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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's The Roundtable with me, Robert Bannon. Welcome to The Roundtable everybody.

[0:10] Robert Bannon: My name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to us on Broadway World over here on the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeartSpotify. I moved to Detroit two years ago, and I fell in love with the Aretha. The Aretha is the most beautiful, incredible place to see a show. The Detroit River is behind you, the breeze is blowing, the people there are drinking the blue drink, dancing along, singing along and having a grand old party. And our guest, Jane Eugene is going to be here with us on Sunday along with Babyface for a big old Detroit music extravaganza. Jane Eugene, welcome to the show.

[0:39] Jane Eugene: Hi, how are you, Robert? How are you?

[0:46] Robert Bannon: I am wonderful and I am so excited and honored for you to be here. Thank you for being here. I just broke my thing that holds my phone. She's literally holding us in the palm of her hand as she speaks with us right now.

[1:01] Jane Eugene: Oh, that's magical. Thank you.

[1:10] Robert Bannon: You've been singing, I mean, Loose Ends. Since I was 18, 18 years old. How did it? How did Loose Ends come about? How did it feel?

[1:17] Jane Eugene: Oh my goodness, you want me to go back down memory lane? It happened to happenstance. I went to fashion college, and one of the parties after the college, I met Steve, Steve Nickel, and he was at the Royal College of Music. And he was looking for somebody to sing, he's actually chatting up one of my girlfriends, Debbie. And I said, I want to sing for you. And he said, All right. And believe it or not, I used to go over to his house. And we used to make up songs. And eventually he met Mick Clark, who had just signed as an A&R person from being at a record store that he used to go and talk to him every time all about music. And there's another, you know, Mick Clark went to Virgin Records when it first started off, and we were their first R&B band. And it's because of Steve. It's because of Steve talking to Mick Clark. It was one of those things, you know what I'm saying? It was serendipitous.

[2:18] Jane Eugene: Serendipitous. And when you look at it... And I'd never, I'd never sung or done music before apart from singing in the bath, or singing in the kitchen. And my mum said to me, my mum used to say, your money will be in your voice, Jane. I don't know what she knew. And I just believed her. And I thought, Oh, yeah, maybe I can do this.

[2:37] Robert Bannon: Was it scary? Was it ever scary for you?

[2:40] Jane Eugene: I'm always scared. Even now, I'm scared. Even when I walk on the stage, I'm scared. You've got the top of the ceiling. Oh, my God.

[2:47] Robert Bannon: No, you're beautiful. She does not age. She stays like...

[2:52] Jane Eugene: No, no, she does. This is called maquillage. Maquillage, as the French say. Maquillage.

[2:59] Jane Eugene: So singing, starting the group in 1980. And then when you have songs and albums, when you have songs like Hanging on a String, and when you have songs like Slow Down that go to number one on the R&B chart, especially when you... That's because of Nick Martinelli. You know, he's an Italian. Nicky is about 5'7", Italian from Philadelphia, right? And people have to understand, because sometimes people think everything is done by us. No, Nicky literally told us how to do sing song structure. When we met Nick Martinelli, and we met him because he was mixing songs for Mick Clark. And I can't remember the lady, and I've got to write that down because I don't remember. Anyway, he was doing mixes for Mick Clark, and he produced an album for another lady from Philly.

And we said, we want him. At the time, the group of us, we said, we want this guy. And we ended up going to Philadelphia to be produced by Nick Martinelli. And he literally told us, hey, these are great vibes, great songs, but you haven't got the right song structure. And I remember that. And he just loved us. And he taught us. Nicky's like the silent member of Lucenze. Great producer.

[4:12] Jane Eugene: Lucenze, Phyllis Hyman, Stephanie Mills, Regina Bell, like wrote...

[4:16] Robert Bannon: Yes, I hope you've done your homework.

[4:18] Jane Eugene: Nice try.

[4:22] Robert Bannon: When you look at these great records, you wrote these. You're a co-writer. You guys wrote these songs together. How did you do that?

[4:28] Jane Eugene: I don't know. I mean, I learned more from both Steve and Carl because they were both, they're both musicians, and they really knew what they were doing. And I just wrote stuff out on my head, melodies I felt in my head that I could sing. I could sing and I was, I understood, you know, just storytell. I don't know because it wasn't, it wasn't something I thought I would end up doing. But I raised my ability because I was working with two people who was extremely proficient.

[5:00] Robert Bannon: And you know, you too.

[5:02] Jane Eugene: Thank you.

[5:03] Robert Bannon: And that voice. And the voice.

[5:05] Jane Eugene: Thank you. Slow down. Yep, still there.

