Alice Stuart - Seattle, Washington
Full Time Woman
by Pat Ferris

A voice that has been representing the '60s generation for over 40 years is back in the saddle and going stronger than ever.  If there ever was to be a title of 'Godmother of Folk', that would have to go to Alice Stuart.

A native to Washington State, Alice got her start in the very early '60s when rock and roll was in its infancy. After moving to the San Francisco Bay area in the 1964, she performed with giants like Joan Baez, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jesse Fuller, Mississippi John Hurt, The Chambers Brothers, and even joined forces with Frank Zappa during the formation of the Mothers of Invention. As a singer/songwriter and lead guitarist, Stuart was not only in a class by herself, but created the class, became the teacher and as guitar/piano legend Taj Majal said "Alice cut the road that Bonnie (Raitt) travelled"

I recently saw Alice perform and was initially impressed with her finger-picking, delta-blues, stride style of guitar, but after about two minutes my attention turned to how tight everybody was that was backing her, and to see some familiar (and well known) faces in her band. Since her return to Seattle in January of 2000, Alice has been able to attract some of the finest musicians from the northwest into her band, and build a sizable following of fans by consistently providing a class-act performance and raising the standard on how a professional band carries themselves.  There are plenty of quality bands in Seattle (or anywhere else for that matter), but there is still something magical that happens when you have seasoned pros that have been performing professionally more years of their life than not, take the stage and do what they do best.

A new CD, a full touring schedule and a growing fan base proves that it's never to late for success.  Alice represents a generation that found it's voice with the Vietnam war; a generation that no longer has much representation in the world of touring bands, but a generation of people, music and culture that set up the foundation of 'unplugged' artists today, and laid the groundwork so women could play a dominant role in the world of rock and roll.

I was able to get Alice on instant messenger for an online interview the other day, and here is what she had to say:

<Alice> Hi Pat

<HotBands> Hey there! I was listening to your music and reading your info on your website to prep myself for the interview.

<Alice> That's good. Do you have my latest CD? I have another one coming out June 18

<HotBands> Let's start at the beginning. When were you first exposed to music, and how did you find it shaping your life choices?

<Alice>I started taking piano when I was 5. Played a lot of classical music. Then played drums in the school band and orchestra

<HotBands>So you had the music bug early and played all the way through school?

<Alice> Music has always been my passion and my career choice. I graduated high school from Lake Chelan, Washington in 1969 and came to Seattle in late 1960 or early ’61.

<HotBands>That's a long time to be rock and rolling! You got in the music scene right when rock and roll was born

<Alice> I started off playing folk music. I went from Peter, Paul and Mary to ethnic stuff. Then I heard Bob Dylan and I was on my way

<HotBands>What do you mean by ‘ethnic’, and was Dylan the draw that pulled you to the Bay area?

<Alice> Ethnic music (then) was Scottish and Irish ballads and the kind of music the Kingston Trio were developing. Playing ethnic music, you were supposed to play it as near to the original as possible. Bob Dylan showed me you can put a spin on anything. The thing that drew me to the Bay Area was because nothing happening in Seattle live music scene for the type of music I was pursuing, and I wanted to get moving.

<HotBands>How many years were you in the Bay Area, and what brought you back up to Seattle?

<Alice>I went from Seattle to L.A. and was there for about 5 months. I was ‘discovered’ there by the director of the Berkeley Folk Festival (the biggest in the country) and I appeared there in 1964 for the first time (having moved to L.A. in Jan. of 64) Did workshops with Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson and the New Lost City Ramblers. Sang with Joan Baez. It was very overwhelming for me at the time. I moved to the Bay Area in 1964, right after the Festival. I lived there until 1977 when I moved to Austin for 8 months or so, then back to Marin County for a few years. I got married again and moved to Grass Valley, CA, north of Sacramento. I came back to Seattle to jumpstart my career in January of 2000. I had been touring up here for a couple of years and was getting a lot of local support, so I decided to move back to Seattle.

<HotBands>During this time, were you full time at the music craft, or did you have to support the music habit with side work?

<Alice> I have been supporting myself with music. I teach at guitar camps in the summer and play gigs and sell my CDs and give some private lessons

<HotBands>That's awesome that you've had such an incredibly long career doing what you love to do

<Alice>I quit music for 15 years, from 1978 until about 9 years ago. I had another child in 1979 and raised her and finished raising my son (now 35). I also went to college for a while.

<HotBands>Now that you're up in Seattle, you've surrounded yourself with a killer band...you have some real pros backing you. You obviously command respect and attention from the serious players...your resume didn't happen by luck. Where from here? Tour or studio?

<Alice>I want to get on the road to promote my new CD.

<HotBands>The road is brutal for touring bands! Are you looking for casino type shows or the club venues? I'm sure you're going to say 'the ones that pay good'

<Alice>I have hired a publicity person in California to help me get some press in some major magazines and get me on some talk shows, etc. As far as venues, I’m looking for venues that are going to get me some lasting support and airplay. I want to do as many radio shows as possible

<HotBands>I would think that you could get some good press

<Alice>Burnside Records is going to back me pretty well and hopefully put me in line for a Handy Award, or at least a nomination. Press stuff does come fairly easily at this point, but I need a person to take care of that stuff. The Seattle Times did a killer article on me last March, huge color photo and another photo on the next page.

