Jermaine: Hey, it's good to be here again.
Donnie: Thanks for loaning me the outfit.
Jermaine: Yeah, because everyone usually brings you something to wear so I
thought I would bring you something, you know.
Donnie: Yeah but you're going to take yours back.
Jermaine: Yeah, well Donnie it cost, it cost pal.
Donnie: Most people come here and they bring me something and they leave it Jermaine. It's in my closet now.
Jermaine: Oh yeah, now you're gonna make me feel bad. Okay, I'll bring something else next time. You can wear this one for now.
Donnie: Well, when you coming back, we're gonna nail this one down.
Jermaine: You gonna pinpoint me, now (huh)?
Donnie: It's good to see you man, you're looking great.
Jermaine: I feel great.

Donnie: So let's back up. Before you actually got with Shalamar you were on Soul Train. This goes back when Soul Train Was in Chicago.
Jermaine: Right, It was in black and white and it came on everyday.
Donnie: It was in black and white?
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: Oh really
Jermaine: Yeah, black and white and it was an everyday thing. I use to leave high school and go down there. I think it was on channel 26.
Donnie: Uh huh
Jermaine: We had fun doing it.
Donnie: Did you have any idea at the time that Soul Train was going to be the national success that it is now?
Jermaine: No I had no idea. I didn't know at all that it was going to turn out being the way it is now. Umm, but it's good now because it's in color and it got to be national. It was a big thing going to Los Angeles and being on the national TV show (you know) Soul Train, and having my mom ask me for
money and all that. It was great.
Donnie: How big was Don Cornelius' afro then?
Jermaine: It was huge.
Donnie: I'm sure it was.
Jermaine: It was like that.
Donnie: So when you went on Soul Train, was it just out of love for dancing or were you actually trying to be discovered?
Jermaine: No, it was definitely just love and having fun with your friends.
Donnie: Uh huh
Jermaine: You know I got to be sort of popular in high school from doing it, which made the girls slip me notes faster and all that, so it was cool. It was
great.
Donnie: So you moved out to L.A. not long after Soul Train moved out there from what I understand. Was it for that reason or were you going out there to dance on the show some more?
Jermaine: Yeah it was definitely to go out there to dance on the show and to also get with Jeffrey and Jody to form a group to represent Soul Train.
Donnie: So wait a minute, Were Jody and Jeffrey from Chicago as well?
Jermaine: Well Jody is from Chicago.
Donnie: Oh Okay
Jermaine: I didn't actually meet them until I got to Los Angeles and that's where we got together and talked about everything and formed a group.
Donnie: What group?
Jermaine: It was called The Soul Train Whack Dancers.
Donnie: Oh really?
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: So this was just for dancing on Soul Train?
Jermaine: Yeah. Well we traveled about. We went to Canada, a couple of places, Kansas City and just everywhere in America and it was good at the
time.
Donnie: Who was the best dancer in the group?
Jermaine: Me!!! No I'm just kidding. Everyone had their own style.
Donnie: Yeah?
Jermaine: Everyone had their own thing that they did. Their little special moves or whatever. We were coupled off. I had my dance partner and Jeffrey
and Jody had their little dance thing happening and we did pretty good.
Donnie: You guys are doing a lot better now. I mean I would assume at that time you had no idea that you would be making hit records, and Jody Watley.......
Jermaine: Whew
Donnie: That had to be mind blowing for you to sit there and and watch her accept a grammy two weeks ago.
Jermaine: I loved every bit of it. I'm so proud of her as well and man it couldn't have happened to a better person. She's my buddy.
Donnie: Yeah, well you guys hang out a lot don't you?
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: She worked with you on this new album?
Jermaine: Definitely, yup.
Donnie: As a co-writer on, what, five cuts on it?
Jermaine: Right, and me, her and Andre Cymone co-wrote a lot of things as well.
Donnie: That's great. So Andre co-writes and he produced the stuff for you?
Jermaine: Right
Donnie: Did he produce the entire album for you?
Jermaine: No he just produced the tunes that we worked on and the other tunes were produced by Jerry Knight and Aaron Zigman.
Donnie: How do you guys go about writing the songs? Do you actually sit down in the studio with a piano or do you sit down with just a pen and paper?
