Re-Citizen Cope

I was that A & R Scout, Bob.

I consider Cope my brother, and he's goddamn National Treasure, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm in the middle of a write here in Nashville, and will you hit you back w the rest of story when I wrap up this songwriting session.

It's a good story you'll want to hear.

He's just finished a new album, btw, and it's some of the best work he's every done, imho.

Hit you later w a story I think you'll enjoy.


Best,

Marshall Altman

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Hey Bob,

So great to see this piece about Clarence Greenwood (Citizen Cope). I've known Clarence for a long time now, and he is family. Not "showbiz" family, but real family, through thick and thin. He's a good man, and goddamn National Treasure, in my opinion. Too long overlooked and underestimated, but I guess a little more light will shine on him today thanks to you.

I was that A & R scout that found his demo.

I'd been at Capitol in the early 90's, in the Sales department, working with Lou Mann, George Nunes, Michael White and Steve Rosenblatt, when my band Farmer finally got signed to Aware Records in '95. I spent a lot of time in the A & R department during my tenure there, and I got to know Kim Buie, Perry Watts-Russell, and Tim Devine pretty well, and when I was leaving the Capitol gig to go on tour, I talked Kim into putting me on the payroll
as an A & R Scout.

$600 month and mileage reimbursement. No business cards or anything like that, but I was getting paid, and damn I needed the $. My band wasn't making any $ at all, and the pub advance was rapidly being depleted.

So I'd check out bands when I was on the road w Farmer, and when I was back in LA, I'd listen to all the unsolicited submissions that came in. I wasn't expecting to make a career of it, honestly. I was going to be a rock star.

I'd been at it for 6 or 8 months when I was on a drive to Santa Barbara for a wedding, and as usual, I was listening to the unsolicited tapes that had come in the prior month. My girlfriend at the time would pull one from the full box in the back seat, unwrap it, tell me who it was from, and we'd listen.

We'd been stuck in traffic on the 101 for about 90 minutes when she pulled out a blank cassette. Clear plastic, clear plastic case, no label. "It's blank," she said, and went to toss it in the "Pass" box in the back seat.

I remember telling her to just put in the cassette deck, just to be sure, and she did. And then my whole life changed. Seriously.

I remember hearing the first song and thinking I'd never heard anything like it before. It was called "$200,000 (In Counterfeit $50 Bills)," and it was about this hustler from Baltimore named George. I swear to god I thought I had found the modern day Marvin Gaye, and I remember feeling like I was floating the first time I heard his voice.

There were 3 songs on the demo. "$200,000," "Temporary Fame," and "Presley," I think.

But the cassette had no contact info on it.

So I pulled on the shoulder of the 101, in Ventura, I think. Pulled the box of demos out of the back seat and tore through it, looking for some loose letter, misplaced in box. And at the bottom of the gigantic bin, there was a scrap of yellow paper, with green lines. Like a torn piece off of a legal pad. Small. Maybe a 3" triangle. Blank on the side I was looking at.

I picked it up and turned it over, and scrawled across this little scrap of paper was the following: "IF YOU LIKE THESE, I WILL SEND YOU MY HITS." - CLARENCE GREENWOOD

So I pulled off the 101 at the Seward exit in Ventura, and called the number on the scrap of paper and left a message to just the beep (no outgoing message at all) for this guy Clarence Greenwood. I said "My name is Marshall Altman. I'm the lowest person in the A & R department at Capitol Records, but I'm going to get you a record deal. Call me back."

And he did. And when I asked Kim Buie for $5000 to cut some demos w Clarence (Loren Israel, a great A & R person in his own right, pushed me into Kim's office b/c I was scared she was going to fire me if I asked for anything), to my surprise, she said yes.

He cut the tracks in DC. We mixed them @ El Dorado in Burbank w the late Brian Carlstrom. I turned the tracks in to Capitol the day I sent him back to DC. I thought the recordings were amazing. Even better than I thought they'd be. I waited to lose my job.

Then Capitol offered him a deal. So did several other labels, as I recall.

And Cope was a loyal friend, and even though he could have gone just about anywhere, he told Gary Gersh (then President of Capitol) that he would sign w Capitol if Gersh gave me a proper A & R job. And he did. And after years of toiling in a band and not really making any headway, I finally felt like I knew what to do with my life, and that somehow, all the things I knew and all the things I was good at fit together and worked. I quit the band and took the gig at Capitol.

