The Booth Brothers
The Booth Brothers are one of the most popular groups in Gospel Music today. Is it your looks, your singing, your dance moves, or your dynamite personalities? What is the secret to your success?
Michael: It's ME period!!!!
Ronnie: Musically we have a good understanding of each members strengths as well as the strengths of the group as a whole and we stay within that vein. Overall, we've never been concerned about what the industry is currently doing. Most of the time, if the industry turns left we turn right. Focusing on what we know we can deliver effectively is probably the key to our success. Over the years the one comment we've received the most is " you guys are different ! ". Being unique is a crucial ingredient. Just do your own thing ! I recently saw the great Barry Manilow in concert. Outstanding performance. Last year he had the number one record in America - "The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties". A record that was so successful he released a second album that paid tribute to the songs of the sixty's. To my knowledge, it has also been successful. My point is that the man is giving the people what they want. I really believe artist should focus their attention on their audience and give them ( the audience ) what they want. We've always kept that in mind as we select material for recordings and stage.
Jim: I think a big part of this is that we make an effort to spend time with our audience off stage. In many other genres of music you rarely even get to see the artist aside from the performance. We not only strive to bring unique and quality music but also give people the chance to spend a few minutes with us one on one. They seem to really enjoy that.
The singing style of the Booth Brothers is unique. Who decides the songs to be sung and who is going to sing them? Anybody ever want to sing a song that it was decided that another member actually fit the song better?
Jim: When selecting songs we all bring songs that we would like to sing and then we narrow it down to what we need for the project or on stage. It's really pretty easy to decide who will sing what song because each voice is unique and we usually know who can best communicate the song based on the type of song.
Ronnie, I know that you just got married. Has this made you a better singer? Is it harder to get back on that bus now? Tell us a little about you wife, how did you meet, does she like SGM?
Ronnie: I met Kim three years ago at her father's church in Plantation, Fl. She's a very intelligent, Godly woman. My life is truly complete now. She has decorated the home so beautifully. You know, truthfully, it really is much harder to get on the bus every week. It's a great feeling to know she'll be there when I get home but it sure is tough. If I didn't believe I was doing a significant work for the Lord I'd stay home. I'll be forty-two this month and God has allowed me to be a part of some incredible things. I've lived life long enough now to understand what the real priorities are. She really didn't know very much about southern gospel until she met me and she has enjoyed getting to know some of the artist. As far as my singing, I'm singing better than I've sung in a long time. She has brought so much peace and joy in my life. I'm so relaxed even after a long weekend on the bus with my brother !!!
Michael, I'm sure that many of our readers know that you are Mosie Lister's son-in-law. Do you feel guilty for getting first jump on all of his new material?
Michael: NO!!!!!! I'm kidding. Mosie and I have a special relationship in that we only care about how the song can most effectively be presented. If it fits someone other than the Booth Brothers best then he sends the song to them.
Jim adds a comment about song pitching: We are asked very often why we did not cut "Truth Is Marching On" and it was simply a timing thing. We had just cut a new CD and would not be releasing a new one for almost a year and we knew that this was a message that needed to be heard so the song was pitched.
Jim, you have been doing some pretty great writing yourself lately. Has there been anything that has especially inspired your writing? What do I have to do get get to write with you, of course I've never written a song before, but I figure you can work with that? Do you and your lovely wife, Melissa, still sing together at any time?
Jim: I spend a lot of time writing and until the last few years I wrote alone but it has been incredibly inspiring to have the opportunity to collaborate with the some wonderful writers recently. I have people every weekend who ask me about writing with me and I take it as a compliment so what I normally do is, have them email me with the lyric idea and / or mp3 of the music then as I am able I look at it and see if it's something I can work on.
Due to the Booth Brothers busy tour schedule Melissa and I are only able to do about 10 - 15 dates a year, but we do accept bookings on a limited basis. We are already scheduled for some exiting dates in 2008 that include marriage conferences, banquets & concerts.
Ronnie, you and Michael are such opposite personalities. You are so subdued and Michael is so hyper. Did your mother feed you both different foods? Did she drop Michael on his head when he was a baby? How does that personality difference work out on the bus traveling together?
Ronnie: It really is kinda humorous, but Michael is pretty laid back on the bus. I know it's hard to believe. I'm the oldest, then Melissa ( our sister ), then Michael. I tell people Dad always wanted three kids - one of each!!! If you can explain that then you can explain Michael. The combination of the two different personalities has worked very well over the years.
Jim: Hey, a gentleman explained that to me the other night, he said. "Mr. & Mrs. Booth got a boy, (Ronnie) a girl (Melissa) and a boy who sings like a girl! (Michael)."
Have there been any individuals who have had a major impact and influence on the Booth Brothers? Who have they been and what kind of influence have they had on the group?
Jim: Bill Gaither has made a huge impact on me, he really is a great teacher. He's constantly encouraging the artists he works with to strive for excellence yet keep our focus on what it's really all about. My influences include The Gaither Vocal Band, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael English, Russ Taff, Eagles, Chicago, Journey to name a few.
Ronnie: I've always been attracted to entertainers. Artist like the Rat Pack, Elvis, and Barry Manilow had a major impact on me growing up. These folks knew how to communicate to their audience. Maybe that's why all of them have sung to full houses throughout their entire career.
Ronnie and Jim, since Michael had the audacity to celebrate his anniversary with his wife instead of performing at the SGN Fan Awards last April, and you had to get Steve Ladd to replace him, have you found that Michael is replaceable? Seriously, Michael did the right thing honoring his wife and marriage that night, but you guys didn't miss a beat when Steve filled in. How did you decide on Steve to be the fill-in Tenor for that night?
Jim: I called Steve because we have worked with him many times and I appreciate his talent, I also knew he could deliver and he did.
Michael: We called him because he was cheap.
The Booth Brothers have been producing their own CD for a little while now. Are you guys comfortable with this? Do you have any advise for up and coming artists?
Jim: We enjoy getting in the studio and being creative, we feel comfortable in making the calls musically because we are on the road every weekend and get a feel for what the audience wants to hear. We also bring in a producer to to bounce our ideas off of and I think it's important to have him in the control room listening on the other side of the mic.
Michael: We have been blessed to work with producers that have our best interest at heart. They provide us the means to accomplish our ideas yet if it beyond our expertise we trust them. Good example of that would be The Blind Man Saw It All CD. Ronnie and I were not as familiar with the direction the recording was going, so we trusted the creative process to producer Barry Weeks and Jim Brady.
Jim
I would say to up and coming artists that it is important to first know who you are, then make sure you work with a producer that will help bring out the best in you. Remember to always keep stretching musically but don't loose what makes you unique.
Visit the Booth Brothers online at http://www.boothbrothers.com
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[13] Comments
The Booth Brothers are one of my favorite groups! Anyone who has a chance to get to know these guys should not miss it. They are some of the nicest, most sincere people in this industry!
The Booth Brothers are terrific! Their harmony is tight & their camarderie is wonderful. Thanks for a great piece on a great group.
Written: 06/01/2007 
Author: AGM
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