Did Charlie Daniels really say this quote?

Sherman Willden · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

I received this in my e-mail this morning. Is this really a Charlie Daniels quote?

Subject: Fw: Charlie Daniels
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:38:08 -0600

Daniels

Ok, let's say you pick out the finest symphony conductor in the world; add the greatest singer and seven or so of the finest classical musicians on the planet.

You get them together backstage and say, "Alright, there are twenty thousand fans out front, standing room only, expectations are off the charts, and they are looking for the best show they've ever seen.

Now the curtain goes up in five minutes, the sound has been checked out, the lights set and everything is perfect, the stage is set for the greatest show the world has ever seen.

Now get out there and knock 'em out guys! They're all with you; you're all superstars in their eyes. Go show 'em how it's done!

Oh, there's only been one change. Tonight you have to do your show playing songs you've never played and you'll have to improvise. There's no sheet music. You'll just have to jam."

Can you imagine the panic backstage?

You see, some of the very finest musicians on earth can't jam a lick. I remember a few years ago when I had a couple of young fiddle players come on stage with me and play "The South's Going to Do It Again."

They had learned the parts I'd played on the record, arrangement, lead lines and all and played it perfectly note for note.

Everything was going swimmingly until I decided to leave the arrangement and jam for a while. When I turned to one of them and told them to take a solo the kid was as lost as a baby sheep in a hail storm.

They had no more idea about improvising than they did about how to build a spaceship.

"The South's Going to Do It Again" is a simple twelve bar blues song that any musician from any garage band would be able to take a solo on, but even though these kids were extremely talented and played what they knew perfectly, when it came to jamming, they were totally lost. They had just never learned to do it.
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Sherman L. Willden
It is easy to play the steel guitar. Playing so that the audience finds it pleasing is the difficult act.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

Don't know if it's a Charlie quote or not but I can relate to the story. A friend of mine plays classical guitar and with the sheet music in front of him he sounds great. I said just play a chord progression and we'll do a little jammin, he was totally lost! had no idea of chord progressions or "lets just jam".

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

Yes, structured music and improvisation run on different tracks, but there are many great players who can do both.
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Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CARUlzI0zYA

Smile

Peter Freiberger · From: California, USA

Works both ways. Imagine if just before hitting the stage you handed Charlie Daniels a bunch of sheet music and said, "Tonight you're going to play Beethoven".

There are lots of players who do both. As far as fiddlers, out here in L.A. Sid Page and Richard Greene are excellent examples. I'm sure there are many more on various instruments here, in Nashville and elsewhere. Forum members Doug Livingston and Mike Perlowin are very knowledgeable of classical music and can improvise. Doug is quite a jazz player as well, on a variety of instruments, including steel

Whether Charlie Daniels said it or not, it sounds like the type of comment made by someone insecure about their own musical limitations.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

It works both ways, Most old ear players like myself can show up at a gig with a new band and just say [just clue me in on the keys. The trained guy has to have a case of sheet music,be lucky if the band plays one song in HIS list. If someone yells out,hey man [take a ride] he will be looking for the nearest bus stop or taxi stand. Very Happy

Don't knock it tho,those fancy reading guys spent a LOT of time and hard work learning to learn to play off paper,pros and cons either way you do it. Very Happy

YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Telling musicians who have pre learned arrangements that they are going to "Jam tonight" in front 20,000 people is totally unprofessional and a good way to destroy your reputation. Music they never played 20 minutes before a show? I've seen people walk out of Allman Brothers concerts like that. I don't pay money to go hear people jam. Unless it was The Dead and you knew what you were getting. Different deal.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

A few years ago my Company sent me to a Los Angeles Safety Council Dog and Pony show at the Beverly Hilton in West Los Angeles. The finishing entertainment for the night was a family of teenagers who played violins and Piano. They were all gifted muscically but not great showmanship. They were playing light classics which nobody was listening to and they just really "died". If only they had an arrangement of Orange Blossom Special they could have knocked the crowd out.

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

Charlie Sez a lot of things especially on here

http://www.charliedanielssoapbox.com/

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

Sherman Willden · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Check out individuals such as RJ and Buzz Evans in Las Vegas. The band leaders just let them have their way and it always sounds great.
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Sherman L. Willden
It is easy to play the steel guitar. Playing so that the audience finds it pleasing is the difficult act.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

My Sister is a wonderful flute player. Can't jam a note! She must have sheet music in front of her to play. During my giggin' career, the band always had set arrangements, but I just jammed. Never played a song the same way twice. Never got any complaints. It was because of the situation I was tossed into when I was just beginning. Took three lessons, and my instructor got me a band gig. A request band. They had hundreds and hundreds of songs on 3X5 cards, and I didn't know any of them! The only "Country" I knew was "Sweetheart of The Rodeo." I knew I'd never learn all those songs, and I'd be better off really learning what everything on that guitar could do, and then wing it! Still remember the panic of the first song, first gig with them; "Sugar Daddy in A, JB. Kick it off!"
But I can read music if forced! Started on French horn. But if I had to play the same parts every night, I woulda gotten bored quickly, and started makin' furniture or something,,,

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Colin Goss · From: St.Brelade, Island of Jersey, Channel Islands, UK

A few years ago Stefen Grapelli played a concert with Yehudi Menuhin. It was shown on British television.

Stefen played the socks off Yehudi because he was able to improvise.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Speaking of the ABB, they were looking to gussie up their customary sound to record their first live album, because everyone had been telling them that were essentially a live band. They hired a bunch of horn players, wrote some charts and taped the concert at the Fillmore. Then they listened to the tapes, fired the horn players, taped the next few nights and came up with the "Live at the Fillmore" album. Still some sort of insecurity there - "real music" is played by people who can read... I've heard a lot of album unnecessarily gunked up with too many added read parts.

Personally, I've always found that reading music works best for music that's written down, not so good for music that isn't. Razz

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

EB,
"creative." I take after my Grandmother. Yes, very intentional. Can't explain why, but I just completely "Zone out" when playing steel. Not so when playing 6-string. I can't explain it.

Sidney Malone · From: Buna, TX

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Peter Freiberger · From: California, USA

This topic is as old (and boring) as the hills. Reading music, understanding music theory and improvising are distinct skills. They all require work and practice. Reading and improvising are not mutually exclusive. Knowing how to read just makes you a more complete musician. It also makes it possible to learn from a wider variety of sources. I understand Buddy Emmons learned to read when he came to L.A., opening the door to more studio work. If an improviser as great as he already was felt the need to learn reading and theory, that's good enough for me.

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Interesting in that there's a subtext of two-way envy running along here. I sure wish I could read as well as I hear.

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

When someone asks me if I read music, I give them my standard answer "Not enough to hurt my playing any". Then I confess, I don't read music, but I sure wish I did. I've just been too busy with other things to learn to read, maybe when I retire.......?
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Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro.