Whats 'God' Got To Do With It?
Plenty, for singer Joan Osborne, who brings her R&B-fueled show to Glendale’s Alex Theatre
By Carl Kozlowski 10/22/2009
There have been lots of one-hit wonders throughout rock history — artists who after their moment of glory fade into vague memories, quick mentions on VH1 “Where Are They Now?” specials and the occasional spin on a radio station. Usually their names are remembered only as that group that dressed in that type of suit or “that guy who had that crazy hair.”
Joan Osborne is one of the lucky few who managed to transcend such a fate. As heard on 1995’s left-field hit single “One of Us,” — in which the question is asked “What if God was one of us?” — Osborne’s hauntingly powerful vocals made people the world over look at the strangers around them in a new way, gave her a Top 10 hit and helped her garner five Grammy nominations that year.
The song was so distinctive that people still remember her name the moment they hear it. It also gave her the credibility to maintain a career as a vocalist through several more CDs in a variety of genres, as well as to tour as a lead singer with The Dead — the Grateful Dead’s post-Jerry Garcia reincarnation.
On Friday night, Osborne will be putting it all together in a special concert at the Alex Theatre in Glendale in which she’ll perform with the Holmes Brothers in a genre-spanning blast from the past, mixing soul, rock, country and R&B with her own memorable tunes.
“We do some of the covers that I’ve released on my albums, and a lot of original material, but the Brothers and my keyboard player Keith Cotton are the backing band for these shows,” says Osborne. “People who’ve seen my shows have never seen anything like this. It’s something I wanted to do for a long time and the opportunity arose when producers asked me to package a tour. They originally had [the classic Motown studio band] The Funk Brothers in mind due to [the hit documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown”], but, unfortunately, the Funk Brothers weren’t able to do it, so I suggested the Holmes Brothers.”
Osborne’s roots with the Holmes Brothers extend back to her earliest days in New York City more than two decades ago. She used to attend their shows and “idolize” the R&B outfit, until one night the band’s bass player hosted an open mic jam session in a club and Osborne worked up the nerve to join them onstage.
“They were really encouraging and supportive of me at a time when I was just learning to sing,” Osborne recalls. “I’m glad I got to return the favor by producing albums for them. Yet this is the first time we’re touring together, doing my music through the lens of the funky style they have. It’s like bringing a gospel group on the road but in this funky, bluesy style.”
And even as the song “One of Us” might have pigeonholed her, despite the fact that it was actually written by Eric Bazilian, lead singer of the underrated ’80s band The Hooters, she’s nonetheless grateful for that shot of success.
“There was a little bit of labeling and frustration for a couple years after ‘God’ came out, because they thought I was an Amy Grant figure and only did religious music,” says Osborne. “That was just a small part of what was going on. It was one song on a bigger record and drew people to buy the whole thing. I haven’t equaled that commercial success, but it set up the kind of career I’ve been able to have: to sing with the Dead, Pavarotti, and sing for the Dalai Lama soon. I don’t have to sell millions every time, but I have enough audience, producers and artists willing to work with me that I carve my own path, and it’s been very liberating in that sense.”
Joan Osborne performs a concert with the Holmes Brothers and Paul Thorn at 8 p.m. Friday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $31 to $56. Call (818) 243-ALEX or visit alextheatre.com.
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