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Play It Again Tony
 May 15, 05 - 10:33 PM |
Pianists - born in the wrong generation.
To quote from a letter I received from the late Russ Conway around 1998, - he was saddened at "what passes for entertainment these days". It seems to me that a rat catcher or two women cleaning kitchens and toilets are above musicians in entertainment ratings these days! Or someone who just sits locked in a house with a lot of other (rather grotty looking) people, can become a 'superstar'. DJ's are referred to as 'musicians'!! People are cynical about any form of live entertainment, or anyone who possesses a talent for doing something. Just what has happened in the world. My kids look at me as though I've gone out when I tell them about Sunday Night at The Palladium when Magicians, Dancers, Pianists, Comedians etc. topped the bill in people's TV viewing. Or the Billy Cotton Bandshow with Russ playing brilliantly and smiling for the ladies. I myself felt cheated that I'd not had the opportunities as a pianist my (then) talent would have afforded me a mere 20 years earlier - back in the late 1960s/1970s. Popular music had suddenly switched from talented virtuoso performers to embarrassingly awful groups who were learning to play their instruments as they headlined the top 20 of the 1960s. But as someone pointed out to me on the Casio players Forum, - at least these groups WERE playing. Now music does not need a 'musician' to produce it! Popular 'chart' music is so bad that (God bless him), Tony Christie makes a comeback and stays at no. 1 for weeks!! Doing kids discos almost on a daily basis I listen to this stuff, and there is only one or two melodies a YEAR that I could relate to as a pianist. I was lucky in a sense that I switched my life from music to children's entertainment, which does make money! But I still feel cheated. Rant over. Hope you know what I'm talking about. Come and have a good rant on my board sometime! 
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Diana
Aug 1st, 2005 - 8:26 AM |
Re: Pianists - born in the wrong generation.
You are so right! Following in his Dad's musical footsteps, my son is a talented jazz pianist, the only outlet to date has been 12 years on cruise liners and working abroad in hotels. He would love to pursue his career in UK but has been very disillusioned by the music scene in this country, especially here in Yorkshire. He often says he was born 50 years too late!! Di |
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Eugene Portman
Sep 14th, 2005 - 8:14 AM |
Re: Pianists - born in the wrong generation.
I became rapidly disillusioned with the music world when I became a professional pianist. I found myself in hotel bars playing to small numbers of people who really couldn't care less whether I was there or not. I find that things have changed since those days and I am enjoying my work more and more. There seems to be a surge of interest in jazz since people like Diana Krall and Jamie Cullum have come onto the scene. Plus the fact that loads of musicians from the rock and pop world such as Brian Ferry, Phill Collins, George Michael have made albums consisting solely of the great jazz standards of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern etc. Could this be a new renaissance? I hope so. |
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Tony
Oct 13th, 2005 - 8:35 PM |
Re: Pianists - born in the wrong generation.
I'd never go back to playing in Restaurants, Bars etc., but I have recently started back playing again commercially in the Wedding Business. For one thing there are really good fees to be earned, and you are valued as an integral part of the Civil Wedding Ceremony. I do however also do bits for the kids at weddings, - magic tricks, balloon sculpturing etc. It is a fact of life that most of the compliments come for doing this. Eugene knows my background. I have over the years had controversial letters published in The Stage Newspaper about Agents and several other subjects. Around 1983 I wrote about the way pianists and electronic organists were treated as being just part of the furniture, and how this was part of the reason I'd given up on music! Don't know whether any of you saw that TV prog. about the keyboardist (I'd say he was late 50s/early 60s) working a Bar in Majorca. He just sits there for about 4 hours and no one takes a blind bit of notice of him. Anyway yes, regarding the age of Standards, I'd say that alongside the names mentioned that Rod Stewart has probably made the biggest impact, and doesn't he do them so well! |
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Tony
Aug 18th, 2008 - 5:41 PM |
Re: Pianists - born in the wrong generation.
It's now 3 years on from this thread. In my life our Kids Magic performances have blitzed out the short time I did a few gigs again around 2005. The wonderful thing about Internet, and Sites like MySpace Music, Soundclick etc is that you meet so many other Pianists and Musicians from around the world. You see you are not alone, but belong to a 'Club' of kindred spirits. Some are just 'takers' of compliments and never 'give' of course, - but you soon sort these out. Producing MP3 Albums of own Compositions or Public Domain is also a very straightforward affair with Companies like the excellent Tunecore to handle your affairs for you; and receiving, - however small, - a regular monthly Royalty makes you feel ten feet tall. So maybe Pianists were born in the wrong generation, but THIS generation does still have it's attributes. Best Wishes to one and all. Tony. www.soundclick.com/tonygaylebymyself www.myspacepiano.co.uk Google TUNECORE to find out what it's all about. My 100% recommendation goes with them. 
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