Is This America's Most Talented Kid?
Posted: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 9:35 AM by Dan Fleschner
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Live from Studio 1A
This morning, we had a special treat when 10-year-old musician Gabi Wilson performed for us. WATCH VIDEO and WATCH VIDEO
She's already been called one of the most talented kids in America for her abilities on piano, bass, drums and guitar -- and, oh yeah, she sings pretty well too.
Everyone, including Matt and Meredith, fell in love with her while she was rehearsing before the show this morning, and she ended up performing a few more times than originally scheduled.
She hails from Vallejo, California, and was joined here in New York by her parents, Kenny and Agnes. Kenny himself is a guitarist in a band, the Urban Bushmen.
So with her parents looking on, I sat down with Gabi to talk about her musical influences, what her friends think of her budding career, and the best part of being a musician. Here's our conversation:
Q: First of all, when you were a really little kid, what kinds of music were being played in your house?
Gabi Wilson: When I was a really little kid, I was actually listening to Earth, Wind and Fire, Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Aretha Franklin. All those people.
Q: And they were on in your house because your parents were fans of them?
GW: Yeah, my dad is a big guitar player. He's in a funk, R&B group, and they do a lot of that old school kind of stuff.
Q: Did anything in particular attract you to music? Or was it just that it was in your house all the time, so you got involved with it that way?
GW: It was in my house all the time and I loved it. I thought it was something I could get really good at, so I started.
Q: What's a typical practice session for you like?
GW: I'm at home in my living room, and I'll plug in my bass or play my piano or drums or guitar. I just start playing. I can listen to a CD and I'll want to learn a song, so the next time I perform, I can do that song.
Q: Do you perform all of your instruments every day? How do you decide which to play?
GW: Sometimes it depends on my mood. Maybe I feel like playing the bass or maybe I feel like playing the drums or piano or guitar today.
Q: What kind of a mood, for example, makes you want to play the bass?
GW: A really funky mood, wanting to really get into stuff.
Q: Do you have a favorite instrument?
GW: My favorite instrument would have to be the piano. I didn't pick the piano, the piano picked me.
Q: What do you mean by that?
GW: I guess it just does something that makes me want to play more.
Q: You've been called "Little Alicia Keys." What do you like about her music particularly?
GW: Well, she plays an instrument and she sings. She's my idol, I love her music. It's really funky and my type of music.
Q: Have you ever gotten the chance to meet her?
GW: No, I haven't met her before. But if she hears about me, I'm looking forward to hopefully meeting her.
Q: What do you think you would say to her if you met her?
GW: That I'm glad to meet her and I love her songs.
Q: You mentioned a few people and groups at the beginning, but are there any other particular influences on your music?
GW: Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, like I said. Alicia Keys is my favorite. Aretha Franklin, Etta James. I also like kid music today, like Hannah Montana and the Cheetah Girls. I listen to a bit of that too.
Q: Is it tough for you to keep up with school when you're traveling like this?
GW: Well, not really. I study, and sometimes music helps me study a little better. I listen to music and I understand the chorus and the verse, and then that will help me understand a math problem better.
Q: What's the most exciting experience you've had through all of this?
GW: Maybe, this, coming to the Today Show.
Q: This particular interview, I think, no?
GW: <earnestly, God bless her> Yes, this particular interview -- and being on the Today Show. Also, performing at the Apollo and on "Maury."
Q: What was it like performing at the Apollo?
GW: It was nice. It was huge, a lot of people. It was pretty cool.
Q: What do your classmates think about all this?
GW: They're really proud of me. They support me a lot and go to my concerts. I really appreciate them. And I still get to hang out with them. We have sleepovers, or we go to the mall or we go shopping.
Q: So you're still just a regular kid.
GW: Yes.
Q: Is there a particular song that you want to learn and perform next?
GW: There are so many, I just need to check a lot out and see what's new today.
Q: To you, what's the best part about being a musician?
GW: The best part about being a musician is knowing how to play a song. Every time you hear a song, being able to say, "I know how to play this on the bass or the piano or the drums." And then I can listen to another song and go, "I know the words to this, this is basically my song list! I know all these songs!"
Q: Anything fun planned for your trip to New York?
GW: I was looking forward to meeting Meredith and everyone at the Today Show, and getting to see the big Christmas tree.
Q: So you play four instruments...do you want to add any others to your repertoire?
GW: I want to learn to play the saxophone or the trumpet.
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Do you have a talented son or daughter? Are they on their way to becoming a great pianist, artist or math genius? Whatever it is, E-mail us the pictures and footage!
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/22087331
