Singer Philip Pemberton has been on the greater-Boston music scene for over 20 years. After many years of hard work and searching for the right players, Pemberton formed his own self-titled Philip Pemberton Band. Playing upscale rooms to appreciative fans seemed like a major accomplishment. Yet, there was something coming his way that has more recently put him at the very top of national recognition in blues and R&B. He was asked to become the new lead singer for the 45 year old blues institution band Roomful Of Blues.
Pemberton discussed his highs and lows for this article. It should be noted that in some of his quotes he is talking directly to the interviewer.
Pemberton is quite straight forward, always saying what he thinks. He also sometimes rephrases questions to better explain how his own thinking works. When asked how he first got into performing, Pemberton said:
“Well, not to be too particular,” he began, “but have never really been into performing. Always considered myself a singer, to be clear. James Brown, Jackie Wilson, now those are performers. They could also sing their asses off too.
Me more of a close my eyes and feel it sorta singer, which has a style all it’s own too, I suppose. I’ve always sang, since I can remember. But never did it in front of anyone till I was at least 18 to 19.”
Pemberton’s training and music education came about the old school way for many in popular music. He just listened and imitated until he found his own voice.
“I have probably the most common type of training,” Pemberton said, “self training by listening to records. My Dad left (the family) when my siblings and I were very young, but he left a bunch of good music behind, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Al Green; some outlaw country, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash. Also, my favorite rock artists for many years, The Beatles. So a lot of listening and imitating I guess, until I found my own voice. Very common way of doing it, with just a love of it.”
Pemberton, possessing an old Bostonian family name, grew up in Massachusetts, moved to California for a brief while, then came back to the suburban, Cambridge, Boston rock band clubs.
“My first real blues gig was at the Original House of Blues in Cambridge with my first blues band, Brother Soul, in the days when the House of Blues, thanks to Teo Leyesmeyer, still played almost exclusively blues music,” Pemberton recounted. “I slowly worked my way around New England and stretched a few tours outside our lil realm as well. New York, Virginia, Ohio, and even a lil in Canada, Europe, and China.”
Before the singer formed his Philip Pemberton Band, Mr. Pemberton’s first rock band was called Big Time.
“We never hit the aforementioned ‘bigtime,’ but such is the life of many folk’s formative bands.” A natural at networking, Pemberton found more of the right folks to work with.
“I got involved with Tim Provost (Dan Lawson Band, drummer) as well as brothers Keith & Kevin White (guitar and Bass respectively) and formed Brother Soul,” Pemberton said, continuing, “did the Boston/New England blues scene and played in all the same clubs as everyone else. Great time, as I look back through the fog that it actually was. Too much drinking, and stupidity on my part, like every other 20 something, I guess.”
These days, working with his own Philip Pemberton Band, the singer gets to do more of what he called “free form soul stuff.”
“I’ve always enjoyed flying by the seat of my pants at gigs,” Pemberton allowed. “Long sets, no set list, seeing how the night flows and bending with it There’s also more of a chance that you’ll fall on your face. But all the music with deep grooves, that’ll make ya move.”
When asked whether he is more into R&B than blues, Pemberton said he doesn’t see a major divide between the two roots genres.
“I love them both,” the vocalist exclaimed, “but they are not such different animals. It’s like asking which of your children you like best. I think there’s a lot of crossover in both of them. Critics are the folks who are here to define what I’m doin‘. I’m just enjoying doing it.”
Pemberton is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the recording artists of the last 50 years. His enriched tastes surfaced when he expanded on his aforementioned crossover answer.
“To paraphrase Albert King, ‘It’s all the blues,’ whether its B.B. singing on Live at the Regal, Otis Redding on ‘Dock of the Bay,’ Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan singing traditional Quwalli music, Pink rocking out, or Tom Rush picking away. It’s all blues, all about folks expressing their feeling bout life, love, freedom, lust, trying to find that moment of connection.”
