Local Artist Getting International Air-TimeBy Mary Ann O'Toole Holley
His biggest moments on a stage justmight have been when he opened for LouRawls at a three-night gig at the CervantesConvention Center years ago, or when hewon a local talent show playing "A Taste ofHoney" with the Johnny Polzin Orchestraon the old SS Admiral. But now, he finds himself on theinternational airplay circuit minglinghis musical byline with the likes of TimMcGraw, Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers.That posture came from a cushy chair athis home computer by the gusto of a manwho knows the art of self promotion. "When you're running with headliners,it's only a matter of time," said Meinertof St. Charles, who recently released twoheartfelt country tunes, "Darling'" and"Peaceful Someday"- tunes producedunder his own label that have now foundthemselves streaming on radio waves asfar as Denmark, the United Kingdom,Australia and more. "How does a recording artist fromSt. Charles County get his music heardaround the world?" Meinert rhetoricallyasks. "Good feedback motivates you andkeeps you moving forward." "Darling," his first song, released in 2005,is written for the everyday person whodoesn't know how to tell their significantother how much they love them, Meinertsaid. "Peaceful Someday," his secondsong, released just a few months ago, wasinspired by what Meinert sees on the newsevery day. "It wasn't written just for Americantroops, but for all the troops," Meinertsaid. "It was written for the worldwideevents I see, the scariness of not knowingwhere we are going." Meinert says "Peaceful Someday" hasthree or four different messages. Though hewrote it with the troops in mind, it holdsa message that the "peaceful someday" somany of us are seeking in the world thesedays will somehow come, he said. "It's about a soldier reflecting back,saying and praying - that only the Lordknows. It gives tribute to the Lord. Whenthe chips are down, before it's all saidand done, we ask the Lord for a peacefulsomeday." A reviewer for Indie-Music.com called"Peaceful Someday" a song that relatesto the fabric of our time. "The musicalarrangement is stellar, but it is truly thevocal sound that makes the track shine. Fewmen can hit those low notes in a way thatsounds full and strong, but Meinert's voicewas made for that range - all cowboy,"reviewer Catherine Tully said. Meinert laughs at the term "all cowboy,"but appreciates the praise nonetheless.What's more important to him is thenotice he has received from folks he neverdreamed heard of him. Meinert regularly receives reportsfrom ASCAP (the American Society ofComposers, Authors and Publishers),a watchdog for the music industry thattracks royalties. Reports show him in thesame lineup as Keith Urban and othernoted musicians, and he gets royalties forairplay. But what makes him the happiest isjust that his music is out there and peopleare noticing him. One day he went out to the mailboxand there was a letter marked "Airmail"from No. 10 Downing Street - a letterfrom British Prime Minister Tony Blaircomplimenting him on his song. Another day there was a letter with areturn address marked "51 Music Square,Nashville." Inside was a note card simplyengraved, "Crystal." It was a handwrittennote from Crystal Gayle saying she liked hisfirst CD, "Darling." Later, another card arrived fromthe Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis'Most Reverend Raymond Leo Burke,Archbishop of St. Louis, praising his"Peaceful Someday" tune. "It's really exciting every day to seewhere my music ends up," Meinert said."But whether it's being listened to byfamilies of men in the troops, families wholost a man in the troops - whatever. Aslong as the song brings some good feelingto their hearts, and it's a matter that theyfind feelings in my music and my words.I'm looking past politicians at the soldierover there standing in the streets. That'swhy I felt so good hearing from TonyBlair - that he liked the song. I'm not apolitician, but I can express my feelings inmy music." A professional musician and entertainerwith two hot tunes under his belt, Meinertsays he began his road to internationalairtime at age 5, chipping pieces of marbleoff his parents' coffee table, keeping timewith Herb Alpert. Now, in addition to selling andsampling his music on his Internet site,www.thommeinert.com, he works with acompany that distributes press releases ofhis work to 100,000 people worldwide. "Usually a radio station will email andrequest a copy for review," Meinert said."But if this was the 70s, without theInternet, how would I have gotten mymusic overseas. The Internet is a tool.I'm amazed all the time where my musicis being played. What's neat is that itcontinues to grow." Meinert played drums all of his life.As a teenager, he played weddings andcorporate events, and later went on to learnthe acoustic guitar and harmonica. Hestudied all facets of drumming for 19 yearsand performed at drum clinics throughoutSt. Louis, teaching drums to children andadults. Overall, music has always been his dayjob, he said. "Everybody has their own signaturesong," Meinert said. "But I am absolutelynot inspired by anyone. There is no oneI emulate or simulate. You think of lifein general, you work out the chord, thearrangements and go into the studio. Iwas called from a label in Nashville, butsometimes, labels aren't the way to go.I've been in this business long enough and know I don't want anyone telling me where, when and how to sing." |
Thom Meinert may be a hometown boy,but when it comes to his music, he is ascountry as sawmill gravy and moonshinepie - all the way down to his JohnnyCash-style baritone voice and a musicalendorsement by Country Western croonerCrystal Gayle.