And that's how my A & R and production career began. That was June of '97.

(I met my wife on the beach in the Caribbean a few weeks later, too. That was a good summer.)

Cope made a brilliant first album for Captiol. It was dark. though. Intense. Probably more than what Capitol bargained for at the time. But whatever.

He made the record he needed to make, as he always does, and even though Capitol dropped him, it was good for him in the end, even though he was angry and rightfully felt betrayed. So did I. But it made him wise. And anger and a little wisdom can be a great combination for an artist that learns how to use them as he did.

It took him a minute to find another home, but he eventually made what I consider to be one of the best albums of the 2000's, "The Clarence Greenwood Recordings." https://open.spotify.com/album/4cmqFKgpFzSa6FDR1I3VFr

And he's made brilliant, beautiful record since then, mostly on his own, as you mentioned.

And now I think he's approaching a true renaissance with his newest album. It's some of the best work he's ever done, and he's speaking to an audience that is looking for the perspective he's honed. Songs about love, and justice, and hope, and forgiveness, and the inequities in our hearts and in our society. The album is fearless, full of beautify and ugliness and truth. It's real. And the songs work on you, they take hold and don't let go.

This man changed my life, and his loyalty and friendship have a been a constant over the last 20 years.

A cassette tape w no label and a scrap of paper. Crazy.

Thanks for shining some light on him, Bob. He's worthy.

And btw, that Aaron Watson album "Vaquero" you wrote about a few months ago? The first single "Outta Style" just broke the top 30 at Country Radio. which is amazing for an artist not on a major label. Looks like it's going to go up again this week, too. That never happens.
Except when it does.....

They're actually not at all dissimilar, Aaron & Clarence. Both undervalued by the majors, but truly loved and appreciated by their fans. Both unwilling to compromise their visions of who they are and who they want to be.

Both of them artists, in the best sense of the word.

Hope you're well.

Best,

Marshall

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Hoping you are well. Thanks for this piece. I managed Cope through the Dreamworks and Clive years. Was a trip, to say the least. Always believed…. some drama and comedy helped make it dealable.

Leshay

Jon Leshay
STOREFRONT ENTERTAINMENT

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I love him!
I've known him since the beginning of his career when he dj'd with Basehead-- the Go Go Al Hip Hop group Kate Hyman signed to Imago- that toured with Public Enemy/Disposable Heroes of Hypocrisy early 90's.
Funny story-- Cope crashed on my floor when he used to come to NY!
Everyone starts somewhere!
So proud of him!

Fiona Bloom

P.S. And what I love most about him-- -Cope champions others - he's always at shows, and helping other singer/songwriters and he's still so passionate about discovering artists!
Basehead were so innovative-ahead of their time. I went to about 50 or more Basehead shows - Cope always had the opportunity to shine on the road with them too!
We knew he was a star in the makes!
F

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Might help that he's been around since 92 via Michael Ivey and Basehead, aka dcBasehead aka BYOB, but yeah, be amazed Bob.

Richard Altman

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I saw Citizen Cope open for Santana 2002? I went to the merch booth after. He was standing there by himself. It seemed I was his only customer. He was really nice. We chatted. In 2007 he was soundchecking at the Santa Fe Music Fest. I went up front and reminded him about our first meeting. He beamed with the fact I saw him back then and supported him. He gave me an advance copy of his CD.
Artists like that deserve success.
John Kauchick

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So glad you've discovered Citizen Cope. The first time I heard him, it was a revelation. It's sort of grown-folks music meets blue eyed soul.. but post hiphop. To me, he's in the same bin with Gary Clark, Jr, Marc Broussard, and Ray Lamontagne.. though not exactly. Me and my white college educated friends LOVE this stuff. Feels real.

But yeah, like you love, he's on his own and can keep doing this forever if he wants; I'm glad for him.

Kyle Baker

Nashville, TN

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I remember him from WAY back when in Nashville. He was truly an amazing talent then, and apparently still is.

Thanks for sharing.

Jeremy Westby

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Love the guy. Listened once a number of years ago and I was hooked and downloaded his music. Intelligent and passionate.

unfortunately he's not played Minneapolis in waaaay too long. Next time. I'm there. And I'm 56. Love it when I find someone new to listen too.

Love your blogging. Thank you!

Janelle Nelson

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Great...inspirational to me as a fledgling manager.

