Musical Career Turns Not Taken

Subject: Musical Career Turns Not Taken
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 02:39 PM

In 1955, when I was age 24, the Army released me from my two years' service, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. At that time of my life I had a forlorn (and unjustified, as I see it now)obsession to be a professional folk song singer--whatever that may be. I had hardly touched a guitar for two years in the Army. I headed for NYC with my separation pay.

One night I attended the NYC Purple Onion, where a black folk singer named Tedd Browne was performing. At a break I said hello. After the club closed we talked and traded songs until deep in the night, and I confided my ambition. Despite my rusty condition, he invited me to take over one of his sets at the club the next night, which I did, with one of the partners standing at the back of the house. An Audition! I think I did a pretty good job.

There was some encouraging talk, general suggestion though not a promise, of my singing at either the San Francisco or New York Hungry Eye, but nothing definite. As I recall, for some reason now forgotten the ball was left in my court for whatever the next move was. I got cold feet. I told myself the reason was because I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life singing to drunks in gin mills and the like. With the cold, clear eye of retrospect I now think it was mainly because I knew in my heart that my guitar and general musical abilities were too weak. I didn't do whatever that next step was, and the whole thing went away.

Thereafter I went into an entirely different field, using some of my undoubted strong points, and I've had a more than satisfactory and comfortable career, and a wonderful family with a Beautiful Wife I'd never have met if the professional singing career had been followed and perchance had worked.

And yet, and yet, and yet......   

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Musical Career Turns Not Taken
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 03:14 PM

I don't know how I did that: The reference to Hungry Eye was a complete goof. We were then talking about and I meant to say Purple Onion.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Musical Career Turns Not Taken
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 03:18 PM

I know exactly what you mean Dave.I worked a little bit semi pro while I was in the R A F and went full pro eighteen months after demob.I lasted three years, and then went back to a day job and doing the music semi pro again.Which is where I still am.But I can say I
finished up after three years with more in the savings account than when I started.

Subject: RE: Musical Career Turns Not Taken
From: Willie-O
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 09:50 PM

That's more than I can say Leadfingers! Although I was able to keep myself going for the year or two that I played music as my primary source of income, I was a single guy living in a shack in the woods. Different story now. ;)=

These days I'm just happy to be able to make enough from the odd gig to break even on the guitars etc. habit.

And yet, and yet, and yet...

W-O