How does it work for you?
Jermaine: Uh, First of all we try to get an idea going with what we want the song to be about. Then usually since Andre's really good at it, the music side of things and lyrically, we usually get a tape of music from him and then start writing the lyrics. After that, we try to come up with something different and something catchy...a good hook.
Donnie: Who generally comes up with the initial concept of it?
Jermaine: Me! No I'm just kidding. It all depends on the initial idea first and then we try to write around that.
Donnie: The big hit you had a year ago, "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" A lot of people are saying it was the first pop safe sex song.
Jermaine: Yeah wouldn't you say so?

Donnie: Yeah I would have to say so. Did you write that?
Jermaine: No, I didn't write that. Narada Michael Walden and Preston Glass wrote that.
Donnie: Oh Okay.
Jermaine: I think it made a lot of peoples' minds open up a little bit. We didn't only want to just talk about clothes, we wanted to extend that. We wanted to use the song as a theme to be able to say you don't have to do all the negative things that society forces on you.
Donnie: Uh Huh
Jermaine: You don't have to drink and drive. You don't have to take drugs early. The girls don't have to get pregnant early. So the clothes bit of it was to
get people's attention, which it did and I'm glad it was a positive message.
Donnie: Yeah it was. What about on your new album, do you have any messages on it?
Jermaine: Yeah it's loaded with messages on it. We have a song called "Don't Talk Dirty To Me", which we wanted to sort of keep that same feel as "We Don't
Have to Take Our Clothes off", but to say, don't talk dirty as saying, you know
how young people today have foul mouths,(to say don't talk dirty to me), to have people singing it, I think it's gonna really help people out there.
Donnie: Is it true that there's a cut on here called - You Don't Have to Take Your Clothes off, part 2, But Would Be Preferred?
Jermaine: Nooo
Donnie: Just Kidding.
Jermaine: There is a song called "Don't Have Sex With Your Ex".
Donnie: "Don't Have Sex With Your Ex"?
Jermaine: Yeah, which a lot of people usually go back even though they're with someone else today, they usally kind of slip and see their ex, and the ex
usually hits them up for money or whatever and you have a terrible time trying to break it off. It's kind of a monogomy kind of song, trying to keep that same message, but stay with who you're with and don't have sex with your ex!!!
Donnie: Don't look back.
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: Your video, Say It Again, Did you have any input creatively?
Jermaine: Just about all the input.
Donnie: Really?
Jermaine: Yeah, (what I did) I wanted something graphically long stretched, where as the We don't Have to video graphics were sort of short stretched. I
wanted something long screened, wide and something colorful because there are so many black and white videos out nowadays and I got kindda
sick of that. It has loads of dancing, it's just a fun video. (Virtually) I wanted to of course change clothes a couple of times to show off the wardrobe, part of Jermaine Stewart ora.
Donnie: Yeah you like doing that, don't you?
Jermaine: Yeah, why not? You look good in the outfit by the way.
Donnie: Oh, thank you.
Jermaine: You're jamming
Donnie: You told me the designer on this. Now this is not something you just go pick up at the corner store. I mean you just don't buy this anywhere.
Jermaine: No, No way. That's a Jean Paul Gaultier original.
Donnie: Well I don't know the name but it sounds rich.
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: Now you say this thing cost how much?
Jermaine: It's listed at $2,000.
Donnie: At $2,000. Good grief. Now I understand why you're not leaving it with me.
Jermaine: But of course I get discounts.
Donnie: You said he only makes like four of them and the others are owned by?....
Jermaine: I know Larry Blackman, Cher has one and some actor guy and myself.
Donnie: Is that right?
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: Wow, that's incredible. I love it man. I think this is real hot and this is the outfit you wore in the "Say It Again" video.
Jermaine: Right
Donnie: Now you're talking about you wanted something long. You sound like a director. Did you have any experience in film or direction or anything like that?
Jermaine: No, not at all. I'm really trying to get off into that. I really want to put my views across to a director when I work with one. I know what I want to see as well as they know what they want to see and they have their ideas and we really can get together and caliberate on ideas. So I think eventually I probably may be that. Maybe one day I'll do a video for you.
Donnie: You'll have to find a ghost singer for me though. I would love to do it. What are your inspirations? Is there anything that you're interested in outside the music field?
