Legacy – An Xperience Interview

Legacy – An Xperience Interview – by Rob Smittix.

RRX: If I’m not mistaken, the newest edition to the group would be Martin.

MP: Yep.

RRX: What does it feel like being the new addition? Did these guys welcome you in or did they haze you?

MP: I don’t think there was any kind of hazing. They’re literally my type of crowd of dudes, you know? We all grew up on the traditional, even gospel, you know what I mean? A lot of the foundation comes from the music, and I speak the language of music quite well. When I came in, initially, they wanted me to play the bass but then they heard me sing. I’m a person that fills the spaces anytime a band asks me what I do. I’m just happy to be here. That’s like my story and I’m sticking to it.

DL: He’s a musician who plays keyboard, bass, guitar and sings. Basically, he’ll do anything that the group needs at the time.

RRX: You’ve gotta love that.

DL: It’s a great thing for us.

RRX: Martin is multi-talented, God bless him for that. As far as management goes, Rod, you hold that side of things down.

RD: I wouldn’t necessarily call it management. Going back 12-15 years ago, somewhere around there, I used to be in a rap group, and I’d throw, promote, and coordinate parties. Naturally, I took some time off from it because that lane was getting kind of played out, and venues were drying up. I took a little time off, although I knew I’d get back into it if it was the right feel with the right group. Ironically, two years ago at Legacy’s anniversary party, I’m like, “Yo, I’m going to make the pitch to Decky right now!” I’m like, listen, I had a little rap group back in the day, and we did good. We opened up for Rakim, Joe Budden, Slaughterhouse, Slim from 112, Trina …

RRX: Yeah, you had me at Rakim!

MP: Right?

RD: I already got the background with the rapping part, so I broke it down like … let me come in because I still have all my connections as far as DJs and venues. Decky was like come in, and let’s put a little something together. We’ve been rocking and rolling ever since. It’s easier to get in the R&B lane than it is with hip-hop, way easier. I can just make a phone call or send out an email, and once they look it up, they’re like, okay, that’s what they do!

RRX: Well good, that really added into the formula of what the group was looking for. And … if there is a song that has some rap on it, you’re the rapper in the group.

RD: I’m considered like the Ronnie DeVoe, if we were New Edition.

RRX: That’s exactly where I was going with that. So if you guys are doing a BBD song, you’re gonna come in like … “Yo, Slick, Blow!”

(All Laugh)

RRX: Ceaz, what does Legacy mean to you, man?

CS: I’ve been on board for nine years but Decky and I knew each other for a very long time with both a church background and musical background.

Before I was in the group, I was doing solo stuff. I had a studio at Westgate Plaza in Albany. I have about four different solo albums. I was doing the solo scene for maybe six, or seven years before I felt like it was time for me to start branching out and getting out to a bigger audience. But I did open up for Cash Money/Ruff Ryders when I was in high school. I also have a song with Mia X from No Limit. I even opened up for Mario when Sneaky Pete’s was a thing.

RRX: Oh yeah, I tried to keep my wife out of that place. I said, I know you’re going out with the girls and that’s cool …

CS: But you said, wait a minute!

(All Laugh)

CS: Yeah, back then that was the place to go. Everybody from all surrounding areas of the Tri-State was going there, so it was big when I did that. Getting into Legacy just meshed everything together. A lot of people in this area were looking for something to do and we brought that!

RRX: With the types of songs that you guys cover … everybody loves that kind of music, it’s got mass appeal. Everyone enjoys the vibes of a good R&B group.

RD: And it’s nostalgic, It brings you back to a time.

DL: There’s not a genre of music that we’re not doing. So we really can go into almost any establishment. We’re doing the Top 100s and all of that, we’re doing the feel-good music, we’re doing the Temptations and the Four Tops or whoever they want to hear. We can do Boys II Men, Jodeci, or Shai, and then we can do Bruno Mars and all of those guys, too. We even do some Stevie Ray Vaughan as well. So people may not understand that we could go into any market and be able to adjust to any genre of music.

MP: Versatility.

CS: We’re just here to cater to everybody’s needs.

RD: And that’s what kind of separates us. I mean, no disrespect to the other groups out there, but their set … is their set.

They don’t care if it’s a Sweet Sixteen or an 85th birthday party, that set is set. Where for us, we’ll go somewhere and literally gauge the crowd.

CS: Based on the vibrations, you got to read the room.

RRX: I think a lot of bands just don’t have it in their arsenal to be able to do that. But if you see my Mom in the crowd, you’ve got to throw in that Motown.

RD: But your Mom and her friends know those Boys II Men and early ’90s records too, so we’ll mix them right in there, then we’ll go right back to the Motown.

RRX: That’s the way to go! It looks like Legacy is booking up in 2025 already.

DL: It feels like we booked all year though.

RRX: I know from experience that gigging takes up a lot of time and energy and we’re not 21 anymore, we’ve got families. How do you do it?

DL: I mean, it takes a toll on you sometimes. I love my family, and they know I love my music. My grandkids and my kids … they all understand. The love is the love, and the music is the foundation of all of that. There’s a connection, you know what I mean? And it’s connected to the brotherhood. We’re not just friends; we’re all brothers, and we’ll be there for each other no matter what. People never expect a bunch of guys our age to be close, and that’s why the group has substance and has been around for nine years. That’s what it’s all about.

Legacy Upcoming Events:

4/12: The Glove Theater, Gloversville, NY

5/24: Decky Lawson Bday& Sneaker Ball

 Ophelia’s on Broadway, Albany, NY

6/27: Troy Night Out/Live at the Weathered Wood, Troy, NY

6/28:  Live at Nanola, Malta, NY

8/30: Rivers Casino & Resort, Schenectady, NY

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