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CNN Live Today
Interview With Keni Thomas of Cornbread
Aired July 04, 2002 - 13:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Fourth of July is one holiday when the nation's most patriotic songs are celebrated. CNN entertainment correspondent Kendis Gibson -- I'm sorry, Kendis -- joins us live from the CNN Atrium with a little live music for us this Fourth of July.
KENDIS GIBSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka, who would have thought that within the last year, you know, "The Star- Spangled Banner" became popular, "God Bless America" all started climbing the charts. And a lot of bands have been kind of, you know, riding that bandwagon into quite a bit of fame, including these guys here, they're called Cornbread and they're from Columbus, Georgia. Joined by the members here -- Keni Thomas as well as Alan Schaefer and Robby Wilson who's in the back.
Now, Keni, I have got to ask you, because you guys have an interesting background. You were an Army Ranger for several years. What is it like playing, for one thing, on the Fourth of July, and what does a holiday like this mean for you?
KENI THOMAS, FORMER U.S. ARMY RANGER: For anybody in the military, any holiday that has anything to do with patriotism hits home. And especially as an artist, it's something that gives me an outlet to sing what's in your heart.
GIBSON: Yeah, and you served for several years.
THOMAS: Does that sound corny? Sing what's in your heart. I really do mean that.
GIBSON: I can kind of see it.
THOMAS: OK.
GIBSON: No, but honestly, though, you served during some difficult conflicts, including Somalia, during time that, you know, got as ugly as it did. And is it any different once you have served in the military, spending any holiday like this?
THOMAS: It makes you appreciate home. You know, and certainly all the people that do things for the soldiers that are overseas, for the boys and women that are over there, fighting and doing it for us, it means a great deal. You just want to be home on holidays.
GIBSON: That's awesome.
THOMAS: Best part about being in the military is coming home.
GIBSON: And you continue the cheesy lines. No, I'm kidding with you. But you know what, we are talking, I was telling a friend of mine we were interviewing Cornbread, and they're like what, that's on the menu for today -- where did the name come from?
THOMAS: Cornbread was a nickname that I got in Somalia. Nobody liked this pre-packaged vacuum-sealed cornbread they were feeding us. I liked it. It was good.
GIBSON: You were the only one?
THOMAS: I was the only one. Here you go, Cornbread. That's how I got the name.
GIBSON: That's awesome. Now, you guys are a part of a soundtrack for a movie that's coming out, I should point out, a little bit later on this fall, in September, called "Sweet Home Alabama."
THOMAS: "Sweet Home Alabama," starring Reese Witherspoon.
GIBSON: But you are also on tour all over the place.
THOMAS: Right.
GIBSON: What sort of feedback are you getting from people?
THOMAS: You know, it's going great. Montgomery Gentry is a country act; they've been taken us out on the road with them, and it's astounding to me. People who don't know us, just the feedback has been amazing. So the ball is rolling. Hey, we are on CNN.
GIBSON: Yeah. You know what, let's hear why the ball is rolling (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
THOMAS: OK. This is a song, it's something that hit close to home for all of us, and the whole point of this one is never might have the time to tell the people you care about that you do. So go home and tell your mom you love her.
GIBSON: All right.
(MUSIC, CORNBREAD PERFORMS "NYC")
GIBSON: All right, Keni Thomas, that sounded awesome, man. The song is named "NYC." And there is just -- you can't not talk about September 11 and the events having celebrated July 4th after that.
THOMAS: Yeah, I get upset -- the whole thing pisses me off, really.
GIBSON: A technical term.
THOMAS: Right. That's another one of those cheesy lines. And especially being a soldier, because at least you can fight back. And when you're an artist, if it is something that affects you, you write songs about it. And we waited a while. We wanted to make sure that the timing of getting a song out like this wasn't something that we were trying to capitalize -- you know, it means a lot to us. I hope that's what everybody gets out of it.
GIBSON: Appreciate it much. Thanks, guys. Can you play us a little something more?
THOMAS: Sure, we will do a song called "Hero." A little bit of hero. This is a -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) produced this song.
GIBSON: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) all over the place, they're part of the soundtrack for a new movie called "Sweet Home Alabama." Keni, by the way, was a technical consultant for a movie that got some rave reviews called "We Were Soldiers."
THOMAS: "We Were Soldiers." Randy Wallace, good man.
GIBSON: Go ahead, boys.
(MUSIC, CORNBREAD PERFORMS "HERO")
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