Classic Interview Between Billy Poter and I

Go Deep: Billy Porter
By L. Michael Gipson

For those who've quietly ached to see a proud, talented and courageous reflection of themselves in urban music, he's been a long time coming. Since the untimely December 16, 1988 death of soul and disco diva, Sylvester, to AIDS, no out, black, gay soul singer has stepped to the scrutinizing public plate. Plenty of artists have been rumored and at least one 6'7 blonde and bronze drag queen has extended her 15 minutes of fame into a 15 year cause celebré. While the George Michaels and Melissa Etheridges of the pop and rock scenes have been kicking down their closet doors in a steady drumbeat, the mantle of black gay soul singer has been notably vacant. Even black lesbians had a short-lived moment of cheer when Me'shell N'degéocello sung about her same sex desires on her 2002 album "Cookie: An Anthropological Mixtape." Tevin Campbell, the self-professed "try-sexual" (as in, according to his Sister2Sister interview, he'll try anything), doesn't really count since an unsavory incident with a cop burst open Campbell's closet and hammered the final nail in a career already on life support. Luther's vacillation between silence and self-incriminating defiance amounted to a wink, a nod and strict adherence to a self-imposed don't ask, don't tell policy that left many wanting. So, finally, with some fanfare he's arrived; the nation's first kick-ass out black gay balladeer for this generation, Mr. Billy Porter.

For those who care about such relatively personal matters, the absence of a Billy Porter has probably done more-not less-to increase speculation about the sexuality of male singers striving to sell their masculine mystique as much as their melodies. Once upon a time, Billy Porter was marketed as the gentleman sex siren accompanied by all the usual career-damaging whispers that have dogged most r & b singers from Sisqo to Jaheim. This was in 1997 when Billy Porter, a young Broadway veteran, was on top of the world with a promising A&M Records debut, Untitled. The 1990 Grand Prize Star Search winner had a hot single, "Love Is on the Way"; receiving consistent radio airplay in adult contemporary and BET had placed in high rotation a video for Billy's brilliant Glenn Jones cover, "Show Me." With his smooth chocolate brown skin, a devilish smile, and from gospel to Broadway vocal chops, Billy seemed to be the total package.

Except for one small thing, the rumors about Billy's homosexuality weren't conjecture, they were truth; too much truth for his label. A&M appeared to struggle with marketing a kat who for all his acting abilities couldn't seem to fool the public into believing that he was their heterosexual boy next door. What's more, it seems that their gentleman artist wasn't entirely willing to be complicit in their image devising schemes. So, the church-bred, Pittsburgh native whose unique vocal styling had led him up a rocket ship ascent from The Great White Way to soul stardom suddenly found himself crashing to earth without a label deal. To add insult to injury he witnessed Celine Dion make a bonafide hit out of his career-defining show stopper, Love Is on the Way, a short time later.

For many other artists this would be the end of the story; who was Billy Porter? would be the brain stumper question for some music trivia game. Billy, however, wasn't just any artist. His voice is one for the ages and it soon found a home back on Broadway starring in everything from a revival of "Grease" to a landmark recording of "Dreamgirls: In Concert." No less than Rosie O'Donnell fell in love with Billy's talent and had him appear on his show innumerable times. Las Vegas wasn't far behind in their affections, tagging Billy with the task of developing and directing a hit review of Stevie Wonder's music for the secretive city. Billy followed success after success with a few choice film roles, animation voice overs and more theater offers than he knew what to do with. Until one day Billy decided to step back into the music industry limelight using a familiar back door, the theater. Billy fully and loudly spoke his truth through a 2005 George C. Wolfe produced one-man show, "Ghetto Superstar: The Man I Am." The show—part gay campy, part musical confession—has proven to be the making of Billy, having won over one of his toughest audience, those hard-nosed, New York critics. Leaving Billy poised to tackle another more daunting audience, the record buying public. Through his own label, Billy's recorded the best of his show and independently released it as a live album, "At the Corner of Broadway and Soul (LIVE)." The album covers everything from gospel classics like Smokie Norful's "I Need You Now" to a slew of Broadway ditties, including a gender faithful, Dreamgirls' classic, "And I Am Telling You." Perhaps the best of the project are Billy's own intelligent self-penned pop-soul tunes that demonstrate such demanding and awe-inspiring vocal arrangements that they leave listeners on the edge of their seats. On "At The Corner…", Billy's voice climbs so many scales and rips through so many jazz riffs and gospel runs that one is exuberantly exhausted from the experience. Since its release, Porter has appeared on Oprah Winfrey, in advertisements for MTV's gay themed cable channel, Logo, and is now featured on Broadway in Cheryl West's Birdie Blue, ensuring us that Billy intends to let his special brand of male Divadom shine in every media available to him for years to come.

Why and when did you start to sing?

I really don't know what made me want to sing. I just popped out of my mother's womb singing. When I discovered that my singing helped my not to get my ass kicked everyday—I never shut up! Gospel music was my first and only music until I was twelve. I grew up on The Hawkins Family, The Winans (pre- BeBe & CeCe), The Clark Sisters, Myna Summers, Mattie Moss Clark and Thomas Whitfield. Then at age 11, I was introduced to the theater, and the rest is history.

How does living on so many different intersections (i.e., black, gay, a person of faith, etc.) impact your art and music?

