Not sure what makes me different from other pro arranger players, because I think I'm the only one within 150 miles anymore. There are a few part-timers who are pretty good, such as Bill P, but arranger isn't really his primary instrument, it's guitar. I will say he has come a LONG way and does a fine job on arranger now though.
Several of my friends who used to do it have died and there just don't seem to be any young people interested, at least around here.
I have often wished I had a protege to whom I could pass on some of the knowledge I've acquired since the inception of arrangers.
I think the thing that separates me from most of the other single/duos around here is that I treat it as a business. I start early, take few breaks and play as long as necessary. I don't get drunk or make distasteful comments on the job. I dress appropriately and try to do appropriate songs to suit the particular audience.
Sounds simple and even corny, but I've never had a lot of trouble making a living.
As far as the other full-time pro arrangers on SZ, I've only heard a few in person. DNJ, Gary, Boo, Bill, Eddie Shoemaker, Tony, etc., all do a great jobs for their various niches or specialties.
In addition, there are quite a few of the guys I've only heard on line that sound great. I know I'm leaving out quite a few, and I'm trying to also limit it to the "pure" arranger players. Uncle Dave Boyd has inspired a lot of us and I know Scott Yee influenced many arranger players as well.
Having said all this, there are two players that influenced me the most and got me interested in being a one-man-band.
One of them, I have no idea of his name, was working in a motel lounge in Columbia, MO in 1972. He played a Lowrey organ with a rhythm section and bass pedals. First one-man band I ever heard, and I immediately thought "I can do that!" That was some years before arrangers were invented so it probably doesn't fit the criteria.
The other was a guy named Chuck Pollard, who used to perform on the Louisiana Hayride and later did a one-man show. He did a tremendous guitar emulation, back before the sounds were very good at all. He still used a drum machine and used a keyboard for bass and lead. And he could absolutely sing his tail off. I became his friend and we often played golf together and I would pick his brain about music and he would try to learn a little golf from me.
I learned a lot from him as far as sound, balance, performing and song selection. He wasn't truly an arranger player, but only because they hadn't been developed yet at that time.
Sorry about the rambling. Indulge me because I'm old.
DonM

[This message has been edited by DonM (edited 08-18-2010).]