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Topic: A nagging question about 'praise' of one's playing.......... |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 11:06 am |
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Earlier in my musical endeavor, I was told by everyone but my wonderful mother that 'playing the melody was silly and too simple'. They said Jerry Byrd was a nobody and anyone that wanted to could play his style with no difficulty. My symphony music teacher even refused to teach me further, telling my parents to buy me lots of Eddy Arnold records to listen to.
I was seldom given a compliment about my playing. Critics outnumbered 'fans' by a sizeable degree.
Now that I'm in the 'winter of my life', I've had a lot of strangers tell me "how great you are" kind of
thing. Two Nashville greats have complimented my playing during recent years and altho' I'm quite flattered and honored by their kind remarks........I have to wonder how much of these compliments are based more on kindness toward an old, old, wanna-be steel guitar hack.
How does one decipher what is a true compliment and/or simply drivel to make one feel good.
Any ideas or suggestions?
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 11:26 am
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I'm pretty sure in your case people are just trying to be nice, Ray.
Just Kidding!
You have always been known as one of the best and you have inspired alot of players to become better players.
You have also provided a great wealth of info on JERRY BYRD and other great players who alot of folks might not of heard of if it weren't for you.
You done good. No two ways about it. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 11:57 am Re: A nagging question about 'praise' of one's playing......
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| Ray Montee wrote: |
#1 Critics outnumbered 'fans' by a sizeable degree.
#2 How does one decipher what is a true compliment and/or simply drivel to make one feel good.
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to #1..thats still true today..
to #2..why care, if you are in tune, playing the songs and getting called to play on a regular basis..thats a good day regardless of what someone says or doesn't say !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Niels Andrews
From:
Salinas, California, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 2:47 pm
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The only thing that matters is that you enjoy what you play.I chuckle at my mind's image of a critic. It takes little talent to criticize other folk, and if they had paid the price to be better than you, they would only have good things to say. The greater the Musician I have met, the more humble they seem to be. I believe because they have worked very long and hard to attain that so called "talent".
One time one of the Lady Rockefellers was listening to a great violinst, the great lady said "I would give my life to play like that!" The great violinist replied,"I did!"
Keep on picking and grinning Ray, and I enjoy all your post! 
_________________
Die with Memories. Not Dreams.
Good Stuff like Zum S-12, Wolfe Resoport
MSA SS-12, Telonics Combo. |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 8:18 pm
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I agree...it's hard to trust compliments...criticism on the other hand is more likely to be truthful.
I suppose you know you've arrived if the criticism starts drying up...either that or you need more forthright people around.
In reflection, my wife is as forthright as I need. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 7:37 am
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I can still see John Hughey at a steel show. When a steeler got through with his set, John was standing, clapping and congratulating him on his playing.
John was a true gentleman!  |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 8:19 am Re: A nagging question about 'praise' of one's playing......
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| Ray Montee wrote: |
| Earlier in my musical endeavor, I was told ... that ' Jerry Byrd was a nobody... |
When I was in college back in the 60s, a music professor proclaimed with great authority that the Beatles did not have any musical talent.
These are the same kinds of people who said that the world is flat, and it's not possible to build a machine that can fly.
F-word them.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 8:23 am
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Are they the same people who said that Christopher Columbus discovered America?  |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 10:21 am
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If I went by what my wife says about my recordings, even though she hasn't bothered to listen to many of them, I would never sing or play again.
Remember, Ray, that people discount styles that they don't care for as though the person playing them has no talent. The same people who criticised you would probably criticise Buddy Emmons, Andre Segovia or Django Reinhardt. They're not musicians.
Nowadays the people who listen to your recordings are musicians themselves, or people who like the steel guitar and seek out steel guitar recordings.
There's a record producer just round the corner from me who produces mainly hip-hop, heavy metal and hard rock groups. He's heard my recordings and likes them. A few months ago he gave me a pre-release CD from one of his hip-hop/neo-rhythm-and-blues groups to see what I thought of it. I told him that it would be improved if I added a steel guitar part. He said he would "ask the guys what they thought." Nothing came of it. Apart from it being unlikely that they would want to appear in public with grandpa sitting at the back playing an instrument that the teenyboppers look at as being a country instrument (if they recognised it at all) they would have to be able to play the music on tour just as it sounds on the records, and the last thing they would want (and the last thing I would want to do) would be to hit the road at 69.
So, the answer is, Ray, before you consider a critique of your work, take into account who is giving it. Your peers know your worth. Those who like Hawaiian and old-time Country music lap it up.  |
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Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 3:22 am
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No need to over think praise - just be gracious and accept it.
Criticism is tougher - Alan is 100% correct, the source really matters. I will say, though, that I've had critiques from non musicians that really helped.
The criticism of the style you've chosen to play is simply absurd - if a particular kind of music attracts you, play it. Look on the bright side - in the steel guitar community, many more people like Hawaiian and old time country than like jazz, my life's work!
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 4:15 am Re: A nagging question about 'praise' of one's playing......
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| Ray Montee wrote: |
I was told by everyone but my wonderful mother that 'playing the melody was silly and too simple'.
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I guess your mother was right. Somehow you stuck with it, and sure enough, the melody is the important thing.
Jaco Pastorius stressed how important melody was whether you're playing it or not. You can tell that he kept it in mind all the time; you can tell that Esperanza Spalding does too. And those are 'just' bass players.
Maybe things haven't changed, other folks begin to appreciate it.
_________________
Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons |
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Ben Rubright
From:
Punta Gorda, Florida, USA
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 8:02 am
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Ray.............you will always be a 'LIGHTS OUT' player in my book in more than one way!!!
We miss you in the Rick Alexander non-pedal room at TSGA. |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 11:45 am
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1) Ray, you have worked hard and accumulated a lifetime's worth of knowledge about music and the instrument, and you certainly can make as fine a sound happen with six strings as most of us can with twenty and a bunch of gimmicks (which you can also handle just as well anytime you want to), and it is all because of the choices you make, which only comes with experience. Outside of the musical world we call that sort of chops "wisdom."
2) Never mind the compliments, they are nothing but a distraction from the work at hand. You just go ahead on as you please and that's all right. |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 9 Oct 2014 3:34 pm
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| Ray, you have a wonderful sound. |
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