American Music

Cee Cee Chapman interview

Why would I put an interview on this website with a singer who's as far as I know, no longer active? She was nice, but that goes for most of the country music singers. Because she had talent? Without that you won' t get a record deal with a major label. But because she had a fantastic first album that didn't bring her much, although she got nominated for the ACM awards after 1 single !!! and won a Cashbox award, but most of the songs she recorded were covered by others who scored massive hits like Reba McEntire with "You lie", then Ronna Reeves and Dixiana to name a few. Her second one was a typical Nashville product which was done in a hurry and couldn't match her debut, completely produced and written by Austin Roberts, Charlie Black and Bobby Fischer. And to be honest, she didn't wanna play the Nashville games all the way. And now she's gone and that's a pity. So this is a reminder for a girl who could have made it but didn't. Some five years later the same happened to Kim Richey; she was only lucky enough to have written all of the songs herself, which kept her on the road. In her case it's funny that others scored hits with her songs when she sometimes was the better singer.  But that's probably a twist of fate. Now meet Melissa Carol Chapman.

Who is Cee Cee Chapman?

Cee Cee Chapman is a quote country / pop/ rock singer , that's what she is. People wanna classify the music and I don't like that. I like all kinds of music  and I think that's what it's all about . Basically I like music not classifications.

Tell me some more about you.

 

I was born in Porsmouth, Virginia but never lived there. I was born in a Naval Hospital, I'm a Navy child. My Dad was a 22 years career Navy man. So I lived in a lot of places. You call everywhere home . I was in so many elimentary schools, lots of highschools and along the way the influences were, as a young child, country artists like Merle Haggard, George Jones and Dolly Parton. Mainly because that' what my father listened to.You know, as a kid you don't have lots of money to buy lots of records so play what's in the house. I like everything. I really enjoy bluegrass, I like Madonna, I liked Marvin Gaye very much.I always liked Roy Orbison; I even enjoy my own music. You have to be critical at yourself and I am. And I never get tired of listening to Merle Haggard. Along with country I like pop, rock and soul.

You never recorded anything before you got your deal with Curb. How did you get that far?

Well,I'm hard-headed, that's an honest statement. I got lucky. I was in bar bar bands my whole life. But one day I decided to make a recording; just a crude recording in my living room. With a guitar and my voice. Singing songs that were already published and recorded by other artists and sent it out to people I thought that could help me and met Bobby Fischer  (He has songs recorded by a.o. Moe Bandy,George Jones, Eddie Arnold, Lee Greenwood, Gene Watson and Mickey Gilley). Bobby introduced me to his friends Austin Roberts and Charlie Black. They really liked me and my voice. They wanted to produce an album with a brand new singer and gave it a try with me... I was lucky again because the demos were good enough to get the attention of a record label in L.A. and I got signed by Dick Whitehouse of Curb Records. That's how I got this far. It takes a good person, talent and never give up, that's my experience.

I think you'e kinda unique. If you look around you, you'l see that only singers who write their own songs get record deals. Like Garth Brooks, Lionel Cartwright, Clint Black or Mary Chapin Carpenter. You didn' write one ingle song, all were written by the producers. I think it tells a lot about your vocal abilities; right?

Well, I do write although I haven' had my stuff recorded yet. But my deal was unique in the sense that I met songwriters and they wanted to use some real powerful stuff to go in with. Because the competition is hard. They wrote some tunes that are and will be very strong whatever you put them up against  and that' how we got the deal, because of the strong ability of the team of writers. Their goal was to become producers, my goal was to be heard because you don' get heard if you only play in bars. That' how my deal came about; on that strenght. Now as far as my writing ability, hopefully you'e gonna hear that on my next album someday soon because I do write.

Were all the songs on the album especially written for you?

Yes, they were written especially for me.We looked for other material but they said: Let's try to write her some tunes. And they wrote each and every songs for my voice. That's the unique thing about this album (Twist of fate), all songs were written especially for me.

Nevertheless, do you feel that the record company pushes hard enough?

About the material you have to agree that it's not the typical, everyday country material. It has its problems. 50% says they love and the others absolutely not. So the next single will be for those who hated the first one and the other way around. That's the truth, they hate it or love it; nothing in between. That's my dilemma but I don't feel it's a mark against me... I guess it can be very positive when I get the right song because I feel I'm a strong enough singer and I can compeat. I think you have to believe that strong in yourself. So the answer is: We'll find the right song and when we do, we'll get our hit.

Are the singles succesful enough to do another album?

Of course. When I get home I will be recording some new material. Lots of response from the radio stations. They're waiting for the next album which nakes me feel good., it means they like me.Their comment to the record label is: Let's hear some more stuff. That's what's coming back. That's good feedback. Otherwise they tell you the truth and tell you to get out of here. I feel that the radio is on my side and waiting for the right tune.

1989

Twist of fate

Curb Records

You didn' twait very long to visit Europe (this interview was done in Meyel Holland but I've met her many times in Nashville later on HH). How is it overhere?

I think the audience overhere is more open, they give you more of a chance. The American audience, and I say that honestly, are more waiting for you to hit them with a bat to get their attention. Sometimes when you have a song like 'Twist of fate' it's very difficult because that's a very tasteful song and it shouldn't come screaming out of the speakers. The market and the people are more open minded. That's the best word I can use. I'm noy saying the American audience is bad, I just say that it takes more to get their attention. I've never been exposed to people who are more eager to hear me and I'm very grateful for that.

I think we both know that not the quality of the song but mostly the name of the singer gets a song into the Top 10. Although there's less plastic music made in Nashville than a couple of years ago, still big names make big  hits out of thrash. How do feel about that?

Maybe this will hurt me but I will tell you the truth about how I feel. I think sometimes people follow trends in the States and if their friends like it; they like it and if the radio says:This is what you should like so go out and buy it. I can't really get away with it because when I sing a song and I don't believe in it it doesn't come across and recording is useless. I even wouldn't wanna sell it even if I had to. What I'm trying to say is this: When I'll become more popular, and I say when, I have to be more honest, I can't sing a song I don't believe in. I'm honest with myself. I'm an emotional singer and I can't sing just any song. It always has to come from my heart. Maybe other singers can; I wouldn't be myself.

Comment. It didn't help. Cee Cee's second album flopped. To me it lacked inspiration, was done in a hurry and better could have been shelved. Anyway shortly after it was released Cee Cee Chapman vanished out of Nashville. And that was the end of a promising singer.

No Cee Cee Chapman sites to visit, this is all there is. And that's too bad. Wherever you are Cee Cee, good luck.

1990, Self-titled

Curb

This picture taken in Nashville. All the others in Meyel, Holland.