I've been following this thread for some time. As I re-read it, a question comes to me. Over the many years, and the hundreds (thousands?) of performers we all have known, loved, and respected, why is it that there are so few that "really made it?"

Of course the first questions is: what do we mean when we ask ... "really made it?"

Was it factors of: talent; drive; luck; drugs; bad men and wimmen; or something else.

I'll offer my own VERY personal experience here as an example of what "making it" means to ME!

I'll be 70 next month. Within the next two weeks, I'll succeed in holding my very first quality recording in my hand. I will be singing a solo concert, which will present this CD to the world.

As "Bride Judy" said to me last night when I was writing and re-writing song credits: "You've been working FOR this all your life!" And of course she is correct.

As I write this now, I wonder where Don McCalister, Terry Wadsworth, David Spence, and many others ... could have gone if they hadn't left us so early!

Good thread! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson