Love of music triggered ‘The Demopolis Project’

Mike “Rocky” Grayson easily explained the reason he and his friends have embarked on a new venture in recording.

“We love music.”

The quartet of musicians, some of whom have known each other since playing together in high school bands, now are in their 60s, but none of them ever lost their passion for playing and composing music.

“Part of it is this business of coming together and having one objective in mind,” added guitarist Mike Rogers, “to make the best music we can make.”

Together with Keith Owings and Bobby Dunning the two began The Demopolis Project. They have recorded their own original compositions and are offering them through TDP’s Facebook page.

By putting the music on Facebook and sharing it on the cloud, “We’ll let that determine where this goes,” said Rogers.

“This is an adventure for us, obviously, but we want it to be an adventure for Demopolis,” he continued. They want it to be something the people in the city can connect with and hold on to as their own.

TDP initially was conceived about two years ago by Rogers and Grayson. Owings soon joined TDP as the bassist. He knew Rogers and Grayson from playing with them in the Demopolis Methodist Church Praise Band.

Dunning, originally from Linden, and Rogers had performed with each other years ago in a local band. Dunning has presented his compositions the last two years in The Hwy 80 Songwriters Festival.

Grayson, Rogers and Dunning, writing individually, contributed most of songs on their forthcoming album “36732.” The three rotate composition duties and have a library of some 30 songs already recorded. They will be choosing 10 or 12 to be included in their first album scheduled for release in January.

They describe their music as Electric Americana, merging folk, country, blues, reggae, R&B, rock and gospel with electric guitar, bass, keyboards and saxophone.

While the core quartet perform on every song, the composer often invites other musicians and singers to create what he feels is the best interpretation of the music.

Other members have included Amy Potter, Roger’s daughter Andi Turberville, Dale Foster, Drew Cargile and Sydney Hill.

“It takes nine of us to make this happen,” said Rogers.

Their songs are produced at the Rick Hart Sound Studio. Hart, who was a recording engineer in New Orleans for many years before moving to Marengo County, wears many hats. He also is a contributing musician, percussion arranger and producer and mixes and completes the master tapes.

“We do have some talented people,” said Rogers.

During their careers in music, the men have lived through the eras of songs being played on vinyl records, tapes and CDs. Now recordings are pulled from the internet, and that is where they call on their children and grandchildren to help them out.

Turberville not only sings on some of the recordings but serves as technical advisor. She manages to upload TDP’s songs so they can be enjoyed by listeners around the world. The group is releasing one or two songs each week off their initial album.

The original concept for the group was to be a studio band. They wouldn’t turn down a concert, but the members want it understood that they play only their own compositions, not covers of other bands.

Preparing to release an album can be a time-consuming project.

“This is a very rigorous and hectic pace that we’re recording at,” said Dunning. They record 18-24 songs each year, which means each of the three must write at least six songs a year, and the band has to find time to learn the song, rehearse it and then book studio time to record.

Whoever is next in the rotation to compose sends the basic recording to each of the members of the group with a general idea of what he envisions the song to sound like. Rogers and Dunning usually have firm ideas on the style, but Grayson admits he is a little more flexible and willing to let his fellow musicians come up with their own additions.

Dunning never writes anything down but records his songs on his phone. Grayson, on the other hand, has notebooks filled with lyrics and songs he has written.

TDP members agree they would like to see some monetary return on all the effort and expense going into their work, but their main focus is creating something for people to enjoy.

“There’s no point in writing unless someone hears it,” said Rogers.

And they are having a lot of fun while they are creating music.

Each of the composers has his own sources of inspiration for his music. Rogers had in his mind to write a son for each of his grandchildren. “Quiet Boy” was inspired by his oldest grandson, Ben.

“I think it’s a good example of the truth in the proverb ‘Still waters run deep’,” he said. “I may be just a touch biased, but I think one day he’ll be quite a man.”

Grayson wrote “I Am Here for You” after attending a funeral for a musician friend who lost a lengthy battle with cancer. He had planned a slow tempo, but Dunning’s vocal part enabled the tune to take on a more upbeat reggae feel and created a more positive, encouraging vibe.