Lavon Pagan

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Also He paid the bills for a period of time working the streets as a ticket scalper

Patrick W. Ryan
Co-Founder
Eventellect

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LOVE this write-up, Bob! I was turned onto Citizen Cope about 7 years ago, and have covered many of his songs at my shows. I have also heard his songs in several movies, one of my favorites being The Lincoln Lawyer. I could never figure out why I never saw him blowing up. I didn't know all of this backstory-- so interesting and totally makes sense now. Thanks!

Kison

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Loved seeing this on Cope. He's incredibly savvy and smart. People truly connect with and appreciate his honesty. The real-life, raw emotions and topics he addresses in his lyrics, I believe make him ageless.

Last year, when Cope was playing theaters on a solo tour, I emailed into to his site searching for an interview. info@.....com. An hour later, Clarence emailed me back himself. Over the next week, we shared notes about how and where to arrange the interview. He had me come to the venue at 5pm. They escort me in and C is still sound-checking. As he finishes up, I hear him say, "Is Jeff here?" We hadn't spoken since that morning, but he remembered and was right on top of the fact he had an interview with me. Very respectful, gracious and professional.

We wandered onto his bus and had an hour-long, in-depth chat about how he rolls up his sleeves. It was fascinating. The only thing that distracted him was when his young daughter called. The rest of the world was then turned off. I always loved that and saw this entire experience as a great example as to why he is as you said... a true artist.

Best,

Jeff Gorra
Artist Waves ~ behind the art, from the artist
Founder | Writer

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I love that you wrote this. I've been singing his praises ever since he set foot in the Roxy when I was managing it.
He blew me away and I knew that he was gonna be big… but wasn't.
I couldn't figure it out.
I asked my A&R friends and they said he was too old, it wasn't the right look, yada yada… All BS because his songs are fantastic… and that voice?
It's so sincere and he makes you feel his stories. Easily one of the best shows to catch when he's around.

So happy you got to experience this!!

David Tobin

____________________________________

Hey Bob - longtime reader and we've traded some quick e-mails about Cope.

When I was making my first record "Watching Waiting" in 2007, the producer, Marshal Altman told me a story about being on the road with his band. He was doubling as the "scout" you mentioned for Capital, and had a box of demo tapes he would listen to as they drove.

One day, he dug out Cope's demo and was blown away. That helped set Cope's recording journey into motion. Meanwhile, I still had not checked out his music. It wasn't until I walked into a below mentioned "bodega" and grabbed one the CD samplers for "The Clarence Greenwood Sessions" that just sitting there for free!

Since then I've seen Cope around 15 times. The reverence the audience displays is on par with all my favorite community-oriented shows - The Dead, Phish, ect. It starts with the music, but something happens beyond that among the people absorbing it. It becomes contagious in the audience. Chance encounters with Clarence in NYC revealed a really nice guy as well.

I'm still writing music that is steeped in Cope's influence, and I'm so glad to see you shining a light on him. It's also exciting to hear that he is taking another shot at expanding this career scope with this next project.

Thanks Bob!

Todd Carey

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He's the best! We never miss him when he comes to Philly!

EVELYN DICHTER

____________________________________

You know I love your missives and I've kept the faith that you were going to write this one. I didn't know it would be about the brilliant Citizen Cope or one of the many other important artists who work hard, make great music and art, who reach a hungry audience and make a good living do it. My roster is full of them!

So glad you caught Cope; his concerts are so much fun. I've had the pleasure of working on his tour dates with his agent Steve Kaul and Cope is an absolute pleasure and he does great business everywhere.

The digital age has had a brilliant effect on our culture. There is a huge vibrant middle class of recording artists and industry professionals like myself who love to serve them. Yes it's a hard life on the road and nobody is getting rich. It's also amazing to see the world and play or book concerts. Middle Class is where it's at, most of the rich people I know are miserable pricks.

Jack Ross

____________________________________

Citizen Cope played two nights at the Belly Up in Aspen Aug 1 and 2. As he told you the shows are very lively, and Belly Up as you know is a great venue.

It wasn't a sellout but I'm pretty sure he only played one night last summer. The show I saw was great.

Incidentally Randy Newman played last night at a benefit at the same venue. He was fabulous and relevant.
My slightly shaky video of "Baltimore"
https://youtu.be/JB0A_Vg-5ZE

All the Best

David Chazen

____________________________________

sideways is my JAM!

great post.

