`Poet feels pay to play is best policy for publishing his work`

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

Samuel Rudolph

Samuel Rudolph found no support in taking his poetry directly to the people. His solution was to take a track that others find controversial.

Rudolph, of Farrell, has paid to be published, but not by paying for the creation of a book. His works are included in books published by the National Society of Poets and the International Society of Poets, as long as he buys copies of the books, he said.

Some of his poetry can be read on the Internet through the International Society of Poetry, which lists him as a member of the International Poetry Hall of Fame.

His poetry also has been turned into songs by record companies that charge him for the privilege. He said he started receiving such offers when he had some poetry copyrighted in 1994. Hilltop Records included a song Rudolph wrote the lyrics for, “Always,” on a recently released recording called “Happy Holidays.” Rudolph said it is the fifth song he has written lyrics for released by Hilltop.

Hilltop supplies the music and the musicians for the recording, Rudolph said. The album is available by writing the company or having it ordered by National Record Mart, Hermitage, he said.

Hilltop, based in Hollywood, Calif., has a telephone number but apparently does not answer the phone. A machine answers and says that “for your benefit as well as ours’” the company will accept only written correspondence. There is no way to leave a message. A letter from The Herald to Hilltop has not been answered.

Hilltop is criticized on the Internet by angry writers feeling they were duped by the company. Rudolph is unfazed by the criticism.

“If I had to go into the studio I would have to pay for it,” he said. “Virtually, that’s what’s happening here.”

The controversy “doesn’t matter” to him, he said. “I have work out now. I think that’s more important than complaining. Everybody has to start somewhere.”

Rudolph noted that he has received meager royalty checks from Hilltop and two other record companies he has written lyrics for, and got a telephone call from a woman who said that a song he did for Hilltop, “All That Love is Not,” is on a karaoke machine at a bar in the Sandy Lake area.

Rudolph, a Youngstown native, said he agrees with critics that the quality of the recordings hasn’t been that good. He said he probably won’t write any more songs for Hilltop.

“Honestly, I think their singers have to improve,” he said. “If the singers do better, maybe.” Rudolph said he’s not bothered by the National Society of Poets’ policy of publishing only if he buys the book. “After I’m gone, they’ll be worth something to my children,” he said. Rudolph didn’t start writing poetry until he was an adult. His themes have evolved from love to the black experience to the spiritual.

“At first I started trying to speak to the black community and they were not receptive,” he said. He tried to sell his poetry at community events, but found no takers.

“So I started trying to reach everybody,” he said.

His poetry these days has a “faith message,” he said. “Always” is about “the love of God and how he revealed Christ’s coming. You look for love in people and you’re always disappointed. But when God shows you love through his son Jesus you’re never disappointed, if you accept the Bible.”

He speaks of how people get so wrapped up in family, careers and money in their lives in “All that Love is Not.” “People never really try to find out the truth of God that love offers.” “I Die” is about his belief that people are extensions of God. “In essence, I said if we die a part of God dies also.”

Rudolph, a cement finisher with Local 526 of the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association of the United States and Canada, Pittsburgh, said he’s updating his copyright and would like to self-publish a book of his work.

“I must be on the right track,” he said of his work, referring to requests for his writing. “You know how it is with artists. They are never recognized until they’re gone.”

Rudolph’s poetry can be found on the Internet at www.poetry.com and www.poets.com

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