A Guitar and a Song

In my own pursuit of the mysteries of how to play music well I have had many mentors and teachers. It seems that I always find someone who can help me take it to the next stage or level. In this blog I hope to discuss some of these generous people who have helped me escape my frustrations and discover the satisfactions that I sought. I did not enjoy the advantages of a formal musical education in an institution. Instead I learned from the pros.

I've loved songs and singing since I was a year or two old, whether in the living room, on the radio or elsewhere. I still recall standing in the pew beside my mother as she sweetly added to the choral harmony in our family church in Northern Ontario. She had a nice voice and loved singing...and bright eyes. I had just learned to stand and I was proud to stand up beside her in church [whatever that was!?], though my standing awkwardly beside her did seem to cause a little distress for Pauline. I watched her posture and the movement of her mouth and eyes as she glanced smiling over her shoulder at me and reached out a hand to keep me from toppling.

Pauline also helped me love to sing country songs and popular songs as we danced around the radio through a childhood lifetime. I always wanted to play guitar and just believed in my heart that I would and could some day play as I imagined in my daydreams. I could see my fingers gliding across the strings and heard sweet tones rising from the sound box. I thought I could really learn to play and help others sing songs as I had been helped by parents, brothers, neighbours, teachers and several choirs masters with whom I worked. I could never afford a guitar as a child.

After my first year of university and at the age of twenty-one when I started playing guitar I was driving a truck for a summer job in London, Ontario. There I met a very interesting young man who was about five years my senior. He was full of life and excitement and good cheer and he was kind to me even though I was a beginning musician and he was fairly accomplished. He wore a big cowboy hat and was politely boisterous in his speech...and he was funny. This alone surprised me about Bob Webb, but there was far more to his kindness than I could have dreamed.

Bob invited me to come out to the club where he was playing that week and see his show...maybe hang out a bit. It turned out to be one of those fairly swank clubs with a cocktail vibe, low lights and an elevated stage where Bob played solo – a man with a guitar and lots of songs to sing. He played so well that I was astonished and he knew SO many songs cold that I was flabbergasted.

His shtick and act also gained the rapt interest of many beautiful women who huddled around him between sets vying for his laughing attention. I was AWE STRUCK by this man. I had never met anyone who played so well, lived so deeply and was still respectful, kind and helpful. Many musicians I'd met of his calibre were arrogant, rude and generally disappointing as human beings. [Perhaps I'd never met anyone of that calibre. lol]

It got better. Bob left the bevy of giggling beauties to their drinks and gossip and walked across the darkened room to join me at his table. “That was AMAZING!” I told him. “Thanks!” [ah shucks] “How did you learn to play so many songs that well?” It was a professional question. “Oh it's easy.” he said. “All you've got to do is play a song a thousand times in a field and you'll know it real well.” “Oh!” says I.

“But how can I learn to play good like that?” I asked despairingly. “Don't worry. That's easy too. Every time you meet someone who plays well, ask them to teach you one thing. Then practice the shit out of it until it's natural and becomes part of your playing.” “Gee thanks Bob.” I meant it and took his instructions to heart. I was hungry to learn.

“What kind of guitar are you playing there Bob?" I asked. “This here is a Martin D-28, made by the C.F. Martin Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.” “Is that a guitar you would recommend to me?” “I sure would. I've never had any reason to complain about this beauty and she has brought me lots of pleasure.” he said nodding back at the tipsy group of sweet femininity at the end of the bar where his drink still waited for his return.

“Also you might consider the Martin D-35, which has a more rich bass tone and a more balanced volume across the tonal spectrum. My '28' is a little weak on the bass end but good for bluegrass picking.” “Okay.” I said, not quite sure what the heck he meant about “tone”. “Thanks for all of this.” “You're welcome. See you again soon.” And he did see me many more times, true to his word. “I better go attend to my fans.” he smiled as he ambled sidelong across the carpeted floor and into the arms of angels...Honky Tonk Angels.

I learned at least three big and important lessons that evening: how to learn songs; how to learn to play guitar well; and how to evaluate a guitar. BTW I bought myself a Martin D-35 a couple weeks later for my birthday when my tax return arrived. I've NEVER regretted it...not even once. That old guitar and I have become one.

These music lessons from a competent professional have brought me endless pleasure and have helped me share my song with the world. I have practiced them faithfully every day since and the results show. :)

Thanks Bob!