Will Bloomfield

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That first album on Dreamworks will forever be in my top albums. Don't overlook "Salvation" or the album closer "Mandy". So many great stories told on that record. A reminder that the SONG is king. And Clarence knows how to write a real song. Thx for the reminder, Bob.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0sJpaLaj2QCkxZa3x2Z6GW

Theo Aronson

____________________________________

I saw Clarence at Wolf Trap, just outside DC, last summer when he opened for Counting Crows. He made them look like amateurs. They were awful following him - stunk of stale complacency while Cope exudes staying hungry & humble. We left just after the Crows' third or fourth song.

Brian Howell

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I saw him in Aspen last week. He was amazing! Nice hang with him after... good dude.

William M. Ward, Jr.
ROAR

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One of my favorite artists & a huge influence in my career as a producer, singer & songwriter! Thanks for writing about him! True legend of the true artist business.

Brandyn Burnette

____________________________________

I love this.

One moment, you are absolutely convinced that there's a formula. Either loads of money behind a mediocre, manufactured record pushed by social media power built upon consistent branding partnerships and content generation -- or this. Something that is so phenomenal and inexplicable in today's unforgiving industry.

I admire Cope's music. He's a true artist. No rules. No need for rhymes or reason - just poetry.

I saw him for the first time at a festival years and years ago and then ran into him at a Grammy party about two years ago. He was standing next to me during the supporting number. I of course recognized him and introduced myself. He was dressed so normally. So casual. Like he just walked off of Venice Beach. And - the coolest part - his calm, very genuine presence was refreshing. He was like meeting a regular person at a concert on a Friday night. Normal. Comfortable.

Bravo to Citizen. He has not only built an audience without absolutely anything that is deemed critical today, he has retained his audience and even beat most who do use those tools.

Best,
Tarra Layne

____________________________________

So excited to read this one, Bob. I've been tracking Greenwood since my move to LA and he makes great stuff. I had never heard anything like it. He said he started by wanting to create the same feeling he used to feel when listening to his heroes. And that his first guitar had a different tuning, which he was unaware of at first. His timing was developed in the underground jazz scene in DC from what I learned. Such a good musician, and with none of the BS. The tunes (and streams) speak for themselves. Seems like the only pop star out there now even remotely like that is Adele. "Music is for the ears, not the eyes..."

Cheers,

Catherine Lidstone

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I met Clarence a few years back in Santa Monica and have followed his career ever since that introduction. I have scene him perform on several occasions.
Wonderful fellow.

Peter Culhane

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You got me to listen to him. I had heard of him but avoided due to the name and no "buzz" in my silo. I don't know what to do with him either but for an afternoon, in my office, listening to his most popular tracks...I am smiling. Thanks.

Michael A. Becker

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Clarence Greenwood is a fabulous songwriter, musician and artist.
The Vilar should have been 110% full - chalk it up to August ...
Clarence has an incredible sense of rhythm and how to draw sonic beauty from instruments we all thought we were truly familiar with [hint: we're not].
And in so many of his songs, there's a deep rumble of musical earthquake that suddenly erupts and before you realize it, you're covered in lyric, song and something you hadn't felt before.
My only advice to him is to tour farther and wider.
If he's booked into a venue on a Friday night, he should ensure that he's booked at the same venue the next Friday night - because it will be overrun, just from the word of mouth.
So glad you brought Citizen Cope into the conversation.
He deserves true attention, accolades and the admiration of artists in pursuit of the genuine journey of music.
And, I know all the words.
See you at his next show ...

Gilbert Alloul

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Thanks for the great write up on Citizen Cope. You forgot to mention college radio. Those are the people with their antenna's up and receiving the message from true artists.
I am in my 50's and the moment I heard CC's arrangements and lyrics I was hooked. I have only seen him twice and both were outstanding. The mystery to me is how did he get onstage with Clapton at Crossroads a few years back? Maybe you could shed some light.
Thanks for your constant discovery and dissemination of material. I always love reading your emails
Dave Brundage in NYC

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I was about to give up on you… thanks for getting back to real music and bigger thanks for a story that is encouraging.

Pandora is background… most of it is. But you can't ignore this level of talent.

Brady Blade a former business partner and friend of mine, played drums for Clarence on the "Recordings" record and I met Clarence at SXSW in 2011 or 2012. He came on our bus and played some new songs for Brady and me. Later that day he played a show for about 350 people that was just as intimate and powerful. CC moved me.