[5:10] Robert Bannon: There, in the key, in the original key.

[5:13] Jane Eugene: Is it? Oh my God. If I'd known you was a musician, I wouldn't have sang. She's got the original key. And she's out here singing and she's going to be singing for you on Sunday. What is a Jane Eugene show like? Who's on the road with you? What is your set like?

[5:26] Jane Eugene: I have a live band because for many years, because of the changes in obviously the monies that they were given out, there was lots of track dates and stuff. I said, no, I'm going to keep a band. So I go out with a live band so we can change things in the moment. It's not always the thing to do because then there's less money at the end. Right. But and it's hard. But no, no, I go out with a live band.

[5:57] Robert Bannon: You know, they're going to be dancing in the aisles here in Detroit.

[6:00] Jane Eugene: I hope so. I hope so.

[6:03] Robert Bannon: Well, the music that you have to say this, I'm not being paid, but my band is being paid. I'm just coming to visit my friends. Yeah.

[6:13] Jane Eugene: Got you. Yes, yes, yes. The band's being paid. She's coming to hang out. And when you still think of a dance floor and we think of a dance floor in Detroit, a party, these songs like watching you and all these songs are dance. They're like dance floor songs. Is there a song or a moment that you remember where life changed that where a song took off a record hit? You heard yourself hanging on a string.

[6:34] Jane Eugene: Hanging on a string. The very first time we had a hit, I think we were doing marketing and promotion for MCA, which is now Universal Records, I think. And we were riding in the car and they said, oh, you've just got number one in America. And we were like, what? It was just like it is amazing. You don't forget it. It's like the first time you hear your record on the radio. You're like, it's on the radio. It's on the radio. We called each other. It was beautiful. It was really beautiful.

[7:04] Robert Bannon: And now it's you and now it's Jane. So, Jane, do you still hear melodies? Do you still write music? Do you have it? Do you want to record new Jane Eugene music?

[7:14] Jane Eugene: Yeah. Yeah. I want to record because I'm like Jane Eugene, the first lady of Blue Sands. There's other ladies in there now, you know, in England, but I'm out here. And yes, I do hear melodies. It's a gift that you're given.

[7:32] Jane Eugene: Yeah, they might.

[7:34] Jane Eugene: It's a gift you're given, you know. You wake the universe, God, that something bigger than us literally puts these songs out there.

[7:41] Jane Eugene: Yeah. God for me. I just feel like sometimes I hear a melody or I hear a beat or something like that. And I think, oh, you know, it's time to put something new out, don't you think?

[7:51] Robert Bannon: Yes. Yeah.

[7:53] Jane Eugene: Yeah, it's time for something new. Yeah. I just got to find the right team to put together. You know, somebody who wants to take the time and do what Nikki used to do with me, go in the studio. It's not something I'm not a track person. I need something live to feel something from. That's how I kind of, you know, that's what works for me.

[8:13] Robert Bannon: You've been touring. You've been touring and doing shows. When you see people when you leave the show, people come up to you, people mouth to you, yell to you. What's it feel like for your voice and the words and your music to be a part of people's lives and how it moves them?

[8:29] Jane Eugene: I think it's overwhelming because you are the backtrack to their life. And I think my audience, when they started out, we were club music, club music. Today's Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, right?

[8:45] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[8:45] Jane Eugene: So you think that that's what we were back in the day? Not, you know, club music. So we met our audience when they were footloose and fancy free, you know, before children, before marriage, commitment, everything that they've got going on now, right? They were single, they were just going to the club to have a drink and go meet somebody, have some fun. So I think that we're a kind of a release in their mind of those days. If you hit it right, and you get on that stage, and you give everything you've got to give to people, you're giving them like a release. You're giving them like, oh, yeah, remember this when it came out? You know, I was, you know, you're young, but you remember that song that makes you go crazy and gets you to the dance floor?

You look young, baby. You look young, you're screwing your head up. I'm a little 42. I'll be 43. So you know how old I am. You're a baby. You could be my grandchild. You look like me and you could be going out to the club this weekend together. I wish I'd gone to the club, but I'm old. I'm old, old, old. I'm old, mate.

[9:57] Jane Eugene: You can follow Jane underscore Eugene is where you can follow on social media. So we can stay up to date a lot of singer singers follow you and study your music. So when I look at you and I can't do what them girls can do like legacy and then go to the Chinese all lettuces, my girl. Oh, she is amazing. They follow you ladies. You inspire.

