We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cleon Tate Jr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cleon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

To me they go hand in hand. I’m not one without the other. When I was younger as a kid I started a singing group during the turbulent times of the 1960’s. Even then creative and artist walked hand in hand. Through music everything seemed better. People sang, laughed and did not curse or put down their fellow man or women because of the color of their skin. During this same time I started a marching band because of my love of the USC Trojans Marching band and Traveller. I was the band leader because I didn’t have an instrument nor did I know how to play one. Fast forward to high school and I formed a doo-wop group. We never performed but had fun nonetheless just hanging out and trying to sing. I have a deeper voice and should have been singing the low parts of the songs except I thought I should sing the higher parts (for the girls) remember I was still in high school. My early years were more creative always trying to bring folks together. It wasn’t until I turned 45 that the artist side started to take fold.

At 45 I bought my first bass guitar, a Michael Kelly acoustic bass. The first song I learned was Bill Withers “Ain’t no Sunshine”, I thought I was on my way to playing music as this was an easy lesson for me. Then I went and tried to learn other songs and was lost. Teaching myself after a short time I hit a road block. I would walk away and come back later and give it another try. It wasn’t until I met Jonam LaBlanc bassist for Shoreline Rootz and New Leaf band, and he showed me just a couple of tricks to help my hand technique. He also took his time in showing me how to play a song. Jonam noticed I knew my fret board numerically and not note wise. Jonam then had me call out the note of the fret he would call out when teaching me a song. I got better at note recognition.

When I bought my bass I had told myself I was going to play on stage before I turned 50! Well I’m the merchandise handler for the reggae band Revival, Luis Medina bass player and leader of the band gave me the opportunity to check off a bucket list item. In November during the bands “Give Thanks Show” , Luis let me get on stage and perform along side with the rest of Revival. My nerves had the best of me that evening. As all I really recall is walking on stage then playing my first note and then trying not to mess up, which I started doing shortly after playing. I was able to get through it and in the end realized that I can be an artist and not have to be on stage. I can play for me or my lady or dogs, but I don’t need the limelight.

So after my bucket list was done I was at a crossroads. I still wanted to play but needed something that would keep me motivated and keep it fun. There was for a time I had lost my desire for playing and I looked for different ways to get it back. I was sitting at home one night and I looked up how to play “Time is gonna come”, by Sam Cooke. While going down the YouTube rabbit hole I came across the video of a young lady named Ellen Alaverdyan. Not only can she play she was having fun and it was showing. Her dad said that she plays for about 20-30 minutes a day, then she is off doing other things. One of the tools she was using to learn songs quickly was the app Yousician. So after downloading the app and playing a few songs I was hooked. I felt the fun come back! Thanks to the app but more so for Ellen and her father’s advice.

Being creative and artistic carries over into my hobby as well. Electric Football a game that has been around since 1947, and no I wasn’t around then. Myself and Jeff Eby made a couple a videos for our league, Los Angeles Electric Football League (LAEFL). The third video was done with help of David Campbell and Eric Robinson. We made the video in David’s brothers studio. After we finished, David’s brother came up to me a said I had a great voice and if I was in the LA area look him up if I wanted to do voice over work. Who knew a game could help you into a new career.

I’ve had a regular job since I was 15. I often wondered more what it would be like to be an artist full time. I was part of On Point Promotions, as a promoter and production manager. Many of the bands we booked had regular jobs and this was a creative opportunity for them to showcase their art. After the shows many had to get to work early the next day, myself included.

Cleon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

If you are looking to play music in and around the San Diego area. Contact booking agent/owner Scott Clayton at scott@on-point-promotions.com

I was fortunate enough to be asked to join the team after meeting Scott at a birthday party that he was performing at. I would help manage the shows at Diamond Jim’s one of our venues at the time we hosted a reggae show every Wednesday night.

It has always been a joy to see the faces of folks as they enjoy a show hosted by On Point Promotions. The feed back has been positive and folks are eager for the next one. We cover all genres of music from, reggae , rock n roll to hip hop and country.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Support! support! support! Support your local venues, support your local musicians, buy merchandise attend local music festivals.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Joy music gives to people. Friends it makes, how it brings strangers together, how it plays an integral part in everyone’s lives.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: On Point Promotions

Image Credits

Kathy Alene Tate Photography
Scott Clayton -On Point Promotions