Dave Tolliver Interview at Hardcorejamz

Dave Tolliver has had a great career with the group Men At Large and he has now released a fantastic solo CD called "The Blaq Pavarotti". The CD is Dave at his best. Smooth vocals that truly sound amazing. This album is a must download from Itunes!
We had a chance to talk with him!

I'M IN THE ATL BUT I MISS CLEVELAND SOOOOOOO MUCH THAT I AM ALWAYS BACK. PEOPLE ASK ME DID I EVEN MOVE. I JUST MISS MY FAMILY AND TRUE FRIENDS.

THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT'S ALL EVERYBODY IS DOIND AND SINCE THE SOUTH IS REALLY RUNNING SHIT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY BECOMING MORE THAN NEIGHBORHOOD SUPERSTARS. THERE IS REALLY A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE. ALL THE ACTORS, RAPPERS, AND MOGULS HAVE HOMES HERE. THERE IS NO TELLING WHO YOU MIGHT SEE AT THE GRIMIEST PLACE IN THE CITY.

You are a major recording artist yet you still are true to the underground scene. As you have noticed there are a million independent and underground Hip-Hop artists out there. Do you come across many R&B singers who are doing it underground and releasing their own product independently?

OH YEAH THIS IS A GET RICH INDEPENDENT GAME DOWN HERE CATS GET MONEY BIG TIME. THEY PROMOTE THEIR OWN SHOWS AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY SUPPORT THEM. EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK THERE IS AN OPEN MIC/SHOWCASE WHERE R AND B CATS ARE GETTING IT. YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE OTHERS FROM MY ERA AND BEFORE THAT COME OUT TO THESE EVENTS LIKE LIL G FROM SILK, AND TONY TERRY WHO HAVE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE PUSHING. THE MUSIC SCENE HERE IS THRIVING BUT OVERSATURATED. YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO STAND OUT OR GET TO KNOW SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT SHIT POPPIN'.

Besides the singles you are famous for like "So Alone" and "Holiday", what other songs are your favorites that you recorded with Men At Large?

SOME OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES ARE YOU PLAYED ME AND DREW FROM THE DECK FROM "LOVE STRUGGLE AND PROGRESS". ALWAYS, SPACE, THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, YES I DO, AYO, AND I GOT YOUR BACK ALL FROM "BACK ON TOP. MY CURRENT CD "BLAQ PAVAROTTI IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL MY WORKS FRON BEGINNING TO END.

Being an artist with genuine hit records under his belt that have actually charted on Billboard and everything. What did you find was more lucrative money wise between record sales, downloads, publishing from radio play or doing shows?

FOR US IT WAS DOING SHOWS AND STILL IS WE DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY FROM THOSE SONGS. JUST VERY LITTLE PUBLISHING MONEY AT THIS POINT. ALL I GOT TO SAY IS WE WERE YOUNG AND ANXIOUS JUST TO BE ON AND THAT'S A BAD CHEMISTRY EARLY ON IN A LOT OF PEOPLES CAREERS.

OF COUSE YOU WOULD FIND BLAQ PAVAROTTI, JOE, RICK ROSS, MICHAEL JACKSON. THESE ARE MY DAUGHTER'S FAVORITES TOO.

You were signed to Rival Records at one point and released a good album that did not blow up like it should have. What went wrong at the label?

THE NEW PROJECT IS FULL OF SONGS THAT RADIO NEEDS RIGHT NOW. SONGS THAT WE HAVE MISSED OVER THE LAST 10 YRS. I WORKED WITH AFRO-D-ZIAK, 314, AND SIX EYES ALL FROM OHIO AND ALL DOPE. I YOUNGED UP THE BEATS AND KEPT THE WORD PLAY GROWN AND SEXY. LIFE LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS IS ALL I KNOW. EVERYBODY CAN RELATE TO THAT FROM OLD TO YOUNG, HARD TO SOFT WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY EQUATE SUCCESS.

This album is a digital release only. Do you think eventually there will be no more Cd's manufactured for a release anymore?

WELL I THOUGHT IT WOULD ONLY BE A DIGITAL RELEASE BUT I WILL PRESS SOME UP. I ALWAYS HAVE THEM ON ME SO IF YOU SEE ME I GOT THEM WITH ME.

I JUST DID 2 MOVIES CALLED "FIVE DAYS IN THE A", AND "LOVE'S TRIANGLE". I'M SCHEDULED TO BEGIN FILMING ON MY THIRD PROJECT THIS FALL CALLED "BABY J" . BE ON THE LOOKOUT PEOPLE I'M GRINDING AND TRYING TO BE A PART OF, OR BE THE LEADER OF THE REVOLUTION TO BRING MUSIC BACK TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

Dave Tolliver is a busy guy. He is a successful R&B singer, actor, and now catch him on the internet Monday to Friday mornings from 6AM to 10Am on www.smttbroadcasting.com, then on Sunday nights for Group Therapy on www.blogtalkradio.com/grouptherapy from 10PM to 12AM.