Q & A with Lee Domann
How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard it?

I try not to categorize it. But I can tell you what some folks on the road tell me. They use words like Celtic, gospel, folk, story-oriented, Garrison with Guitar (referring to the accessible style of Garrison Keillor of NPR's "Prairie Home Companion.") I also think some songs veer into R&B territory. They are for the most part quite personal and come out of my own experiences. I've been fortunate that many people seem to strongly relate to them. Some other singers I've been told I sound like are Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, James Taylor...even Johnny Cash, which I find amazing. I keep waiting for someone to say, "Man, didn't you used to be with Aerosmith?" but so far, no luck.

What are the differences between each of your CDs?

The latest, "Songs For Ebby T." (2005) is, in some ways, a "Best Of" album, representing what I feel is some of my best work in the 25 years I've been in Nashville. There are several brand new songs, but also three or four contained on other albums of mine. But even these sound brand new, thanks to Carson's sterling work. It's a lush production. "Gospel Trail" (2000) is stripped down instrumentally. My son, Willie (bass guitar), Gene Ford (lead and acoustic guitar), and I went into Tom Wanca's studio for two or three days. We rolled the tape and we played as if we were just jammin' on your front porch. It's the way they did it decades ago in the early days of recording. Of all the albums, it most closely reflects sound-wise what I sound like as a single performer.

The first CD, "The Golden Ribbon" (1992), was completed after Norma and I visited Nova Scotia. It has a very Celtic feel and, like "Songs For Ebby T.", has a fuller production in terms of instrumentation.

In addition to the 3 CDs, I also have 3 cassette albums; "Keepin' It Simple" (1997), "The Ones Who Believe" (1991), and "I've Got His Footsteps" (1984). Though these last two are no longer in production, I have a limited stock/availability of each. Willie and I also are working on an as-yet-untitled 7-song EP to be released sometime in '05.

 When did you first come up with the idea for your newest CD? Where were you, how long was it until you actually began the project, how long did the entire project take?

I think the concept for "Songs For Ebby T." began to take shape about four years ago when I woke up one morning in a motel in Wake Forest, NC with the first verse of "Sober" completed melodically and lyrically before I even got out of bed. That rarely happens. But it wasn't until about a year and a half ago that Carson Whitsett, the real genius of this project, and I first went into the studio. Carson is an extraordinarily gifted keyboard player and arranger - - also, a great composer. We wrote the closing song on the album, "Turn the Corner" together.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what music would you want to have with you and why?

Here are some albums ( - - vinyl. May I have an actual turntable on a desert island? Please!!)

"The Twist" (Ray Charles), "Electric Ladyland" (Jimi Hendrix), "After Bathing at Baxter's" (Jefferson Airplane), "The Ark" (Chad and Jeremy) (an obscure album from 1968 and is absolutely brilliant). Also, anything from Satie (French composer), Grieg (Norwegian composer), Ravi Shankar, The Rankin Family, The Barra MacNeils (these last two are wonderful groups from Nova Scotia), and Mavis Staples. (I hope I'm listening to her voice when I cross over to the other side.) I associate all the music represented here with very powerful, emotion-filled memories of spiritual experiences.

Your marriage is in the double digits – do you have any advice for a couple that's just starting out? What's Norma's advice?

Norma and I, jointly, have come up with the following answer: We try not to give advice, but we can offer our experience. Hopefully, someone else can derive strength and hope from that if it fits their situation. We can report what works for us.

When we exchanged vows on July 7, 1990, we repeated the words, "Yes, one day at a time" when asked, "Do you take this person," etc. To this day, every morning when we wake up, one of us says to the other, "Will you marry me today?" Ninety-nine percent of the time, the other says "yes," then asks the same question of the other. If the other says "yes" too, then it's a done deal! The other one percent of the time, when one or the other replies with something like, "I'm not so sure," then we know we've definitely got stuff to work through. It's critical to do an honest check every day, not just once in a while. It works for us. Go, ye, therefore, and get hitched. (Did I really say that?)

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of?

As you know, I hesitate to claim that I, Lee Domann, do anything on my own. I refer you to my song, "Only a River." Call it God or something else – there's an unseen benevolent, creative, loving force in reality that works through us, not because of us. Any artist worth his or her salt will tell you that. Having given that little sermon (not available on request), I'd have to say the twenty-four year-old and continuing story of the song "Howard Gray" blows me away. It has a life of its own. We have evidence that it's touched literally thousands of lives through the years in a positive way. Songwriters are not known as being the most humble species on the planet, but the "Howard" experience certainly gives me an opportunity for humility every day of my life.

Traveling as much as you do can be difficult – physically, spiritually – how do you keep each day fresh and not grow tired on the road?

The older I get, the more I'm in need of what ancient wisdom has always suggested: Get the appropriate amount of sleep, exercise, and food. In the past year, I've also taken to silent meditation for twenty minutes, twice a day. That's made a huge difference in my energy level and overall health - - physically, mentally, and spiritually. I try not to take everything so seriously (most of all myself and my "little plans and designs"). One area I hope to work on in the coming days is to take more seriously the concept of "Sabbath" – days and hours when I do absolutely nothing. It's just another exercise in the old saying, "Let go and let God."

What are some little known facts that most people don't know about you?

I was a really fast sprinter in high school in Kansas and used to compete against NFL Hall of Famer John Riggins (former Washington Redskins All-Star Running Back). I regularly beat John in the 220-yard dash, then he'd clean my clock in the 100. I used to sit in high school Latin class next to my lifelong friend, actor James Reynolds (Abe Carver, Days of Our Lives). When I attended the University of Kansas, I lived next door in the dormitory to my track teammate, Jim Ryun (U.S. Representative), who was the world record holder for the one-mile run. OK, so I'm a name dropper.

Elvis or the Beatles?

Hendrix. Couldn't have had the Beatles without Elvis, anyway.

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