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Let the music do the talking
By Corey Stulce
The Telegraph
December 28, 2000
Caption: Bob Weir, formerly of the Grateful Dead, joined Les Reader in the studio for a track titled 'Go Johnnie Go,' as a tribute to piano legend Johnnie Johnson. Johnson plays on the song.
Les Reader is no stranger to an uphill battle. Many musicians in his place would have thrown down their guitars decades ago, but he is a fighter.
His determination and love for pure American music have begun to pay off. Last year, Reader's collaboration with ex-Beach Boy Brian Wilson produced a song in which rock and blues legend Johnnie Johnson played piano on.
Reader was so impressed with Johnson that he penned a song in honor of him titled "Go Johnnie Go." Little did he know at the time that Johnson himself, as well as former Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, would play on the track.
"It's weird man," Reader said. "All this time, and now I've made it. There's nothing more you can say."
Reader fronts the Mind Gangsters, whose fourth album "Hidden Tracks," is about to hit the shelves. Besides Johnson and Weir, appearing on the album are members of the Charlie Daniels Band and Confederate Railroad.
"This kind of thing doesn't happen any more," Reader said. "It used to be in the old days, with Willie (Nelson), way back 30 years ago, stars would play with each other. They don't do that anymore."
Reader was going to take a break after releasing last year's "No Rules." He was tired, and his health was not improving. He has a lung condition, which leaves them working at about a 20 percent capacity.
But, Johnson caught wind of "Go Johnnie Go," things started moving at a quicker pace. The next thing Reader knew, he was on the phone with the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who was also excited about the song.
"I talked to him for five minutes and I couldn't understand a thing he was saying," Reader laughted about Richards' heavy Cockney accent.
Reader said he thinks "Go Johnnie Go" is going to get the attention of a lot of industry people, which will hopefully lead to airplay around the country and into Europe.
He is planning future collaborations with artists like Nelson, and possibly Sheryl Crow, but that is off in the distance, Reader said. For now, he is trying to push the record, and is also co-writing songs for Johnson's next album for Atlantic Records.
Readers's longtime friend and attorney Earl Hubbs said Reader's success comes directly from his drive. "He will do whatever is in his capacity to achieve his goals," he said. "Even if it takes years of struggle. I know a lot of other people have done that too, but Les has a lot of maladies to overcome, and he has never given up."
Mind Gangsters' guitarist Gary Will, who has collaborated with Reader for many years, is happy to take a bit of a break after recording "Hidden Tracks."
"Les said recording 'Hidden Tracks' was easier than 'No Rules,' but I think parts of it were harder." He added the payoff was getting to play in the studio with legends like Johnson and Weir. "They treated us like equals," he said. "(Bob Weir) just took us into the fold with him."
"To see two superstars playing on one of your songs .. I've known inside it was going to happen," Reader said. "Still, you can anticipate that candy bar all you want. You don't know what it tastes like until you're chewing on it."
Reader is not one to get star-struck, however. "I'll only have cool people play on my songs," he said. "I don't care how famous they are." He said it is one of his goals to continue making music a collaborative effort.
"I've gotten very lucky, but I've worked at it," he said. "It's time to bring the damn brotherhood back to the music."
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