wearing exact same suits they were wearing, except I could never, uh, get my suits from the same place. Maybe it, when I really started playing around, you know, fourth, fifth grade, I was in, I was in bands with guys that were already 60 years old.ĪS: What would you wear when you were performing with these older men? Were you, were you wearing clothes that were similar to what the older men were wearing? Some guys, I was in a couple gospel quartet groups too. RS: Oh yeah, I was, they used to call me, they called me little old man because I was always hanging around older guys. RS: I think Dwayne is five years older than me.ĪS: So you're like little brother trying to hang out with. So I saw, I just saw the bass like that was the instrument I could play if I want to hang around Dwayne.ĪS: How many years older than you is Dwayne? I didn't know what the name of the instrument was called, but I kept hearing this instrument and then my brother Dwayne, at his house, he was playing guitar. And my sister Janice used to hold like the the lamp over my head and give me a spotlight and I think what started me playing bass was a Motown record by Marvin Gaye. No I was definitely scraping a broom and, and broomsticks all over the floor. I was -ĪS: I was thinking a six year old boy trying to hold a bass is. I think I was playing a, I I was playing a broom. RS: Well, at at six, I wasn't really playing the bass at that time. He said you're a good one, but you were definitely a mistake.ĪS: So when you're six years old and you start playing bass, why, why the bass? His mom had three children before him, his dad had eight. He’s his mom and dad’s only child together. He’d changed his name during that world tour with Prince and Shelia E. I have loved Raphael Saadiq since the late '80s, when he, his brother and his cousin burst on the scene with their band Tony! Toni! Toné!īy then, he was already going by Raphael. and he changed sex forever, when he made this song.with D’Angelo. He was nominated for an Oscar last year for co-writing Mighty River with Mary J Blige. and he won a Grammy for Love of My Life with Erykah Badu and Common… He co-produced the song "Cranes in the Sky" with Solange… In the 35 years since, Raphael Saadiq has become an institution in American R&B music, as a bass player, singer, songwriter and producer. RS: I just remember uh I didn't need an unemployment check anymore. RS : And, and next thing you know, we're in Tokyo, opening up for Prince, you know, singing Erotic City.ĪS: When you were on your way home from that audition, did you know that your life had changed? And then I I just remember somebody else had already got the gig and when I start playing, they gave me the gig. Um, I had like 501s on, like a derby jacket and had. There was maybe 20 to 30 people outside, like bass players, sort of dressed like Prince. RS : He said, is there anyone up there that can sing and dance and play bass.
It was a guy who was lining up musicians for Sheila E’s band for her world tour with Prince. He was just out of high school, and hanging around a studio with friends when they got a call. Raphael Saadiq grew up in Oakland, California.
The show from WNYC about the things we think about a lot…. Maybe because of the stuff I went through with my, you know, my family and I don't need anything just dark. RAPHAEL SAADIQ: I want people to walk into a place where I'm working at or where I live and just feel really warm, and I think that's a therapy for me.
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