Meet ed roth | solo artist/session keyboard player/music director/music producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with ed roth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi ed, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
A big decision for me was making a point of trying to always play music that I feel, love playing, and allows me to be featured with what I do well. I always try to do gigs where what I do musically really contributes. There are a lot of great players out there, but at a certain level, we all have something special to offer that just each person does, their musical signature, or musical dna. Trying to do gigs that rely on that thing you contribute, that is different, and features you- that is always a goal for me. Anytime you can play music you enjoy that shows off what you do, you should do it.
When you are starting out, you don’t have the luxury to make those choices, but as your music career grows, sometimes you can choose to play music that you love and is special to you, even though it might pay less money than some music that feels more from the wallet than the heart. An example of that is many years ago, I did a summer tour playing instrumental music with Ronnie Montrose that I chose over a lucrative pop gig. Although the traveling was a bit rustic, and let’s just say the venues varied a good bit, I truly loved playing the music, was featured doing my thing, and was able to grow quite a bit as a player.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The saying is that actors get paid to be someone else, and musicians get paid to be themselves. I love to be myself, so I guess I am in the right business. I play music because I love it, and when I am playing life makes sense. I didn’t have a plan or even a clue how to make a living at it, I just came to Cali with all I had ($1000, a jalopy of a car I paid $175 for, and everything I owned in it) and knew just 2 people here. A whole lot of work, lucky timing and other blessings brought me to where I am today.

There are so many great musicians and producers and writers out there, some are master chameleons, they can imitate any style and even mimic some specific players. Being able to do that almost guarantees a lot of work.
For better or for worse, I’ve never really been that guy, I never had the desire or discipline to transcribe solos or different passages. If it’s part of the gig, you have to pick up some solos, and of course some parts that are signature to the song, but the joy for me has always been creating memorable parts, and when soloing on a recording, trying to tell a story with that solo, almost a song within a song.
I take pride in coming up with melodies and parts that are memorable, and not formula. I am proud people say they can recognize my playing right away, and I am also proud of having my own voice when I play. As you listen to my music, I hope it touches and reaches you. It all comes from my heart.

Obviously music is not an easy business. I am self taught, so no music school. Name music schools are a giant job placement service, the networking with alumni, and some schools even have a big job placement center. Unfortunately, I’m a pretty direct guy, and not a great schmoozer, also not a big fan of social media, so work has been basically word of mouth, and people seeing me on a particular gig or session. I’ve also been fortunate to play in radio/tv and other sort of house bands where I have backed different artists, and a lot of the live work I have gotten has been from artists who hired me after I backed them in some sort of house band situation.

Again, music is not the easiest career to get going, and sustain. I feel blessed and fortunate to have had the career I have had. That said, I scuffled plenty along the way. I survived 3 riots, I’ve been in Mexican jail, and certainly lived rough when I first got to LA, including some nights sleeping in my car. And when I was getting started, I had to do all kinds of gigs I didn’t want to, but some of the players I met along the way were like me, people that truly loved to play music. Yes playing music takes discipline, but I have plenty of respect for many other occupations, such as being a nurse, or policeman, or teacher, or naturalist, or construction worker, or doctor, or scientist, so many occupations have their challenges and hardships.

I am proud being a part of some great charities, the Medlock Krieger, the Asian Hall of Fame, and Safety Harbor Kids.
It feels great to be part of something positive.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A trip to LA would have to include the Getty Center, everything is special there from the art to the tram ride up, the garden and the views. Another must is the Museum of Jurassic Technology, a quirky and unusual spot with exhibits you won’t see in any other museum. All kinds of oddities with a tea room upstairs make for a great couple of hours. The beach is another place for spending some time-I prefer less crowded spots, and going on a weekday. You can’t go wrong going to Zuma beach stopping on the way at Point Dume to check out the view. And for views, a drive along Mulholland between the 405 and Cahuenga Blvd can’t be beat. Griffith park has some interesting spots, especially where the old LA zoo was located. For food, I like down home food before atmosphere, so be warned some of the spots I like can be rustic…
Mexican food in the valley is everywhere, I like Casitas Tacos Al Carbon, a fast food joint in Burbank where the carne asada truly tastes like Mexico, or La Cabanita for Mole. For Kebabs, either Kabob Way in Glendale, (again fast food) of Raffis also in Glendale are wonderful. LA has some of the best Thai food outside of Thailand, I like Hoy-Ka Noodles or Sanamluang, both in Hollywood. Pho 999 in Van Nuys at Sepulveda and Victory is the best down home Pho you will find anywhere.
For music, go to the Baked Potato, it’s where musicians go to see other musicians. There is a reason it’s been there over 50 years. I like the vibe in the Tonga Hut in Noho, rustic, but a nice hang.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My thanks and gratitude go to all the great musicians and artists that purely love playing music,and that play each show and session like it is the last time they will play. And thanks especially to those musicians and artists who want to keep growing, learning, expanding what they do and play and write, and continually try to do things differently, without following a formula. Thanks to musicians who are open to different styles and genres, and aren’t afraid to incorporate different styles and genres. (genres are a marketing label by the way, to help sales). I have been blessed and fortunate to have worked with some real deal artists/musicians/producers who really put their spirit into their music and were inspiring. Big thanks to them, they include-Robby Krieger, Danny Seraphine, Ronnie Montrose, George and Louis Johnson, Chad Smith, Ryan Hewitt, Bruce Sugar, Phil Chen, Bill Champlin, Myron Dove, Tony Lindsay, Clarence McDonald, Keith Emerson, Joe Walsh, Tony Grant, Shuggie Otis, Coolio, Sophie B Hawkins, Jim Huff, Arun Shenoy, Genya Ishii, Roy Z, Rob Halford, Kenny Aronoff, Annie Lennox, Linda Taylor, Rock Deadrick, John Haynes, Marc Bonilla, Leo Costa and Glen Sobel are just some of them. There are plenty of household names there along with players and producers that are just known in the music industry.

Instagram: @officialedroth

Facebook: @officialedroth

Image Credits
Neil Zloszower, Lens of Perception, Amanda Dickson, Naoju Nakamura and Jill Jarret