Q: Are there any present day recording artists you listen to now?
A:I enjoy Whitney Houston and Anita Baker a lot. On the hip-hop side of things, I also enjoy Lauryn Hill, Ice Cube and Ice-T. I also think The Whispers are dynamite. Of course, I love my contemporaries, The Dells…they’re still kicking strong, and The Spinners…these are groups that have maintained the standard.
Q: And the last three you mentioned – they’re still recording today?
A: Yes. I also like Boyz II Men…I don’t want to omit them. I like what they do. I also liked what New Edition did too…I had to stop and think you know what I mean? I had to come out of the past and more into the future.
Q: What role do you feel perfect pitch plays in harmony? Can it be taught or does it have to be there naturally?
A: Well. It is something that is necessary to singing. Listening to the records that I grew up on,[spirituals] you couldn’t help but to develop a keen ear, because the harmonies were right there, there was no obstruction, no instruments involved, just pure voices. You could hear each of the the voices distinctly, and if you focused on it you couldn’t help but develop a keen ear. Some people have a natural ear without tutoring while others need to be trained.
Q: So there is hope for some…
A: Definitely. For example, some people are natural dancers and other people have to really rehearse. This is illustrated in the example of [fellow Spaniel] James Cochran, who is the natural dancer in our group, and he put together most the choreography. While he was a natural dancer, I would have to rehearse to perform well when we hit the stage.
Q: Do the Spaniels still perform?
A: The Spaniels closed out the PBS concert special* [Doo Wop 50: Celebrating Five Decades of Street Corner Harmony] with “Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight”. I haven’t been performing with the group for awhile now, but while [James] “Pookie” Hudson, the original lead singer was there [that night], none of the other original Spaniels were there. That was a monetary situation, it wasn’t that all of the Spaniels were not available…the money situation wasn’t correct for the rest of us.
*Note: This special generated more pledge money for PBS than out of any other previous show in PBS history. The past two record holding broadcasts were “The Three Tenors” and “Les Miserables”
Q: Are you still on good terms with the other Spaniels?
A: Yes, we’re in contact pretty frequently. We haven’t really had any difficulties.
Q: Do you have any tips for anyone considering a career in the music business?
A: To be aware of the fact that it is a business and to keep that point uppermost in mind. Make sure you have complete control of your copyrights and publishing.
Editor's Note: Anyone familiar with Little Richard should know that most of the early rhythm & blues artists of the 1950s to this day have not received their rightful share of royalties from their music. Record company executives legally owned (and made a lot of money from) music that they didn’t write. The film, “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” ( Warner Brothers, 1998) illustrates this point very clearly.
Don Porter at UCSB circa February, 2000
Final Note: The UCSB Daily Nexus (as with most of the student run media at the university) had an uncanny talent for botching all stories related to African-Americans during my time there. Note the caption reads "Dan" Porter instead of "Don" Porter. Coincidentally, Don Porter has a son named Dan, who is a member of an independent R&B group called Vocalpoynt. Plus, Mr. Porter never "sang" that night, which the caption would lead you to believe.