{"id":4346,"date":"2022-04-25T03:46:26","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T08:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/?p=4346"},"modified":"2022-04-25T11:54:58","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T16:54:58","slug":"traveling-universe-bill-summers-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/traveling-universe-bill-summers-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling the Universe: A Conversation with Bill Summers (Part Two)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our conversation with Bill Summers (part one available here<\/a>) continues with a further discussion on the Headhunters, how percussionists are often treated differently, the symbolism behind bat\u00e1 drums, and why “Latin rhythms” is a mischaracterization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PostGenre: Do you feel the emphasis many put on the bottle part on “Watermelon Man” minimizes your contribution to Head Hunters<\/em> (Columbia, 1973)?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bill Summers: Well, months after we finished recording the album, it came out. It only had four tracks – \u201cChameleon\u201d, \u201cWatermelon Man\u201d, \u201cSly\u201d, and \u201cVein Melter.\u201d But the album started selling like crazy. I had no idea it would become one of the highest-selling jazz albums in history. My late wife at the time looked at the credits and got angry because I wasn\u2019t mentioned as an arranger even though I helped write the music. So, despite all the proceeds earned on record sales, I never received full credit. Everyone on the record got a writing credit except me. <\/p>

I went to Herbie and asked why I did not get a credit. He told me that it was because I was \u201cjust a percussionist.\u201d That\u2019s not to knock Herbie, but that was just the state of affairs across the board in music. There is a lack of respect for percussionists and what I do. Even when I go to a soundcheck, they check everybody – keys, bass, vocalists, whatever – and then ask me to play only last, if at all. <\/p>

And, even if I am asked to play, the guy from the booth may tell me to just \u201cplay my toys.\u201d When they do, I will ignore the request until someone comes on stage and asks me to play my toys and I have to tell them I don\u2019t have toys, they\u2019re real instruments. It is particularly incredible where it is a band I am the leader of, and I was the leader of the Headhunters. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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