I'm only now beginning to understand the full extent of who I am, because I've finally been able to embrace all my contradictions. Therefore, my ministry has been able to breathe and grow

On your album, you discuss how Jennifer Holliday was such an inspiration. At 12 years old, did seeing Jennifer performing "And I'm Telling You" from Dreamgirls on the 1983 Tony Awards the reason you chose Broadway first? What else inspired your theatrical pursuits?

I was never about choosing Broadway first. That was the only type of creative outlet there was where I was from. I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, not Los Angeles or New York. And my parents knew nothing about the business, nor did they care. So, if I wanted a creative outlet, theater was it.

You sing a lot of gospel music on your new album and even your own lyrics are flavored with spirituality. Given your church roots and the obviousness of your deep and enduring faith, why did you not chose to pursue a career in gospel?

Because I'm gay. And because I'm not willing to lie about or hide who God made me. Gospel music is, unfortunately, so bound by religious constructs-which are man made and have nothing to do with spirituality—that weekly I was forced to endure a spiritual murdering of my spirit in my childhood. I'm grown now. I'm going to preach to the people nobody's preaching to.

Still, you wrote and recorded several gospel songs on your latest project, At the Corner of Broadway and Soul, so do you see a complete gospel project in your future?

I do see a gospel project in my future, but on my terms.

How have you reconciled your faith life with your sexuality?

God made me and he don't make no junk. It's a constant journey.You've starred in several huge Broadway shows, From Grease to Five Guys Named Moe, but do you consider yourself a Broadway star?No! Not yet. Soon, though. Very soon.

How has being a black man and then a black gay man impacted your options as a recording artist and Broadway star?

Nobody knows what to do with you when you're different. So, I've stopped waiting around for people without vision to get me. I get me! And that's all that matters.

You spent a great deal of time doing musical theater; do you prefer the stage to the studio?

I prefer anything that's live. I love the stage. The studio is fine. But my love is for all things LIVE.

In other interviews you've alluded to A&M not being able to handle you, what happened with your first album deal?

Too long a story. Read my book when it comes out. I'll tell it all! The music business has no idea what to do with a black faggot; especially one who could go toe-to-toe with their divas. The world wasn't ready for a male DIVA. But they need to get ready. 'Cause I ain't goin' no where. And I will not be denied! It's a new day.

How many units did your first project move? How difficult was it for an artist of your talent not to go platinum?

I have no idea. I don't really focus on those kinds of things. I just try to keep doing good work. Not going platinum and my deal not working out sent me into a whirlwind depression that lasted for at least 6 years, if not more.

Did you attempt to get a second album through another major after your first deal ended? If so, what was the response?

I tried very hard to get signed again. Everyone passed. Oh well. They'll all be sorry one day.

You were in a cult hit movie, The Broken Hearts Club, where you portrayed an out black gay man long before the public thought of you that way. How was that film experience for you?

One of the best experiences of my life. It was one of the first times that I realized that who I was already was enough.

Do you see other film projects in your future?

Of course.

How did the one-man show, "Ghetto Superstar: The Man I Am", transpire?

I got sick of waiting around for other people to get it. If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself.

What was it like to work with a Broadway legend like director/producer and former Joseph Papp Public Theater Director, George C. Wolfe (i.e., The Colored Museum, Bring On Da Noise, Bring On Da Funk, etc.)?

He was exactly what I needed at the time. He's black, gay and unapologetically running shit! I needed to see that. I needed him in my life badly.

What have you taken from that experience?

No more apologies. Ya'll can take it or leave it! I know you toured in your hometown of Pittsburgh, but are you still touring "Ghetto Superstar"?I'm not touring at the moment. I'm working on trying to figure out how to do that.

How would you describe the music and your songwriting on your freshman project versus your new album?

The first album was someone else's interpretation of me and who I should have been.This project is ALL ME!

How has singing your own music differed from interpreting the works of other songwriters?

Empowering.

What inspires your songwriting?

The world around me inspires my writing. I miss message music. I miss political music. I miss music that makes you think. The world is literally blowing up around us and all we can get is "Jenny from the block." Now don't get me wrong, I love a good beat, but the balance is a little off these days.

Do you ever think you'll write songs about same gender love and relationships?

Mos def.

For those who like a little dirt, what hot nuggets do you want to share about Billy Porter's love life?

I have no hot nuggets other than the fact that I do have a man. His name is Ari Gold. And he's an amazing out gay artists who keeps me smiling and inspired everyday. Check out his website - arigold.com

What does Billy Porter feel about love?

It's work! And that's not a bad thing. You gotta work at it just like you work on everything else.Your show and music reveals a lot about your most vulnerable experiences.

Why did you feel it was important to expose so much of your experience with your audience?

Cause that's what artists do: we expose ourselves so that those can't, have a voice.

How are you still developing as an artist?

I will be developing as an artist until the day I die.

What words of advice would you have for a black gay teen who is looking up to you as an out soul artist and actor and wants to be the next Billy Porter?

The idea that anyone would look up to me is still so scary. But in the event that it does happen I would say... Keep you head up, stay strong, stare your demons straight in the eyes and tell them to get behind you! We got work to do!

What's next for Billy Porter?

I'm going to be on The Oprah Winfrey Show. I done died and gone to heaven! [our interview took place prior to Billy's November 2006 appearance on Oprah]

How can people cop At the Corner of Broadway and Soul and learn more about your upcoming shows?

My album can be found in stores and online at amazon.com and iTunes. You can get more info about me and hear unreleased music at my website, www.billyporter.com.

Thank You, Billy!