I guess I look at this differently, but when I was still working, which was just over a year ago, I used hundreds of styles, styles that were modified, tweaked and tuned until they sounded as close to the original song as I could possibly make it. To me, each song is unique, has it's own flair, that makes it instantly recognizable to the audience. When that audience hears that piano intro to Old Time Rock And Roll, the original song instantly is recalled in their minds. Many are up and on the dance floor before the entro ends.

I was primarily a singer, and still enjoy learning new songs on a weekly basis, even though I no longer perform on stage. The right hand licks that go along with those songs are also quite unique, particularly with the guitars, electric pianos, saxophones, organs, harmonicas, strings, etc... I love the way those right hand instruments enhance those songs independent of the vocals, yet at the same time, provide emphasis to both the style and the vocals.

Could I have performed using a dozen styles and a half dozen sounds? Of course, but after a few months I would have considered another way of making a living because both I, and my audiences, would have been bored to tears and begin throwing rotted fruit and vegetables at me.

Currently, I am struggling with a song by Glenn Campbell "The Last Time I Saw Her Face", which is a Gordon Lightfoot song that Campbell performed far better than Lighfoot. I have been working on this one for two weeks and getting close on it. The very first thing I did, though, was to select an appropriate style, one that was fairly close to the original song, then went about modifying that style, adding some creative right hand instruments, then began working on the vocals, which are quite difficult when playing live, which is the only way I play. I know Donny enjoys creating midi and MP3 backing tracks, then singing along with them, but that's not my style. I want to be in full control all the time, end the song when I want it to end, etc...

All the best from a retired, busted up, old man,

Gary