It is said that the true measure of a man is the degree to which he attunes himself to the needs of others. This is a life tenet that Isaac Stevenson has lived by both as an artist and as a man. The artist - after years of singing live to glowing accolades - recently released his first studio recording, simply titled Isaac Stevenson. Filled with a diverse mix of love and relationship songs ranging in idioms from blues and jazz to the Quiet Storm, it reflects the moods of a man focused on monogamy and keeping the fires of romance stoked and burning bright. As tasty as this long overdue CD is, though, Isaac the man has a more personal and purposeful story to tell.
During his tenure on the planet, Mr. Stevenson has brought joy to audiences around the world with his gifts of voice and song. Though his is not a household name, except perhaps in the San Francisco Bay Area where he had also been a top rated radio air personality and host/producer of the groundbreaking music program "Magic Number Video," Stevenson has performed before screaming crowds of thousands in the U.S., South America, Italy, France, Spain, Greece and beyond, as the lead singer of ambassadorial Navy bands. However, it is what Isaac Stevenson has done and continues to do outside of the spotlight of which "the man" is most proud. For every golden opportunity he’s had, Isaac brought others along to share in the light.
Born in San Diego, Isaac was primarily raised in the San Francisco Bay where - from a young age - he had the honor of witnessing and studying some of the world's finest entertainers - from Little Richard and Jackie Wilson to Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles (who he had a memorable chat with backstage at the Masonic Temple in the star's dressing room). Able to sing before he could talk, young Isaac gravitated toward his mother's taste for smooth baritone crooners Arthur Prysock and Brook Benton. Isaac began singing in public with high school choirs and once had the plum shot of singing in the warm-up spot for local great Bobby Freeman. The song he chose: "On Broadway."
Approaching graduation, Isaac planned to follow his sweetheart to Texas and attend college, but the discouraging words of an insensitive counselor put him off of that course. Instead, he joined the United States Navy in 1968, following in the footsteps of his father, a career military man. The decision was disturbing yet pivotal in that Isaac soon found himself doing music in earnest with the organization, first as a member of the boot camp's elite Blue Jackets Choir, then as the lead singer of the USS Saratoga band "The Soul Seekers," and later with the Six Fleet Admiral’s Band. So while he was serving his country, he was also developing impeccable performing skills.
Isaac later attended the Armed Forces School of Music, in Little Creek VA (outside Norfolk) and sharpened his skills even more with an intensive program of piano and vocal studies - 10 hour days of study and performance. Isaac became the Navy's very first "rated" male vocalist (only two singers before him achieved this distinction...and they were both female).
Then as the lead singer of the Navy Show Band East - Isaac was able to tour extensively in exotic locales from Brazil and Colombia to Venezuela, Argentina, Peru and Chile. Unknown to civilians, these military concerts are attended by thousands and at the level of superstar acts such as Earth Wind & Fire or Usher today.
Where the average man would have most enjoyed the adulation of female fans and other "perks" of entertainment related celebrity, Isaac - always more of a family man - was more into the legends he met along with the wisdom and stories they had to pass on... people like Pearl Bailey and jazz drumming legend Elvin Jones. After he had his fill as an international touring musician, Isaac used his GI Bill to finally attend college in San Mateo where another exciting opportunity awaited.
A few blocks down the street was local R&B radio station KSOL. He paid them a visit one day in hopes of meeting singer Michael Henderson and found himself intrigued by the station itself...so much so that when management challenged him to study for a broadcaster's license he did so in three weeks, which earned him an internship at the station followed by a Saturday morning on-air gig. A radio natural, Isaac was moved to the full-time 7pm-midnight shift where he swiftly became #1 in his timeslot. His life became a dream of golfing by day and manning the mike by night. But in between he was renowned and respected for always finding ways to give back, be it providing opportunities for struggling local artists to be exposed alongside visiting superstars, or mentoring kids within the inner city's crime-challenged school system.
Isaac also started the KSOL Book Club to encourage people of all ages to "get their reading on." And to keep his performing chops up, he would often sit in with Dell Graham on Friday nights at Saluto's piano bar. To this day, Isaac is the ONLY person Dell ever allowed to sing her legendary son Larry Graham's epic ballad hit, "One in a Million."