Jermaine: Yes, well I've had a couple of offers to do some movies.
Donnie: Oh really?
Jermaine: Yeah, some feature films this year. I'm going over the scripts now. I really can't say right now, on the air, but definitely a movie this year.
Donnie: Great. Is that something you always wanted to do, or is it something
you're kind of forced into now because people are asking?
Jermaine: Both
Donnie: Really?
Jermaine: Yeah, I just got with this new agency and everthing and I'm really happy about that and I've just been offered a couple of movie bits and it's
something I always wanted to do in the back of my head, so I know I'm gonna go for it, why not you know I'm young.
Donnie: How young are you?
Jermaine: Real young.
Donnie: How young are you?
Jermaine: I'm young.
Donnie: No age, huh?
Jermaine: No age, no age you know, but young at heart and everything.
Donnie: You talk about the input or control you have into your music videos, but it's the same for anything with you, that's involved in you, the album cover design.
Jermaine: Right
Donnie: Whatever photographs you release that kind of thing.
Jermaine: Right, because I think and I feel that an artist should put their input into what's going to be out in the streets you have to realize that the video
and albums are gonna be around for the rest of my life and I don't want people picking up things or looking at videos and saying gosh why did he do
that, that's horrible. Even though you can't please everybody all the time at least try to please not only yourself but the majority of people.
Donnie: Uh Huh
Jermaine: So on this album I had a lot of hand in doing the artwork, choosing the pictures even down to the colors and down to my special things. Where as a lot of artist don't have that say so, it's good to have input.
Donnie: I understand that you put together a band; That you hand picked this band called The Party...   (Michael Licata, Aaron McClain, Orlando Sims, Sam Menkemeller, Chris Guerzo, Thomas Hatcher, Robin Lyle)
Jermaine: Jermaine Stewart and The Party, watch out
Donnie: Oh really?
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: Are you guys going to tour?
Jermaine: Yeah, I think the first couple of dates are the last week in May (and we'll be coming to your city)...
Donnie: Alright
Jermaine: ...Soon
Donnie: Is "We Don't Have To take Our Clothes off" your most popular song to date?
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: What's the name of that song playing?
Jermaine: It's called "Dress It Up In My Style".
Donnie: "Dress It Up In My Style" is that one of the ones you co-wrote with Jody and Andre Cymone?
Jermaine: Right, It's bad.
Donnie: Yeah
Jermaine: The album is bad. It's the best album I've ever done.
Donnie: Really because I know I've never seen you this excited before.
Jermaine: Yeah, I'm really excited about this because I had a lot of input on it and I finally got a chance to work with Jody and Andre Cymone so the
album's really kicking.
Donnie: You didn't have as much input in your last album?
Jermaine: Well I had input on it too but I usually just let the producers get on with what they do best. On this album I really sat in on a lot of the production side of things, even down to the writing and as I previously stated, the artwork.
Donnie: Why did you change your mind and decide to do it that way this time?
Jermaine: Well because this is the third album from Jermaine Stewart and I really wanted people to know that I'm here and I'm gonna be here and I'm not a one hit wonder. I want people to say it again, you know, over and over again.
Donnie: Were you displeased at some of the past things you did when you didn't have input with the producer?
Jermaine: Well, I wasn't displeased but I felt like I could've put more into it. I did my best as far as vocals where as I think it's definitely a progression
vocally on this album and it shows. I feel it, and if I feel it than I know everyone
else will fell it, so I can feel good about it.
Donnie: You got to feel it first!
Jermaine: That's right. If I don't feel it I can't fake it.
Donnie: How do you progress vocally? Is it through lessons or practice? What do you do? Why are you a better singer now than you were a year ago?
Jermaine: Well because (for me) like on the We Don't Have to single, I was doing a lot of track dates and by doing that and by going around and doing
that for around three years almost, really strengtened my voice. I think a lot
had to do with self esteem as well. Now I'm sure, and I feel great about what I'm doing, not that I didn't before, I just really wasn't sure about it, but now I'm
ready to kick some butt.
Donnie: Why wasn't you sure? Did it have anything to do with the fact that
some people looked at it as here's a Soul Train dancer turning singer?
