From what I know of the backgrounds of many forum members, most of those that currently perform as OMB entertainers were band members playing individual instruments prior to toe advent of arranger keyboards. For various reasons, including financial, the chose to go the OMB route. I played a 12-string guitar, Don Mason played trumpet, Fran and DNJ played an accordion, Eddie Shoemaker played drums, those were fun times. We didn't make any money, at least not enough to live on, but we always had a lot of fun, and that why the vast majority of us still play. I would get together with my old band, but with the exception of the lead guitar player, the other three guys now reside in cemeteries. When they were alive, we got together once a year, had lots of fun, ate fattening food and drank booze.

When I went back to being a solo player, which was about 25 years ago, I was still playing a guitar and singing. Then, some very creative genius invented an arranger keyboard - WOW! What an amazing device. Back then they didn't have many features, only a handful of styles and voices, but that didn't stop me, or others from purchasing one.

Back then, which was about 20 years ago, what most of us knew about arranger keyboards could be written on the head of a match and left lots of room to write an encyclopedia. Fortunately, forums such as this one came along, thus providing us the ability to not only exchange information, but additionally to form friendships and bond with others with like interests. We exchanged ideas and learned from each other on a daily basis, despite not being in the same room with those individuals who so unselfishly shared their expertise.

This is not a band forum, or a musicians forum, music writer forum - it's an arranger keyboard forum, and that's why the vast majority of us came here. We came to learn how to get more out of our individual arranger keyboards. So, just like when I played with a band, when I'm here I learn from those around me. I learn from people throughout the world who have incredible differences in background and experience. What more could anyone in this field of endeavor ask for?

Cheers,

Gary