Post script – In the Fall of that year when I was back in school I heard on the radio that Bob Webb had won Canadian Entertainer of the Year Award. I thought he deserved it. So did those beauty queens and many others. Music goes down so much better with kindness and generosity. :)




Jake Willis Music – Daily Blog
February 10, 2009
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Shameless Self Promotion

Shameless self promotion is a theme I hear discussed frequently by musicians and songwriters. In many cases it seems to mean that a person will do anything at all to promote themselves and will not be ashamed no matter how crude and crass and rude that method might be.

This approach has never worked for me. I would be ashamed to do what some people do.

My own Rules for Shameless Self Promotion are -

I will not do anything that will make me feel ashamed.

I will not take another person's opportunity in order to advance my career.

I will not step on someone in order to rise. I would rather give someone a hand up when they are down or when they stumble, as we all do.

I will act respectfully towards those who are competing for opportunities...but I will not compete. I would rather help someone than hurt them or make them feel small.

I will be creative in finding ways to enhance and advance my career and in sharing my music with the world.

I will reach for the heart, not the cash or the glory.

I will seek and find my own place in the world of music and I will not hurt or injure anyone in the pursuit of my dreams...for this will diminish my Dream.

I will help others find, create and build their own place.

I only go places I've been invited and I stay as long as I feel safe and welcome.

I will always nurture my own career and believe in myself.

Using these methods I have moved from total obscurity to having a reasonably obvious profile online and in the music communities into which I've entered and where I play or perform. In five years I moved from unknown to fairly well known. No one was injured in this process and I have made some amazing and wonderful friends along the way while providing assistance to many.

I am seeking and building my own place in the world and do not want someone else's place.

The principle that guides me is, "Love your neighbour."

I remain unashamed. :)

40 Videos in 30 Days

Last January I made and uploaded over forty live music videos of my songs to Google Video in thirty days. I had some help from Ken Brown on upright bass and co-producer.

We had three other musicians add to the music including Chris Williams and Don Beals on guitars and Matthew Glass on fiddle, along with other friends in pubs in Fergus and Cambridge, Ontario. That was a bit of an adventure and the results have been encouraging.

This year we plan to make more vids. This project will be the equivalent of a CD in terms of the amount of material we hope to record. I'm also hoping to upgrade the production values on this next round of vids. I had a brief planning meeting with Ken and Chris this morning and we're looking forward to this little project.

In the meanwhile I hope you'll take some time to check out what we did last year. Many have been viewing Swing! [yellow version], The Box, Did You Forget About The Morning and many others.

You can hear me play and/or join me to play at Delainey's Restaurant in Fergus Tuesday evenings 8-11:00 pm, with host Terry Golletz and a group of warm and supportive others.

Peace

Vibe Wrangler

I want to make it clear from the beginning of this blog that it has been the people at Vibe Wrangler Studio and Records who have made it all possible. Many musicians strive for a lifetime to find some kind of recognition, acknowledgment and support, let alone this calibre of friendship. When it comes, it's often disappointing for many common reasons and some not so common.

The wonderful thing about the Vibe Wrangler team is that they are kind, humane and supportive of art and artist, without distinction of class or reputation. They took me on the basis of my performance and ability, rather than my good looks as so many have assumed. That's rare. They're rare. Even more rare is that they have followed through with innovative ways of helping me to succeed as a singer song-writer, getting my music to a global audience. Glen and Mike, you guys are the best.

And this goodwill has come to me with generous skill sets and high artistic standards. Producer, technician, arrangers, musicians, art director, photographer and interns have all been passionate, smart, informed and keen to make a mark in an often unadorned musical landscape. They risked. I risked. We all seem to be winning. How nice.

The artist development party they hosted on the beautiful and cool Vibe Wrangler Studio premises last Friday was another feather in the Vibe Wrangler hat. It was smart, professional, fun, tastefully catered. The sound was good, the atmosphere was beautiful and relaxed, the people were spectacular, the music was excellent. This studio, located adjacent to Gage Park in Hamilton, Ontario is proving to be the place where creative musical artists want to spend time.

This group includes Peter Yarrow who re-recorded his classic Puff The Magic Dragon with Glen Marshall last year. This book/record project has sold 500,000 copies and seems to be heading the good Mr. Marshall for a gold record and some much deserved recognition by peers and industry.