Musicians on Net54

[Big Ben]

Nate, you have a wonderful voice. Are you pursuing a career in music?
As for me, I am a very amateur tenor saxophone player who likes classical, jazz, and alternative rock music.


Best of luck to you.

[npa589]

Doug, that's an awesome and very funny story.


Ben: I've been mulling that decision. I'm engaged, so, maybe once I'm more settled, I'll begin to pursue it a little bit.

I did send in an audition to the Cubs, but, they apparently enjoy choosing people who can't sing. I watch practically every game, and just sit there shaking my head when they get someone who can't sing. Some of them are really really bad... I think you all have probably seen the evidence of people having no idea what they're doing when they pick someone to sing the anthem. The biggest events in the world still manage to have people that can't sing at all, yet are famous. Usually hockey is the only sport that gets it right...

By the way, I really dislike when the anthem is sung with an incredible amount of melismas. IMO, it should be sung with respect, in a traditional, straight-forward manner - so that the point of the song is not trivialized. Very rarely does someone depart from that and still keep it special. There are very few Marvin Gayes. His was awesome. The focus should be on the country, on the flag, not on the person singing the song. When it is ""popularized"", that focus becomes misplaced and distracts from the purpose of the song. I grew up singing stuff like Boyz II Men, and teach at an inner-cities school where I thoroughly enjoy teaching and singing songs that require popular, melismatic singing - i just don't think the national anthem is the place to do it.

Anyways - I'll get off my soap box. Oh, and Leon, I was hoping someone would pick that up! "Before we're done here, you'll all be wearing gold-plated diapers!"

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by npa589

By the way, I really dislike when the anthem is sung with an incredible amount of melismas. IMO, it should be sung with respect, in a traditional, straight-forward manner - so that the point of the song is not trivialized. The focus should be on the country, on the flag, not on the person singing the song. When it is ""popularized"", that focus becomes misplaced and distracts from the purpose of the song. I grew up singing stuff like Boyz II Men, and teach at an inner-cities school where I thoroughly enjoy teaching and singing songs that require popular, melismatic singing.

Nothing bothers me more than the Anthem being sung diva style...
I much prefer it Enrico Palazzo style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyCc1DzRAgQ

[HOF Yankees]

Been a Professional Elvis Tribute Artist for 4 years now, I competed in the 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest this past summer in June, also went to Las Vegas last summer and played there for 3 weeks and been traveling all over the US and playing at different venues. I do all eras of Elvis and every song. I enjoy it, have lots of fun and realizing a dream I thought would never happen. If anything I am on tour almost everyday now, or busy with rehearsals.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

Been a Professional Elvis Tribute Artist for 4 years now, I competed in the 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest this past summer in June, also went to Las Vegas last summer and played there for 3 weeks and been traveling all over the US and playing at different venues. I do all eras of Elvis and every song. I enjoy it, have lots of fun and realizing a dream I thought would never happen. If anything I am on tour almost everyday now, or busy with rehearsals.

That's awesome. I'm not picking on you, but I just love the way you worded that. This is an honest question though...Amongst "Professional Elvis Tribute Artists", is it considered insulting when people say Elvis Impersonator?

[npa589]

Awesome stuff man. I love when I hear that people are realizing a dream. That "Wait, you mean I can get paid to do this?" realization is always incredible.

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

Been a Professional Elvis Tribute Artist for 4 years now, I competed in the 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest this past summer in June, also went to Las Vegas last summer and played there for 3 weeks and been traveling all over the US and playing at different venues. I do all eras of Elvis and every song. I enjoy it, have lots of fun and realizing a dream I thought would never happen. If anything I am on tour almost everyday now, or busy with rehearsals.

[4815162342]

Nate, my Christian brother, you have a God-given talent. Thanks for posting that video!

I'll sing a little tenor in some old 4-part harmony gospel songs, but I can't play anything (I can't even play the radio without getting static!). My wife, on the other hand, plays piano in a jazz group made up of her old college professors, teaches elementary music, and plays at church. Her life revolves around music.

[npa589]

Much appreciated Daryl. I lead worship at a presbyterian church. We blend traditional with contemporary, which I think is very important.

Originally Posted by 4815162342

Nate, my Christian brother, you have a God-given talent. Thanks for posting that video!

I'll sing a little tenor in some old 4-part harmony gospel songs, but I can't play anything (I can't even play the radio without getting static!). My wife, on the other hand, plays piano in a jazz group made up of her old college professors, teaches elementary music, and plays at church. Her life revolves around music.

[uffda51]

Nice going, Nate.

I've shared about this before in some of the "What Do You Do" threads. I'm the black sheep in a family of scientists and preachers. I'm a composer, orchestrator, and conductor in Hollywood who has worked with everyone from Angela Lansbury to Metallica. I also write chamber music, choral music, etc. although my original inspiration was jazz. I played sax, clarinet and flute in a previous century.

For way more than you want to know there is info here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003618/

(along with a lame picture).

[npa589]

What an impressive resume Bruce!

If you have a recording of the song cycle "This is What I know", I'd love to hear it.

My e-mail is npa589@yahoo.com.

Originally Posted by uffda51

Nice going, Nate.

I've shared about this before in some of the "What Do You Do" threads. I'm the black sheep in a family of scientists and preachers. I'm a composer, orchestrator, and conductor in Hollywood who has worked with everyone from Angela Lansbury to Metallica. I also write chamber music, choral music, etc. although my original inspiration was jazz. I played sax, clarinet and flute in a previous century.

For way more than you want to know there is info here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003618/

(along with a lame picture).

[theseeker]

Wow! What a voice.

Besides having the worst singing voice known to man, I was a mullet wearing drummer during the new wave era and picked up some keyboard skills along the way, as both are struccata (yeah, I know, my spelling is horrible) instruments. Loved rock thru the early '80's and Jazz. Jazz drummers are the greatest after all. Still enjoy getting together with some old grey beards just for kicks.

[HOF Yankees]

I just like to go out and entertain people and make them feel happy, it doesn't really bother me to much when people call me an impersonator, anyone can call it what they want but in the end I am still me. I don't do it for the money, I do it to keep Elvis' spirit, legacy and music alive for generations to come as the other ETA's do.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

I just like to go out and entertain people and make them feel happy, it doesn't really bother me to much when people call me an impersonator, anyone can call it what they want but in the end I am still me. I don't do it for the money, I do it to keep Elvis' spirit, legacy and music alive for generations to come as the other ETA's do.

Cool. Like I said, I wasn't trying to make fun. It was an honest question that I was having trouble finding a way to word properly, and thank you for not taking offense. Are there any videos of your performances?