Exclusive: Calvin Richardson Speaks to UrbanBridgez.com

In the past year he has seen his classic soul composition “There Goes My Baby,” collaboration with Babyface, become one of the biggest R&B hits of the year, thanks to Charlie Wilson’s great version. On June 25 2010, Calvin received an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award for writing and publishing the song which topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Music Charts in 2009. Calvin Richardson also scored two Grammy nominations for his last album, Facts Of Life, his heartfelt tribute to one of soul music’s greatest creators, Bobby Womack, an honor topped only by a personal benediction from Mr. Womack himself.

With the release of his new album, America’s Most Wanted released on Shanachie Entertainment and his own NuMo Records on August 31st, Calvin Richardson is poised for the breakthrough many have been predicting!

Recently Aries from UrbanBridgez.com caught up with Calvin and talked to him about his new album, his start in the industry, touring, why he has no desire to work with other artists, Twitter & much more!

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UrbanBridgez.com: ‘America’s Most Wanted,’ explain the new album title?
Calvin Richardson: Aww man, it’s love & happiness! Everybody wants that!

UrbanBridgez.com: No doubt! Where did the music take you this time around?
Calvin Richardson: Well this time around I worked with a different band. We recorded everything in the studio live, which is also the same approach I did when I did the tribute album to Bobby Womack. And it worked so well with that, where I was happy with the outcome I just thought I would do it again. I tried a few different things this time, like I got a song for the steppers, it’s a steppers groove it’s not necessarily a steppin’ song, but it’s a steppin’ groove you know. A couple of different things as far as the tempos and beats and stuff. But the substance and the lyrical content is basically in the direction that I always go.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who contributed to this release?
Calvin Richardson: Well I pretty much did the whole thing myself.

UrbanBridgez.com: Real cool, ‘You’re So Amazing’ is doing good, what made you go with that one for the lead single?
Calvin Richardson: I just felt like that was the best song to come out the gate with. I don’t know man it was just something about it. Like the message in the song, I just had a real good feeling about it & thought I would give it a shot!

UrbanBridgez.com: What was the best thing about recording this album?
Calvin Richardson: I think really the space I was in while recording this particular album. I was in real good spirits, everything was light & happy. Just alot of good energy, alot of great things was going on around me. You know I was nominated for the Grammys and getting the ASCAP award & things like that. So with all of that good stuff going on I just put all of that energy in it & came up with my vibe for the songs.

UrbanBridgez.com: How did you first get started?
Calvin Richardson: I started out in a group and we got signed to Tommy Boy records back in the mid 90’s during the Jodeci era. We recorded an album but it never came out and I met Heavy D in the studio when we was recording that album. He was in there recording Monifah’s second album, he approached me and asked if I wanted to sign to Uptown solo. At that time I said no, but after the group went our separate ways I ran into him again and that deal went down pretty rapidly. I got my first solo deal on Universal.

UrbanBridgez.com: When can fans expect to see you out on tour?
Calvin Richardson: Well you know I travel a good bit man, so my shows take me all over. They can always go on my website iamcalvinrichardson.com and see upcoming dates to see where I’m gonna be and hopefully they can make it out.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who are some artists you would like to work with in the future if given the opportunity?
Calvin Richardson: I really don’t have a wish list when it comes to other artists to work with, I threw away my wish list early on. Because there use to be artist that I respected and wanted to work with man, but I found out alot of those artist feel like if you’re not on their level as far as success or your name is not as large as theirs; they’re not to quick to work with you, so there really isn’t anybody that I want to work with. Besides people who are all about the music and the creative process.

UrbanBridgez.com: A homegirl of mine who loves you wanted me to ask you do you have Twitter & if not will you be getting Twitter (laughs)?
Calvin Richardson: (laughs) You know everybody is beating me up about the Twitter thing, because I was on there at one point. I had too much going on and I couldn’t really do it man. But tell her she twisted my arm and maybe I will get it again soon (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: Outside of music what else do you enjoy in your free time and anything else you’re working on?
Calvin Richardson: Music pretty much consumes my everything my world because I’m running my label NuMo and I have an 8 year old that I deal with on a day to day. So that really takes up all of my time and trying to keep everybody on point. And being Independent it’s alot of work. So I don’t get too much free time.

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Calvin Richardson: I appreciate all of my fans that have been there from the beginning up until now! And everybody that’s coming on board and supporting me, it’s really making a difference. And I just want to say thank you and I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully they’ll keep loving what I’m doing and we’ll have a great future together!

‘America’s Most Wanted’ In Stores & Online Tomorrow!