I agree to some extent, Chas. For me, and many of the entertainers I know, both those doing the NH circuit and those doing the clubs, without good, high-quality vocals you're essentially out of business. When Sinatra performed with the Count Basie Band, the audiences didn't come to watch the band play - they came to hear Sinatra sing. That said, there are orchestras that I love to watch perform, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Dorsey Brothers Band, U.S. Navy Band, U.S. Army Band, they're incredible musicians as well as entertainers. The venues these guys play are sold out six months in advance and the tickets are not cheap.

Audiences worldwide want to be entertained, and a great vocalist is usually a great entertainer as well. Sammy Davis Jr., Rascal Flats, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Buffett, Karen Carpenter, Sinatra, Elvis, The Beatles, they were and some still are, great entertainers and singers. Most people could care less about the band that backs them - vocals have always ruled. Great musicians can be found throughout the world, but great singers who are also entertainers are a rare commodity indeed. So, I contend that if you are a good to excellent vocalist you can make a good living in the OMB business, even if you cannot play worth a damned - I should know!

Now, as you know, Chas, I waited more than a decade to upgrade from my PSR-3000, an instrument that served me very well during that period. I never considered upgrading with the S900, S-910 or newer Tyros series became available, simply because I didn't consider them to be beneficial to what I do. I did upgrade a few months ago to the S-950 because it had some outstanding, new features that would prove beneficial, and wouldn't hinder my performances or increase dead time between songs. And, it sounds one Hell of a lot better than the 3000. And, there have been several occasions where audience members asked if I had a new keyboard. So, I guess they do actually notice those backing sounds, but as was stated above, no one ever comes up to you and says they loved the way you played a particular song on the keyboard, but they frequently comment about the vocal performances. At least that has been my experience over the years, even when I played a guitar as a solo player/singer in a smoke-filled country bar.

I only wish I were 50 years younger, had the knowledge I currently enjoy, and had just half the playing skills of Captain Russ, Chas, DonM, Uncle Dave, and some of our members from across the ponds. Who knows, if this were the case, I might have been successful enough to buy a bigger boat. But alas, I live with the cards I've been dealt, work nearly every day in a trade that many people only dream of.

Cheers,

Gary