[Dixielandjazz] Teachers

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

As for me I always prided myself in being able to do what I was teaching. 
Part of it was the necessity of making money while I was in high school and 
especially college.  I got married at 18 and soon had a baby along with a 
wife to support.  My wife worked but in a college town wives of students 
were more slaves than employees.  That is very low paid.  She worked as a 
legal secretary and made nothing compared to what the same job pulls down 
today.

Most of my contemporaries and most of the students today don't depend on 
their musical talent to get through school.  It's easier to ask daddy or 
work at the local Wal Mart.

Gigs were a necessity not just going out to have a good time.  And like a 
true whore I took on everything that came along.  I didn't have the luxury 
to be an "Artist".  I played what paid. I was always grubbing for gigs.

Truthfully I think that helps and makes you more versatile.  It breaks my 
heart today to turn down a gig but I still want to make money.  I get tired 
of the"artists" out there who only do their thing and everyone else 
including the audience be damned.

The formula of sounding good, playing music that sounds like music and 
playing what the customer wants has kept me playing professionally for 55 
years.  I might add that turning down jobs is a real down hill thing.  Many 
venues and leaders just go to someone else if turned down.  Then musicians 
wonder why they don't get any work.
Larry
StL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eddy" <greenmeat at mac.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 1:42 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Teachers


> I'm behind Mr. Walton's statements 100%. Except Jazz musicians don't  have 
> the credentials that the teachers and talking heads have and they  don't 
> want to hear about the real thing, because it might get in the  way. Eddy
>
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