[10:26] Robert Bannon: Thank you. Thank you very much. I'll send you the check. Nice, nice one. I love all the young ladies that are coming up that can sing and do all kinds of stuff. I listen to their music. You know, I was listening to a Kelly Price gospel song. Right that really I need a healing for myself. Yep. Just the other day. That is a that is so you do listen. Kelly Price is going to all the time and I listen and I listen to my girl Dominica tell you she's amazing. She can sing a behind off. Right? She told me I like ratchet music too. But I just don't like ratchet people.

[11:06] Jane Eugene: I like that. Well, Kelly is going to be at the arena on Wednesday. So if you're going to stay in town, you can stay in my spare room.

[11:11] Robert Bannon: I wish I was. I'll take you out for a meal out on the town and you could meet my next time.

[11:20] Jane Eugene: I'd love to. I'd love to meet your hubby. Right next time I come in. We come to hang out. We have some nosh. We're gonna have a night or that's that's a deal. I just want to say before I'm happy that you're well and you're safe and everything that you're doing. You're doing okay. Everything is okay.

[11:35] Jane Eugene: I'm doing okay. The process is still going on. And you know what I'm talking about? Yep. Right. Everybody who's out there. It's not over. So if you want to go to my GoFundMe, Jane Eugene at the GoFundMe, please help me out. Attorneys are expensive. Right? And I've got some good ones. I am making a plan for my life. Thank God. And just keep praying for me. If you can't donate, pray.

[12:03] Robert Bannon: Well, we're going to pray. We're going to donate. We're going to put the link below so you can stay up to date. And then I, you know, I see publicist gave me your number.

[12:13] Jane Eugene: Oh, you can have it. You can have it. I would like to say this. Can I be said big shout out to the Moosi family, Suleiman, Miss Shahida, Sundiada. They actually helped with my situation. I wouldn't be out if it wasn't for them. Right. And they gave me this opportunity. So to the Moosi family, bless them all through this series. Because it's not until a family like you. Well, a family like this keeps great music coming to Detroit. That I've worked for them so many times in the past. And I just want to say they are amazing. They look after you not only on stage, but off too.

[12:54] Robert Bannon: They're incredible. And what they do is incredible. They bring incredible artists like you, Jane Eugene here. And I may have to find you and give you a hug after the show.

[13:03] Jane Eugene: That's nice. Please do. Please do. Please come find me. Come bring your hubby. I'm going to bring my sister-in-law. We have a night out in Detroit on the water Sunday night. Get your tickets. There's not many tickets left. Jane Eugene will be there. I just want to say thank you to all of my fans. Thank you. Thank you. Without you, there's no me. And without you, we don't have the soundtrack to our life. So thank you.

[13:30] Jane Eugene: Oh, we'll be doing You Can't Stop The Rain.

[13:32] Robert Bannon: Oh, that's my song. I better be ready.

[13:38] Jane Eugene: Yes. I love doing that now. We're going to be successful. You know, when I first started out, I didn't feel comfortable singing You Can't Stop The Rain because I thought all the audience was just looking and listening. And Nick Martinelli used to say, he said, Bitch, did they clap at you? I said, Yeah. He said, you'll get it. You'll get it. I'm serious. You got to meet Nicky one day. That man has produced so many people. Phyllis Hyman. Oh, old brain. Old brain. See?

[14:11] Robert Bannon: I know.

[14:11] Jane Eugene: Old brain. Yeah. You've got to. I'd love to do an interview with him, with Nicky. You've got to get him because this guy is amazing.

[14:21] Robert Bannon: We need to do that. I may work on it myself. I might steal it. I might steal the idea and reach out.

[14:26] Jane Eugene: Yeah. And I'll come back. I'll come back.

[14:29] Robert Bannon: Deal.

[14:29] Jane Eugene: Right. Look, if you want to hear You Can't Stop The Rain when it starts to fall and there's no one else to blame, then you need to get a ticket.

[14:35] Robert Bannon: Oh, look at that. I love you already. I'm bringing a receipt. I'm going to be ready to sing with you on Sunday night. Jane, you should get your tickets. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster. Go to the Aretha and you can find the tickets as well. There are not many tickets left. It's a special night of the greatest R&B music ever made. Babyface and Jane Eugene are coming to Detroit and you need to get your ticket. I want you to be well. I want you to be safe. Thank you for what you do.

[14:58] Jane Eugene: Thank you.

[14:59] Robert Bannon: For speaking out.

[14:59] Jane Eugene: Thank you, Robert.

[15:00] Robert Bannon: And your advocacy. We support you and we're with you every single day.

[15:03] Jane Eugene: Yes. Thank you.

[15:04] Robert Bannon: Thanks for being here.

[15:05] Jane Eugene: All right. Thank you. Love you. Thank you.

[15:06] Robert Bannon: Love you back.