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YOUNGSTOWN LET IT ROLL AT LAST!

by Sarah Lounges

     This... summer I had the good fortune to hang out and interview the
wonderful new vocal group, Youngstown, who had just signed to Hollywood
Records. Fresh from doing the theme song to the film, "Inspector Gadget",
the boys had just completed recording their debut album, Let's Roll .
    Although Let's Roll was still 2 months away from release, I was sent an
advance CD prior to our chat on their tour bus at the World Music Theatre,
just before a special concert sponsored by Disney (who own Hollywood Records).
    It was a sweltering hot late July day and although it was great to be
greeted with hand shakes by Dallas, DC and Sammy as I climbed on the
air-conditioned bus - I was most grateful for the cold Pepsi that Sammy
tossed to me.
   "We've been together three and a half years," explained Dallas. "All of
us were doing separate things and through our equal love for music we just
ran into each other in Youngstown, Ohio (hence the name) and a vibe started."
    I learned they had started out as a quintet. Of why they scaled down to a
trio, Dallas said - "The three of us got along so well that we didn't want
to other personalities that might cause conflict between us. The only
downside to it, is that the harmonies are a little bit weaker as a trio, so
we all have to work a little bit harder."
   Sammy grew up in a musical family. "We'd sing everywhere we went... home,
church... a lot of church functions. That's where I started in music." He
felt destined to follow music. "I've always wanted to do music. I grew up
with music and it just became so natural to me."
     Although they compose, some of the songs on the album are from outside
writers. "We wrote five (songs) and produced three". One song written by
them is "Jamie-Lee", a song Dallas wrote for his mother. "Basically, I moved
away from my mother in 1995. I moved to Ohio and started to really notice
the importance family," he explained. "I basically wanted to write something
for my mom to let her know that no matter where I go, no matter how far away,
I'm always gonna be her Jamie-Lee. Everybody else in the world will call me
Dallas because that's what everybody calls me, but she's always gonna call
me Jamie-Lee."
    They told me that "Pedal To The Steel", "Prince You Charmed", and
"Remember", are some of their personal favorites from the album. All of them
are on Let's Roll which came out Sept. 14th. (See my review on page 24).
    Youngstown is a group of three really talented guys who are not worried
about being overshadowed by all the other young male vocal acts. As Dallas
says, "Hey, there's room at the top for anybody for anyone who's willing to
work hard enough to get it."
    The best piece of advice they could give to people who want a career in
music was to stay in school and learn as much as you can and to always
believe in yourself. "People will always tell you that if you're in a small
city that you can't make it. That's not true. If you believe in something,
truly in your heart, you can do anything that you want to do. You've just
gotta stick to it and you've gotta be true to it," said Dallas. "If you're
not true to it and you're just trying to put up a front like - 'Ok, this is
what I wanna do with my life' - but it's not really what you want to do,
then you're not gonna make it."
    In their spare time the guys are all about having fun. They play
instruments, play games, roller blade, and of course try to catch up on
sleep. "We pretty much just relax," said DC.
    None of the guys have girlfriends right now. "We're single and always
looking," laughed Dallas. If any girl out there thinks they have a chance
with them, Youngstown requires certain qualities in the girls they date. "
Loyalty, honesty, and they gotta have a sense of humor," said Sammy. "And
they've gotta love to get spoiled." Hello! Uhhh..guys...what girl doesn't
love to be spoiled?
    When asked if they preferred doing ballads or fast numbers better, "Both,"
responded DC. "We love doing ballads, but we love to shake it up too."
Sammy and Dallas agreed. "We just love to sing," added Sammy. "Period."
    As a new writer and beginning journalist, Youngstown was my first
celebrity interview and I couldn't have been assigned to a nicer group to
guys. All three were very polite, well mannered and, dare I say it, very
cute!
   Armed with loads confidence, I believe Youngstown will make it big now
that the album is in the stores. They just have to get out there and tour,
so the rest of you can discover what I already know - these guys are VERY
talented!
   They have got what it takes to be as big as the Backstreet Boys or N-Sync
and that's pretty big. If you don't already have Let's Roll, what are you
waiting for? Run out right now and get it! Once you get hooked (and you
will), remember...you read about them here first!