CeeLo Green (Photo courtesy of Primary Wave / LA County Fair)
Atlanta singer Cee-Lo Green started his career in the early '90s with the hip-hop group Goodie Mob. He teamed up with Danger Mouse to release Gnarls Barkley's 2006 debut album, St. Martin. “Elsewhere” and “Crazy” were worldwide top ten hits.
Four years later, Green's third solo release, The Lady Killer, spawned the multi-platinum #2 pop hit, F—U, and was also released as a clean radio edit, Forget You. Ta.
Since then, he has won five Grammy Awards, appeared as a coach on NBC's “The Voice,” performed with Madonna at the 2012 Super Bowl, and performed Carl Douglas' “Kung Fu Fighting” in “Kung Fu Fighting.” It was covered on the soundtrack of “Panda'' and he also performed the voice role. A character from the Disney+ animated series “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.”
Green's multiple guest appearances/collaborations include work with Smokey Robinson, Santana, Rod Stewart, TLC, Bruno Mars, Eminem, Outkast, the Pussycat Dolls, and more.
We met him in a phone interview from Las Vegas. The interview has been edited for clarity.
Q: What can fans look forward to at the Pomona show?
A: We always try to leave a little bit of room for improvisation. We'll do all your favorites and a few extra surprises here and there to keep it interesting. I don't think any two cities, audiences or shows should be exactly the same.
Q: When you play a fair gig, do you ever take time to participate in the festivities? Do you eat fried food or sneak a ride on a Ferris wheel?
A: I don't have fried Oreos. He watches himself. I think I'll ride a bumper car and have some fun.
Q: “Serious,” one of your recent singles as The Band Pink with Jack Splash, is an infectious jam reminiscent of Morris Day and the Time, as well as songs by Zapp and Prince. is also mixed. Did it have an impact?
A: Those are my all-time favorites. A little bit of nostalgia and a nod was all I could do to say thank you to the artists. May you rest in peace. I feel like I'm taking on their spirit and I'm here to be a vessel for it all. I'm old enough to do it and I appreciate it.
Q: You have had an eclectic musical career. Does branching out into rock, pop, and country from time to time help keep everything fresh artistically?
A: Yes, it expands the scope. You can see from one end of the spectrum to the other. It's definitely about walking the line or being pulled in the direction you're being pulled.
Art is really about obedience, having an inclination towards your inner dialogue and how you decide what you feel needs to be done. The object is actually alive and you just received the signal.
Q: Your incredible 2020 solo album, CeeLo Green is Thomas Calloway (the artist's real name), was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and ventured into old-school R&B territory. How did fans react to this cold atmosphere?
A: I get disappointed sometimes because I don't know if I can surprise people anymore. I don't like that feeling. I'm always on the cutting edge, trying to find new and innovative ways to connect and contribute.
And selfishly, at some point, I want to be in charge of probably one of the most layered, textured, diverse careers and catalogs anyone has ever seen. That's the driving point for me.
Q: Gnarls Barkley's new album will be released this year. Can you give me any hint about that?
A: We used to be very reserved when talking about Gnarls, but we're taking a new approach. I'm overstating it, but this may be the sonic change in culture we've all been waiting for. I can feel the vibrations.Thank you for contributing to the supernatural act