We were lucky to catch up with Jan Buckingham recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jan, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My parents were good Christian people who taught me the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. So, in my business as a singer/songwriter/publisher, I always treat people as I would like to be treated: with respect and kindness. I always return all phone calls. I try to help young writers learn to write better songs. I encourage them. I am always honest. I keep my word. I learned all this by watching how my parents acted and treated people.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a twice Grammy nominated singer/songwriter/publsiher. I make my living writing songs, and performing them, and having them cut by famous artists, some of whom are: Whitney Houston, Melissa Manchester, Air Supply, Journey, Crystal Gayle, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Pam Tillis, Tim McGraw, Lee Greenwood, Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, and many otheres. I also have songs in films like My Cousin Vinnie, and on television in programs like Friends and Hollywood Wives. I do not publish other people’s songs. I write almost every day of my life. I love to write songs. The hardest thing to do these days is to get your songs cut, and even harder is to collect the funds they should be earning, as streaming has cut that amount way back. I am most proud of the fact, and grateful for the fact that I can do what I love, and make a living doing it.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
I have had many “side hustles.” I have been a school teacher, flight attendant, actor, Realtor, store clerk, and have had a television marketing business. I did all these side hustles to earn enough money to keep on writing in between hits. Also, these other occupations put me in touch with the public, and helped me find new stories to write about. I always tell new writers coming to town to first get a job, so that they have food in their bellies and a roof over their heads, and THEN, they can spend their down time developing their art.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I believe that music is a world wide communicator, and that all people are affected by the music they hear. In the songs that I write, I try to always have a truth in the song, and a positive angle on the story I tell.
I also use humor in many of my songs, as having a good sense of humor is a good way to make it through life successfully.
I like to make people laugh… and to feel that they are not alone in the things that they are going through.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janbuckingham.com
- Instagram: jan_buckingham
- Facebook: janbuckingham
- Other: To hear around 300 of my song demos, one can go to www.reverbnation.com/janbuckingham. Hit on “all songs,” and 300 will drop down for the listener.