Jermaine: Maybe that had something to do with it. I think that when other
people around you feel great about what you're doing that helps you a lot as an artist. It helps you feel great about yourself and it steams you up. When you have people around you that believe in you and they tell you this, like fans,
everyone that I've been talking to saying man we love your music, that helps
you alot. That helps you build yourself so that's how it helped me in the studio and also working with good producers.
Donnie: Working with Jody Watley has that changed any now that she's become... well actually I'll assume you were in the studio working with her
while her project was happening so big, while she was going platinum.
Jermaine: Yeah I still can't believe this. I'm really happy for her. When we were writing the material for the "Say It Again" album her album hadn't even came out yet, I don't think. I think "Looking For A New Love" had just been released. So back then we had no idea that it was going to do what it did. Maybe she had an idea but I didn't. I was just working along with my buddy writing and
stuff, so i'm proud to have her on this album.
Donnie: Well you did a song for her. You warned the world a year ago about Jody.
Jermaine: I sure did. I gave the world fair warning.
Donnie: The song "Jody" was about Jody Watley, right?
Jermaine: Right
Donnie: Everyone wants a piece of Jody.
Jermaine: That's right.
Donnie: What did you mean then?
Jermaine: I meant, to clarify everthing, I meant that every record company executive was really after her after she got released from the record
company.
Donnie: Ohhhh!!!
Jermaine: So everybody wanted to grab her and have a piece of Jody Watley. MCA were the lucky people.
Donnie: Yeah, they want a piece of her now more so than they did then.
Jermaine: Right
Donnie: I mean after platinum success, she's on fire!
Jermaine: Yeah
Donnie: Do you enjoy watching you old videos?
Jermaine: Uh...NO
Donnie: Why?
Jermaine: Well because, gosh they're old now. I mean it's good to watch them to see what you did wrong because me personally, I know a couple of things I did wrong in the video, so when I get to that part it annoys me and I go like, oh God.
Donnie: Like what? In this particular video (Jody) what did you do wrong?
Jermaine: Well this one part I sort of like slipped and fell after a spin but they cut it out, which you didn't see me fall, but I know. I'm like, oh God this is the part that I fell, I kind of slipped, you know but hey I'm only human.
Donnie: Yeah. Who's out there right now that you admire a lot? Who do you think is bad on the music scene?
Jermaine: Who's bad..uummmm
Donnie: Sounds like a Michael Jackson question.
Jermaine: Who's bad, yeah
Donnie: Who's bad?
Jermaine: Right, I think Prince is bad.
Donnie: Yeah?
Jermaine: Yeah, I admire him. I like his music and everything.
Donnie: Yeah
Jermaine: It's a couple of other people that are out, different groups, you know.
Donnie: Speaking of Prince, in your video "We Don't HaveTo Take Our Clothes
Off" that was Kat in the horn section, right?
Jermaine: Right, that was Kat.
Donnie: So you discovered Kat?
Jermaine: I discovered Kat
Donnie: Not Prince, not Little Richard.
Jermaine: That's right, me (yeah) She's a good friend.
Donnie: Yeah. Hey man much success to you. When is the album coming out?
Jermaine: The album will be out the last week of this month.
Donnie: Oh great, I can't wait to hear it. Just to hear you talk about it. The cut I want to hear is "Get Lucky". I understand that's stomping.
Jermaine: Oh that's bad man. We just finished doing the video for it. I think a lot of people will be listening to "Get Lucky".
Donnie: Okay man, best of luck.
Jermaine: Okay, thank you.
Donnie: Come back and see us, bring me another change of clothes.
Jermaine: I will
Donnie: I'll wear this one until you come back.
Jermaine: Oh God
Donnie: Well you're going to take it now, right?
Jermaine: Yeah, I'm going to take it. You can wear it for now.
Donnie: Man you know you're gonna leave a ring around my head.
Jermaine: Nooo
Donnie: I can't just shake my hair back into style and postion.
Jermaine: You'll be okay Donnie.
Donnie: I meant to show you Jermaine's album cover. I like it a lot. It's a good
album I am told. I'll let you know for sure at the end of the month. I want to thank Jermaine for stopping by this week, it's always a pleasure to talk to him.

God Bless You, we'll see you tomorrow.