The politics of corporate-driven hit radio took its toll on Isaac but not before he was lured into the other broadcast behemoth of television. Isaac met John Douglass, the first black owner of a television station on the West Coast (KSTS-TV48 - San Jose). Douglass tapped Isaac to help him with a music video program he wanted to develop for then-new BET. When BET opted to develop its own show, John and Isaac decided to produce the show locally. That program was "Magic Number Video," a live two hour show on Friday nights (with an additional pre-recorded hour on Saturdays) that became a powerful phenomenon within the community, regularly beating "network" rivals such as "Friday Night Videos" because local folk could relate to it. Beyond being a heralded platform for artists ranging from stars such as James Brown, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock and a classic two hours with George Clinton, it was also crucial in launching acts like New Edition and Tony' Toni Tone'. Beyond the music - and at Isaac's insistence - there were uplifting community and educational elements in every broadcast. So vast was Isaac's sphere of influence that he was heroically featured by Morrie Turner (syndicated cartoonist and creator of "Wee Pals") in his acclaimed caricature series, “Image Builder.”
"Media is powerful," Isaac reasons. "So I always made sure we dealt with the issues. I wanted young people to go to school and do things I didn't get a chance to do. Being a 'star' was no big thrill for me, especially considering everything I'd done before I got into TV. But what I could bring to young people because of this title over my name - that was priceless. I thought I could change the world. Following "Magic Number Video’s" successful, influential yet inevitably fleeting 4 year run, Isaac continued to earn his living quietly in the world of video production.
But after decades of serving others, he felt it was finally time to realize a long-simmering dream of his own - to make an album singing songs from his heart that promoted what real love is "real-ly" all about. To do so, he reached out to a successful writer/producer whom he had helped show the way in his salad days named Claytoven Richardson. And together, over a meticulous two and a half year period, Isaac Stevenson the CD was created. "I was not driven by dreams of stardom," Isaac shares, "I wanted to leave something of substance behind...for posterity."
The album opens with the sensual seduction of "Spend the Night" (a new song co-penned by Claytoven with smooth jazz great Kevin Toney - formerly of The Blackbyrds - and lyricist Skyler Jett). But he doesn’t actually introduce himself personally until track #7 with the autobiographical mack track "So Cool." Ike slides into a version of Janet Jackson's super sexy "That's The Way Love Goes"...from a man's point of view, and later also digs into her brother Michael Jackson's boudoir classic "I Can't Help It." Then, out of nowhere, he hits you with the uptown bluesy swing of the rollicking "No Damn Good," followed by the oh-so-tender pop reconciliation song "It's Not Too Late For Us" (featuring former Sheila E. sideman Eddie M blowing sweet soprano saxophone), then picks the pace back up for a finger-snapper that women will really love titled "Gonna Spend The Day" (about devoting 24 hours focused solely on h.e.r.).
Two songs in particular get to the essence of Isaac Stevenson, the self-confessed "love man.' The first is the richly inspired "I Love You" for which Isaac composed words to the melodies of Larry Batiste (assisted by Claytoven and delicately arranged by Randy Emata). "I've attended, toasted and hosted many weddings in my life," Isaac shares, "and what I noticed is that it's usually the woman singing about how devoted she will be to her man. So I decided to write a song where a man is speaking of love to the woman he's about to marry." The second song could very well be the soundtrack to their wedding night and honeymoon! Titled "Good Good Music," it's not what you think. "The title is a metaphor for the sounds of making love," Isaac says with the rumble of a hearty chuckle. "At the time that I wrote it, my girlfriend and I would be gettin' it on so good, it would be on and poppin' - all the noise we'd be makin'!" Considering the dispositions of the more conservatively inclined, Isaac adds, "I also teach ballroom dancing, so it can apply to that as well."
Isaac closes the first of what hopefully won't be his last album with a hope-filled new song titled "Love Will Find a Way" (featuring the bass work of Gary Calvin - on-and-poppin' in another way) and the bonus holiday song "Christmas Tree Lights" (which truly reveals a glimpse into the heart of the man). “I performed that song on a Christmas episode of 'Magic Number Video' back in `86," Isaac remembers, "and, yes, it actually has a video, too! That song contains my philosophy of life."
Dreams can come true if you want them to / You've just got to pretend you're a child again /
With all kinds of love around...
Isaac, who has recently shared stages with Joan Baez, Tuck & Patti and Deacon Jones' Bucket of Blues Band is looking forward to doing some performing (but not too much). Comfortable with his relaxed lifestyles, he mostly just wants his "baby" to get a fair listen wherever fine music is shared, enjoyed and evaluated. "Naturally, I believe my album has a lot of good music and messages," he states. "I'd simply like for it to be heard."
Mr. Stevenson is equally focused on completing is autobiography, a tome he has been scribing off and on for several years now. Thinking back on his eventful road of life, Isaac Stevenson concludes, "I've been given opportunities. Not everybody gets them or when they do they don't follow through. That's why for as many shots as I've gotten, I open doors for others and they, in turn, help me - a sweet and simple circle."
(June 2008)