"Everything. Back then the music was pure, and the industry was somewhat corrupt but there were openings to get through with some real shit. Now everybody’s copying everybody else and there’s very little I hear that’s new and good."

Jon Tiven:

Soul Glimpse to the Music Mission

Jon Tiven is a composer, guitarist and record producer. He has produced albums by Wilson Pickett, Frank Black and Don Covay as well as a series of tribute albums paying tribute to the songwriting of Don Covay, Arthur Alexander, Otis Blackwell, Curtis Mayfield, and Van Morrison. He was a founder of the bands The Yankees and The Jon Tiven Group. Tiven began his career as a music journalist in the late 1960s, writing for Rolling Stone, Fusion, Melody Maker, and a host of other magazines. Initially an alto saxophonist, he taught himself to play a variety of instruments and became fairly adept at guitar, enough to write songs and accompany himself. In 1975 Tiven went to work for Chess Records in New York, but quickly saw that working inside a record company was not his calling, and travelled to Memphis to produce Alex Chilton's first solo album Bach's Bottom a.k.a. The Singer Not The Song at Alex's request. Upon returning to New York, Tiven licensed the Chilton masters as well as other Memphis recordings he had made to Ork Records, the first New Wave/punk rock label. He soon split to produce for Big Sound Records, where he produced records by Van Duren and his own band The Yankees, but losing faith in those running the label he became totally independent.

(Photo: Jon Tiven with Reggie Young and David Hood)

In addition to playing on sessions for artists such as Major Lance ("I've Got A Right To Cry") and The Rolling Stones ("Jivin Sister Fanny"), Tiven honed his craft as a member of The Jim Carroll Band, as a guitarist/organist and also cowriting with Carroll the title song of the second album ("Dry Dreams"). Befriended by John Belushi, he formed a The Tom Davis Experience featuring Al Franken with the two comedians, and had a featured acting role as well as writing five songs for their film One More Saturday Night (1986) produced by Dan Aykroyd... The rest is a big part of music history...!

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the music and Rock Counterculture influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

I was a very politically and socially conscious person in my youth, my first fan letter was to Abbie Hoffman and he wrote me back and sent me Yippie buttons and five dollars in stage money. That interest has been rekindled from time to time working with like-minded individuals such as P.F. Sloan and Stevie Kalinich, although I’m a little pessimistic about the state we’re in currently.

As far as a life-changing moment, seeing artists like Paul Butterfield, John Hammond and Steve Miller when I was in my early teens was pretty life-changing, as was meeting Don Covay while I was still knee high to a grasshopper.

How do you describe your music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul?

I play, sing and write what I feel, there isn’t a playbook. I think I’m technically adept at guitar, bass and sax enough to distinguish myself, my skills on the other instruments are good enough to service the song but not take a solo. The less script, the more interesting the film can be.

"I was a very politically and socially conscious person in my youth, my first fan letter was to Abbie Hoffman and he wrote me back and sent me Yippie1 buttons and five dollars in stage money. That interest has been rekindled from time to time working with like-minded individuals such as P.F. Sloan and Stevie Kalinich, although I’m a little pessimistic about the state we’re in currently." (Jon Tiven with Don Covey, Huey Lewis and Sally Tiven / Photo by Gayle Cody)

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you?

Don Covay, B.B. King, Andrew Loog Oldham, Dan Penn, Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett, Sir Mack Rice, Eddie Floyd...

Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?!

I blew my chance with Bob Dylan; I was working for Chess Records/Muddy Waters, and he came up to me before a gig at the bottom line and asked me about guitar tuning. Before I had a chance to look at him, I answered, “what are you asking me for, I’m a nobody and you’ve got one of the greatest here in the room.” Then I looked at him, realized it was Bob Dylan, and realized I had stepped on my you know what. no chance of a redo.

I had a great meeting with Keith Richards that didn’t amount to anything---he was supposed to executive produce a Sir Mack Rice record I was doing---but we smoked a j, had some laughs, and then he took me behind the studio and pissed on a tree exclaiming “the new, drug free urine of Keith Richards.” The Sir Mack album was fantastic with or without him, it would have been nice to have him on it.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past?

Everything. Back then the music was pure, and the industry was somewhat corrupt but there were openings to get through with some real shit. Now everybody’s copying everybody else and there’s very little I hear that’s new and good.

What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Blues and Soul has been relegated to the oldies section. That’s a crime.

"I blew my chance with Bob Dylan; I was working for Chess Records/Muddy Waters, and he came up to me before a gig at the bottom line and asked me about guitar tuning. Before I had a chance to look at him, I answered, “what are you asking me for, I’m a nobody and you’ve got one of the greatest here in the room.” Then I looked at him, realized it was Bob Dylan, and realized I had stepped on my you know what. no chance of a redo." (Photo: Jon Tiven and Steve Cropper, 1992)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications?

I don’t know if there is any these days. It’s just the soundtrack to a meal, or something to be used in a film to give life where life is lacking.

How do you want the music to affect people?

I just want people to feel something when they listen. I do, it’s a great experience.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Ignore advice except when it’s given by someone who you deeply respect.

Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

I’m a deeply spiritual Hindu devotee (my guru is Sathya Sai Baba), and that’s my north star.

What do you think is key to a life well lived?

Ceiling on desires.

Jon Tiven - Home

(Photo: Jon Tiven with BB King, Sally Tiven and Sid Seidenberg, 1990)