Pemberton is drawn to that type of music because he can connect with it on such a deeply personal level.
“It’s all about the feel,” the crooner said. “If I can connect with the words or feeling behind a song, I feel I can sing it. So once again, it’s all the same. If I hear or write a song that sounds like gospel to someone, then I guess I write gospel now,” he said with a wink.
Pemberton is known to serve the song, not overkill it with his mighty range. When asked why doesn’t show off his vocal gymnastics, he had an interesting answer.
“Well, interesting question. Why when driving a muscle car, don’t you always go 120mph? Because, there’s a time and place to do it. Sometimes it’s nice to cruise. Sometimes you rev the engine, at a stop light, and sometimes you put yer foot down and let it fly.”
Pemberton was quite frank when he continued answering: “Why don’t you always use every big word you’ve learned in your interviews? Because it’s not always appropriate, right?”
“When I sing with Roomful, I serve the song,” Pemberton continued. “There are some of the songs on our new album Hook Line & Sinker, like ‘Kill Me’ and ‘Come On Home’ that are more of what I would call screamers, a lot of grit and growl, little more room to move. Then, there’s a song like ‘Time Brings Bout A Change’ that needs a softer approach, and it’s showcasing the keys and sax. Serve the song is the rule.”
Other factors play into Pemberton’s decisions on how to deliver a particular song. “In my own band I do more of a classic soul sound,” he said, “as those are the type of songs I have written and covered.”
The size of Roomful plays into it. “There is also the fact that Roomful is a large band, with a lot of music going on. I have a place within that framework, but if I overdue it, it just doesn’t fit. So I sing what’s ‘right’ for the song.”
“When I play with (organist)Ron Levy(from his own band), we have looser arrangements of where we want the song to go, and there’s probably a little more room for winging it, letting the vocal rip, or exploding with a little organ gymnastics, messing with the dynamics of the song as we feel in the moment.”
Pemberton was asked if he was born with that smooth, soft timbre he is known for in both bands or if he can change it for different types of bands, events, recording projects.
“Once again, I serve the song,” he said. “I understand I am not an opera singer, or a jazz influenced guy, so I never put myself into those settings, where I’ll be out of my element. My voice suits certain things. Now, do I use different ways of using my voice to get the desired effect? Yes, in the same way a guitar player uses different chords or pedals to suit the song. I think I’ve strengthened my voice over the years, like a muscle, by using it. So, with a little luck, and minor ability, I hope I make the right choices in how I use it.”
Pemberton became the lead singer for Roomful over a year ago. He still remembers how he felt when he got the Roomful gig.
“Ecstatic,” he exclaimed. “They are a great band, and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity. The history and level of musicianship in the band is unmatched. Wherever we have gone, the band is known and houses are usually packed. It’s humbling to be part of the history. I’m proud of the boys and our CD. This band has had such a distinguished lineup throughout the years, that I feel I have some pretty big shoes to fill. I’m just trying to hold on and not mess it up.” He laughed, self-deprecatingly.
Asked whether he is at the pinnacle of his music career or if he thinks there will be other heights besides Roomful, Pemberton said:
“I believe I am where I am. I’m having a great time. We’re making great music, playing kick ass shows to full houses.
I’m grateful. I am also all too aware that things change sometimes. Marriages fail fifty percent of the time. Now take 8 to 9 guys, put them on a bus and try to make it all work in a pressure cooker.”
Pemberton continued in a philosophical vein about his recent success.
“I love the guys I’m playing with. I’m proud of them, and I see a long future. I’d put Roomful up against any band. But, I just want the next song to be a good one. If I concentrate on the next song, and the next gig, and the next CD, and the next interview, all that “pinnacle” stuff takes care of itself. I’ll play music for the rest of my life because I love it. I’ve been fortunate to play with folks like Ron Levy. I consider that a personal pinnacle of achievement, as much as playing with The great Chris Vachon…or Rich Lataille…or any of my Roomful brothers.
