An attitude of Gratitude: Willy Porter thankful he makes music for a living

by By Käri Knutson of Winona Daily News

Willy Porter feels lucky. Lucky to be making music, lucky to have a good family, lucky to have fans that have followed his career for almost 20 years. undefined undefined undefined undefined“I’ve been really blessed in this life,” Porter said. “I have nothing but gratitude.”

He knows it could have gone differently.

After Porter graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the late 1980s, he worked as a legal clerk for a year and a half.

“I was thinking about going to law school,” Porter said.

But then, he discovered Shermans — a cool club in Milwaukee that he starting playing at one night a week. All of a sudden, he was making more money at Shermans than he was as a legal clerk — and having a lot more fun.

Porter forgot about having a fallback career and decided to pursue music full time in 1989.

“I don’t think there are as many little moms and pops places for artists to develop anymore,” Porter said. “I feel very fortunate to have come up in a time where that existed.”

Porter plays Saturday at the Masonic Theatre in Winona as part of Theatre du Mississippi’s 2007 season. He has previously played during the inaugural season of the Great River Shakespeare Festival and has made several stops with the Holiday Train each December in Winona.

Porter, who lives in Milwaukee, describes his music as contemporary acoustic with elements of funk, rock ’n’ roll and whatever else he decides to throw in.

Since first going full time, Porter has learned a lot about the business side of music. He was signed to big label BMG in 1995 and played tours with Rickie Lee Jones, Tori Amos, Vonda Shepard and The Cranberries. He also recorded three CDs with the San Francisco-based independent label Six Degrees Records.

Now, Porter is doing what a lot of other musicians who want full control of their music are doing. He’s recording on his own label, Weasel Records.

“I think it’s the future,” Porter said. “I think the days of the huge multinational companies controlling everything are fading.”

While there are some who think he should be disappointed that he’s never had a big top 10 hit, Porter is quite content putting out music he likes and thinks his fans will like, too.

“There’s some sort of symmetry to not having had that,” Porter said. “It’s kind of nice to be a little more anonymous and play more intimate clubs.”

Having his own label means Porter can hire the musicians he wants and doesn’t have to compromise as an artist. He knows the music business has changed — and he doesn’t think that’s necessarily so bad.

“The funny thing is, for all the ‘woe is me’ you hear from big labels and artists, there are still bands that are popping up and doing really well,” Porter said. “There’s always room for great well-written songs in the lives of people.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Willy Porter

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Masonic Theatre, 255 Main St., Winona

TICKETS: $15; available at Pieces of the Past, Bluff Country Co-op, The Bookshelf, Acoustic Café and Mugby on Huff, or by calling (507) 459-8090

WEB SITES: www.willyporter.com, www.theatredumississippi.org

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