I'm with Hellboy on this one (and that WAS kinda the point I was making). Basically, 'pop' music has always had its up and down moments, and in the big picture, I think doo-wop isn't exactly the zenith of pop music. Little in the way of harmonic complexity, lyrics as banal as anything today, formulaic beyond belief... But don't get your panties in a wad - it has LOTS of company through the years! And, just like any music (including hiphop and rap) it DOES have its' high moments...

Thing is, I'm surprised that Donny DOESN'T cover any of that list. I was always under the impression (that he points out so often) that 'by any means necessary' was his mantra. And, as willing as he is to use karaoke MP3's, the difficulty of getting an arranger to sound that contemporary is kinda moot...

The problem with walling yourself off from contemporary pop is that you are restricted to audiences that are, let us just be kind and say 'getting on a bit', and usually slowing down as far as going out at night and supporting live music. You may be doing well now, but eventually, that demographic is dwindling. Stay capable of doing classic stuff AND contemporary, no problems.

The band I am in right now (a 5 piece with a sax player) does everything from Ipanema and It had to be You, to the Cuban Shuffle and Get Low. Best of all possible worlds - particularly as I don't have to program the stuff! I've got a world class drummer, and at least that will make you realize, no matter HOW good you think your arranger is, it has a LONG, long way to go before it is a fraction of the versatility and inventiveness a good player brings to the table...