Jimmy Webb – HuffPost 9.6.13

Mike Ragogna: Jimmy, what advice do you have for the new artist or songwriter?

Jimmy Webb: Get out of the business as fast as you can. [laughs] There’s really only one answer to that question, and that is that only you can create your own road. There is no highway to stardom. There’s only a back road or a trail over the mountain. You have to find that for yourself. You can learn, you can keep an open mind and listen to others and emulate the ones that you think are the best, but ultimately, you have to develop a voice and a style of songwriting that’s all your own. Bruce Springsteen has done that, James Taylor has done that, Bob Dylan’s done that. You think of anyone whose career has ascended to epic proportions, and they’ve done that.

MR: In my opinion you certainly have, but in your own opinion, do you feel you have?

JW: Yes, I do. I made a conscientious decision to step out of the mainstream and to work on my own vocals and my own records knowing that they probably weren’t going to be big sellers a lot of the time, and yet I have been happy. I’ve spent my whole life doing what I want to do and I’ve gotten better at it. In my own way, I think I’ve earned a little respect.