Times-Herald (Vallejo, CA)
January 22, 2004
From 'Imposter'.... to the real deal
RICHARD FREEDMAN, Times-Herald staff writer
The price of fame isn't cheap. But after importing a film crew and models to bring his tune "Anyway" to life, David Martin said it's $80,000 well spent.
"I'm having the time of my life," Martin said. "Even if the song doesn't make a penny, I'm having a great time."
It was Saturday afternoon when Martin took a brief break from videotaping the song he hopes will catapult him to notoriety. By late Sunday, the catchy song would enter the next phase of promotion.
"We already have a lot of interest and opportunities in it," Martin said.
Martin, a familiar face locally as a member of "The Real Imposters," believes this song is the closest he's come to clicking with a potential hit.
Sure, there was "Did O.J. Do It?" a few years ago, but that was all novelty, Martin said.
"Hopefully, this song will stand the test of time," Martin said. "I think it has more commercial value."
Not that the romantic "Anyway" was a grueling, lifetime struggle.
"The song came to me in a crazy way," Martin said. "It was probably written in 10 minutes."
That was about three months ago. The music soon arrived via a software program called "Acid Planet" and was modified by producer Jimmy Fischer.
"I think this song is fantastic," said Fischer, an American Canyon resident. "It has that appeal to everybody. It's a love song. The message is great. I knew I wanted to produce it the first time I heard it."
Martin said the final product is close to his original concept.
"It's very close to what it was, though now it's cleaner," he said.
With all the music computerized, the "musicians" in the video are basically there for the visual effect, which was fine with Danny Thomas, a Con Funk Shun original member and Martin's friend.
"He called and asked me if I wanted to be in it and I said 'Cool,' " Thomas said. "And I'm lovin' it."
Another "musician" for the video was Bobby Walton of Oakland who has known Martin for 15 years and is equally excited about the song's future.
"It has that appeal and it's nice and wholesome," Walton said. "If it gets the airplay, it will go as far as the sky."
Walton said he wasn't trying to fool anyone as the video's bass player.
"I'm not a musician," he said. "I can't hold a note."
Still, he had no problem working with models and Martin.
"David's a phenomenal musician," Walton said. "And the models, oh man, that's the best part. We have the most beautiful women here. I'd like to get to know them."
Martin picked director A.W. Feidler of Marin County to orchestrate the video and had nothing but the Masonic Temple in mind to film the project.
"It's a historic place in Vallejo. I keep all my projects in Vallejo to help the community," Martin said. "It's a class building that's been around for years."
"I love this place," Thomas added. "It does get kinda of spooky at night."
There's also a chance Martin would corral some musicians and take the song on the road.
No complaints from Thomas, who would love the challenge.
"We've played together for a long time before," Thomas said. "It would be great fun together to go on the road performing."
(c) 2004 Times-Herald.
