In June and August 1998, I had the good fortune to interview Kelly Joe
Phelps for the Oregon Extension Journal, a periodic collection of
stories, interviews, poetry, and general news and reflection published
by a little college program in Oregon, where I was a student in the
early 90s.
These interviews were done over the phone, me in Minneapolis, Minnesota
and Kelly Joe at his home in Washington.
As will become clear in the interviews, our conversation ranged all
over the spectrum, but mostly we talked about music and spirituality and
how they are intermingled in the approach that KJP takes to his vocation
as musician.
Linked here are the original, unedited transcripts of the interviews.
There are two parts. Each reflects about an hour-plus of conversation.
Also linked is the introductory essay I wrote for the OE Journal. The
two interviews appeared in a condensed form in the journal, but are
reproduced in entirety here, for the completists out there. :)
Since this interview, I've had the chance to talk with KJP a few times,
usually when he is town for a show, or when I've been lucky enough to
catch up with him on the road. He is as charming and gracious as ever.
Both of us have come a long way in the 4 years since this interview.
I'd like to sit down with KJP in another 4 years and see where he's at.
Maybe I'll be lucky enough to do that.
pek
29 Oct 2002
Interview, part one
Interview, part two
Essay
Update 19 June 2022
Kelly Joe Phelps died on 31 May 2022. I recorded this memorial (text).