<HotBands>You have some heavies in your band. Talk a little about them...do you have a former history with any of them, and how is everything coming together?

<Alice>Jon Parry (formerly w/Hank Williams Jr.) has been playing with me for about 4 months. He is a great fiddle player and has wanted to play more blues. We come from the same ‘place’ musically, and can go from an Appalachian type song to a down and dirty blues without a hiccup.
Leif Totusek is a really fine guitar player. He plays incredible leads and rhythm. In my band, he plays mostly rhythm to support my playing. He can play any kind of music.

Joel Tepp is a fine musician, too. He plays slide guitar, clarinet, sax, and harmonica. He played with Bonnie Raitt for about 8 years and currently plays and records with Danny O'Keefe, which he's been doing for a long time.

My drummer is Kevin Cook. He has been with me for about 14 months. My bass player is Walter White. Walter plays with a jazz band in town as well. He’s from the East coast and played with Larry Murante.

<HotBands>You keep up an amazing schedule, and I know touring is hard work. Do you or were you ever a partier, or do you stay totally sober? I'm wondering how you have the energy to do what you do!

<Alice>I was a real partier in the ‘70s. I almost killed myself, which is why I moved to Austin. I had to get away from the Marin County vice, and cocaine. The damn coke and gin got me down to 95 pounds. Yikes! These days, I do drink wine and a little beer now and again. I shouldn’t, but I do.

<HotBands>So, looking back over your career, do you have any regrets?

<Alice>I was "perched on the brink of stardom in 1975" as one reviewer said, and I blew it. But I feel like I am back now and totally focused, so I'm getting a 2nd chance. I also regret being so crazy when my son was 3 to 7 years old and he needed me to be a fulltime mom or at least a better mom. That’s another reason I went to Austin. To clean up and take care of my son

<HotBands>So you had your shot at the majors and blew it because of drugs?

<Alice>I had great players with me in SF. Joachin Young, who was Boz's keyboard player, 2 great singers, Miles, my drummer, was with the 5th Dimension for years (think he still IS, actually. Yeah… coke and not enough direction from professionals. My long time manager couldn't deal with me and quit. I was kind of a lost soul for a while. I couldn't have a real relationship because I was so messed up, and the lack of relationship or love compounded my situation.

<HotBands>How have you seen the music industry as a whole evolve over the last 40 years?

<Alice>Evolve…hmmm. Well, musicians’ don't get screwed as much by the big boys as they used to. Publishing rights are not lost like I lost mine. Laws have changed. Also, there are so many more musicians out there trying to make it. It’s kind of scary!

<HotBands>It seems that musicians of today (at least from what I've heard) say the big boys still screw you...I can't imagine it being actually worse than it is now!

<Alice>Musicians today are way better informed. There are books out to read and seminars that teach you. We were totally on our own. Oh, man… Listen to this...when I signed my first record contract, I asked "shouldn't I consult an attorney?" One of the men answered, "No, that's alright, I'm an attorney."

<HotBands>Boy...I bet you never do that again. By the way, you looking to buy a bridge?

<Alice>Very funny! I was only 26, totally broke and raising a 2 year old on my own. I was desperate, and needed that weekly paycheck. I was totally naïve.

<HotBands>So you're getting a 2nd chance at a music career at such a late stage in your life. Do you see that as a hindrance, or as a benefit? Seriously, there aren't very many rock and rollers still representing the ‘60s generation

<Alice>I am lucky to have so much energy and feel so much younger than I am. I see my age as a benefit, really. Retro is in. I have the gender thing on my side too. I try not to think about that too much because I've been trying to be accepted as a serious musician, not as a ‘good for a girl’ guitar player. I've worked very hard at just being a good player. There really aren't very many good women guitarist, singer, and songwriters out there. You've got to use what you have, though, if you know what I mean.

<HotBands>I totally agree with you. It takes a cut above the rest to do it all, and you seem to be getting a good following going on in the Seattle area. Are you touring much outside of the Northwestern United States?

<Alice>I have been to Europe twice, in the ‘70s. I hope to go back. Sometimes I think I should just put my stuff in storage and take off. I know there's a market for me there. I'm going to Canada this summer for a month and am talking to a booking agent in Chicago presently. I also have a date in Syracuse in August at a blues fest.

<HotBands>What do you plan from here? You mentioned touring, and you have a new CD coming out next month. How about future CDs in the works?

<Alice>I have some plans for a new CD that I want to start working on soon. I want to do it in Seattle with Leif and Jon and Sue Orfield and Rob Moitosa and some of the great players around here. Possibly, I will ask Rod Cook to guest on it.

<HotBands>What advice do you have for people getting started in the business? Look back at how you looked at the industry in 1960, and how you felt invincible. You have wisdom that only comes with experience

<Alice>The innocence of the past won't carry a performer any more. Read, listen and take advice from those that have been in the business for a long time. Consult an attorney. Protect your music and yourself. Know your song well before you start singing, and as a wise man once said…Go to college FIRST!! College teaches you to think.

<HotBands> Is there anything else you'd like to pass on to the readers? Perhaps a summary of your experiences that you can offer them

<Alice>You spirit is what sells you. Be true to yourself and sing and play from the heart. Practice and focus on what you want and make it happen

<HotBands>Thanks Alice! I appreciate the time you took for this. I look forward to hearing your new release (when is the release date?)

<Alice>June 18th. Burnside Records. Thank YOU!