Involuntarily, the song "Sideways" plays in my head at the news of a friends passing and comforts me. "Let the Drummer Kick" was the first song my son (at maybe 10 years of age) turned me on to from my own record collection.

Great read Bob,

thnx,

Scott Crompton

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Wall St. Journal ran an article on him ages ago.

David Harris

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One of your best ...
And I ain't even that huge a fan of CC ... but ...
I dig his sound and his effort.
This just confirms it.

Christopher Edison

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Bob, thanks for writing about him. "Bullet and a Target" is a great song, but I haven't listened to much else by him. I'll check him out now.

George Evanko

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Thank you for doing what you do. Thanks for bringing us great perspective and stories. I am a new subscriber and but a big fan.

Today was the third time that you connected with me in a more personal way in the past few months so I figured I would drop you a line. I first discovered your blog when Twiddle fans posted a link to the article you wrote about the band in March, that was one.

Then in May you wrote the Oliver Paradigm which was especially meaningful to me. You see, two years ago, inspired by Twiddle and the energy of their fans, I helped found the White Light Foundation. With influences like Waterwheel and the Rex Foundation we set out to give back to causes and charities important to the band and the community. With the support of the band and dozens of volunteers we have donated over $60,000 to more than 50 organizations in the past two years, including raising $12,000 for four charities during Twiddle's recent Tumble Down festival. We have always done it with an attitude gifted to us by the band - Love Relentlessly. The experience has been incredible, especially for an 'older' fan.

Today though, you wrote about Citizen Cope and while Clarence Greenwood over the past few years has become one of my favorite songwriters it took Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle to introduce me to him. Since that introduction I have been fortunate to see Citizen Cope perform a few times and have been blown away - not just by his talent, but by the connection of words and music to the audience. A connection I have not had to many ... although Mihali is one. Here he is doing Son's Gonna Rise with video credit to Matt and Ryan Coffey (ACKSAHARA).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO-v_4eP4mA

I hope you enjoy.

Love Relentlessly,

Steve

Steve Perlah
President and Founder
White Light Foundation
whitelightfoundation.org
facebook.com/whitelightfoundation/

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Hey Bob, fyi - thought you'd find this interesting. Clarence responding to your article about David Brooks.
This is Clarence (Citizen Cope) writing to my sister Kathy Fletcher who runs AOK (All our Kids) and TurnArounds Arts, two programs working with low income kids. http://turnaroundartsca.org/artists/ and http://www.aokdc.org (David Brooks is very involved with AOK)

From: Cope Email
To: Kathy Fletcher
Subject: Re: The Room Where It Happens

Interesting part about David Brooks

From: Kathy Fletcher
To: Cope Email

First of all - WOW - what an email.

I do a lot of thinking about influencing the influencers and loving the people that are so easy to hate. Hard stuff but what else is there these days?

That is funny about Brooks. I spoke to his class last year (he teaches at Yale) and in his intro of me he told them that meeting my family 3 years ago completely changed his world view. That's just about the time that his columns started changing too.

I've been trying to reach you actually because AOK is having a fundraising dinner on Oct 30 and we would like to give you and Brooks an award for all the support you've shown AOK. Brooks has accepted. Would you be open to that?

I want to talk with you about my Madeline. She is an amazing young woman who needs to get out and taste the world. She has lived with us for over a year and has had some serious health issues that are now under control. She is brilliant, bi-lingual in Spanish, has a magnetic personality and is really interested in the music business. She's had a super crap life and could use a break. Can I send her to you for three months?

Call me when you can to discuss - I have a strong feeling this would be a win-win.

XO

From: Cope Email
Subject: Re: The Room Where It Happens
To: Kathy Fletcher

Hey Kathy ,
Would be honored to receive the award. I realized when Bob wrote about his new style that you had an impact. You are a real incredible light and powerful sprit and body for so many. My ex girlfriend lost her Father who was a big inspiration and love to me so most likely will be in DC this week. He was an amazing man and always made people around him feel better about themselves and important. His daughter Amani was and is a person who has always been someone who saw me as I wanted to be seen. They were incredibly close. Sad day but I see him in the afterlife w a big smile on his face flying through a divine place where people like him go.
Love

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Nailed it. He has everyone in the palm of his hand when he's on stage...every night. every time.

Kay Adams

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Hey Bob , Thank you for the write up. I wasn't expecting that. I really appreciate it.

Clarence Greenwood (Citizen Cope)


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