If the music gets weak, we’ll talk more bout it,” he said with a wink.”
Pemberton enjoys writing his own original music as well as putting his own personal stamp on standards.
“I used to play a lot more original stuff, but in getting into Roomful; they have 43 years of back catalog, 20 something albums of originals and covers, as well as our latest. There was a lot to work through and get right. So, although I’ve been writing on my own for the moment, I suspect that the next Roomful album will be almost all original. There are at least four songwriters in the band.”
Pemberton hit the ground running with Roomful. He was in the studio with them right after he joined.
“We were in a fever to get an album out to promote the new lineup of the band, and get the ball rolling quicker,” Pemberton went on. “We all agreed that the best way to do that was get some our favorite songs by some of our favorite artists together, and get it out there. We’re getting airplay around the world, press around the world, and have been able to tour all over. We hope to build on that with the next one.”
Pemberton wrote his own CD ‘Dreamers’ while he was living through the California race riots during a time of personal tragedy.
“‘Dreamers’ was my first CD. Some I wrote around the time my mom was dying from smoking related ailments. Soulful, reflective rock CD I guess. Nothing I’d recommend to anyone.”
Pemberton has brought his talent to other countries. His concert experiences abroad were not unlike singing at home.
“In my previous bands, I was able to tour a lil in Europe, Canada, the US, and one memorable trip to China,” he share.”
Pemberton won those opportunities from sheer tenacity. “I think I was too young and stupid to take no for an answer,” the singer said. “I guess that’s a lesson for any younger musicians reading this: Don’t let anyone tell you what you are or are not capable of.”
Pemberton could relate to the struggles of musicians in some of the places he visited. China, though, surprised him with a warm reception.
“Europe and Canada were a lot like the states in my own bands,” he said, “small venues, some folks really into it, others ignoring you, the usual bar stuff. China with the Phil Pemberton Band was unbelievable. They reacted to us like rock stars; police escorts wherever we went. Five star hotel, and huge crowds, blew my mind. Then, the weekend we came back, we played downstairs at the Cantab in Cambridge to 10 people, half of whom wanted us to turn down so hey could hear the TV. Keeps ya grounded.”
“With Roomful,” Pemberton said, “I have had the great experience of playing all over the country, as well as Canada and most recently Beirut, Lebanon. The stages are much bigger, usually packed houses, tons of airplay, press, great sound systems, a different level of play. I also have tons of new fans as well as some fans who’ve followed the band for 40-plus years.”
Pemberton’s Facebook page reveals the singer’s interest in great works of literature. When asked if he has an intellectual curiosity, he answered:
“Well, yes I guess; weird question. I like to read. I heard a long time ago that the only two things that affect who you are and where you go in life are the books you read and the company you keep. So I guess I’m a little guarded about both. I read a lot of classic stuff, but my favorites are biographies, philosophy, history, poetry. Just what rocks my boat, I guess.”
From here, Pemberton would like to take his career to whatever he heights his talents can reach. A good-natured bloke, he wants to take this walk with other talented people.
“Things keep getting bigger and bigger with Roomful,” the singer said, “the crowds, the gigs. I foresee even greater things in the very near future. I’ll tell ya when it happens.
I’d also like to keep appearing with the friends I have made. I’d love to do a soul record with Ron Levy. He is one of the most talented musicians and producers I have ever known, and I’m glad to be able to count him as one of my good friends. Maybe some things with Doug Bell, we’ll see. Have a few other friends I’d love to do some stuff with. Nothing defined yet. Thinking of a couple of songs I’d love to record with my friend Deb Landolt (Long Tall Deb & the Drifter Kings), one of the most talented singers I’ve met in a long time; really dig her stuff. Also, the Great Sista Monica who I’ve recently befriended. She just has an amazing talent, sends shivers up my spine. Would love to do a track with her. Too many ideas to include in one interview Billy, mah boy.”
Once again, just looking forward to seeing what happens next.”
Philip Pemberton is on Facebook.
