Clay Anderson Johnson
SongStuff Interview

January 25, 2022

Do you think that there is an age limit to success (in the Music business)?

Clay:
This depends upon your definition of success.   My first goal was not to work a day job.   I have not held a day job in decades except for businesses I owned.   My current goal is to produce music I like.   That is happening.

If your goal is stardom younger is better.   The farther you are from the street life the less in touch you are with younger audiences.

All of the real failures I’ve known weren’t the people who ended up with no money.   They were the people who never did what they really wanted to do.   They might be financially successful but they were spiritually impoverished.   This is Maya, the world of illusion, of meaningless things seeming important.

Do you feel like you were more creative when you were younger?

Clay:
No, I’m more creative and more knowledgeable than anytime in my past.

Are you pleased or displeased with the progress you have made over the years?

Clay:
Pleased, I started out as a kid from a small town green as grass and have musical associations from LA, NYC, and Nashville.

If you had the ability to go back in time, is there a point in your career that you would like to re-live?

Clay:
Probably not.   It seemed like more fun when I was younger but I also did excessive amounts of substance abuse.   So part of the fun was illusionary, don’t let other people’s bad habits become yours.

Has your music changed over the years?

Clay:
I started playing R&B and the Blues, then Rock, then Country, now I am into genre busting.

My biggest ambition currently would be to score a feature film.

Has your fan base changed over the years?

Clay:
I’ve always primarily been a sideman and a producer so my fan base is small.   Although I do have a small dedicated group of fans actually willing to invest money in projects.

Is there anything you would like to share about what it's like to make music past your 20`s?

Clay:
The more you learn the more you will advance with age.   Always try to learn from people who are better than you are.

I learned A&R, how to choose players and material, from Stephen Metzler, Creative Director for Berry Gordy of Motown Records.

I learned Record Production from John Boylan who brought the Eagles together originally as Linda Ronstadt’s band.   He also coproduced the first Boston album with Tom Sholz in Sholz’s basement with the equipment outside in a van.   You cannot put a price tag on these things.

Knowledge is power.   Never, ever, give up on something you love.   The world is a hard place regardless of what you do.   Fortune favors the brave and the bold.   Make your own rules, don’t let others make your rules for you.

One other bit of advice.   There is an old saying that your husband or wife will either make you or break you.   I’ve found this to be true.   I’m on my third marriage.   The first two did not last long but Adrienne and I have been together for 20 years.

She is my biggest fan and the bedrock of my creative and emotional support.   I feel honored to have her marry me as she has known many major music figures on her own.   She was friends with David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and The Red Hot Chile Peppers.   She has had associations with several other world class names.   We had Los Lobos play at a private party of ours because of her not me.   We paid them but she knew the people to get them there in the middle of one of their tours.

Two last comments:   As Tom Morello says, "Gear does not matter."   A good musician with the worst euipment will always sound better than a poor musician with the best equipment.   Jimi Hendrix played the Sears Silvertone guitar he had as a boy until he went to London, became a star, and could afford a Fender Stratocaster.

Also choose your friends wisely, your future may depend upon it.