Hi
OK, here goes nothing. This is my first post for AbsoluteWrite. I’m not sure if I’m the oldest person writing in this particular forum. I am as old as dirt – younger by just a few months, actually.
I read quite a few posts, but became impatient. It’s not that the posts were boring. The posts I read were extremely interesting and most of you have good reason to be proud of yourselves. You’ve tried and are still trying. Effort has got to count for something.
I, indeed, have a web site which contains my music, but I won’t direct you there yet because I don’t want to seem as if I’m spamming this board. However, if I said I didn’t join this board in order for people to hear my music, it would be quite disingenuous. I don’t think any of us have joined this board simply to hear the work of others. Having said (or, more accurately, written) that, I believe it’s important to listen to the music of others. I can think of two good reasons why it’s important.
First, everyone needs encouragement. I hope that when I do take the time to hear some music, I can critique it in such a way that it will be helpful to the writer.
Secondly, my music is eclectic; maybe too eclectic. It’s eclectic because I’ve listened to many different artists who play many different genres of music. I like people to say, “If you’ve heard one, you’ve heard one” about my music. I cover almost every genre of popular music. I cover several types of rock, some rockabilly, jazz, honky-tonk, borderline country and western, reggae and I’ve even written a couple of songs which are reminiscent of symphonic music. I don't really do any rap or hip-hop, but I have written and recorded a song entitled "denial" which is a spoken word song in which the speaking is in rhythm with the rhythm of the song. In another song, I do the same thing but only in one small part.
I can read and notate music but am too lazy to put my songs on a staff. Maybe one of you can do that for me if I’m really, really nice.
I’ve produced 10 albums (CDs) and two singles. I play every instrument but one in every song on every album. Now, when I say I play every instrument, I don’t mean that I play strings or brass or reed instruments. My Casio WK-3700 keyboard provides those sounds. I do, however, play the keyboard, which allows me to make the sounds properly. I was in the school band way, way, way back in high school and am aware of how long a violinist can stroke a bow or how long a horn player can hold a note – for the most part. So there aren’t any musical “fantasies” in my songs.
The keyboard also has a drum machine functionality. However, I don’t press a button and allow one rhythm to play straight through any song. I mix and match fillers which I choose among the different rhythms.
I've used midi instruments, but very sparingly. Ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby.
I use no computer program to create music. I don’t use loops created and recorded by others. I produce all of the music. I merely use Sony Acid Pro 7 to mix the sounds. Sony Acid is my program of choice because it’s stable, extremely user friendly and allows for an “infinite” number of tracks. The highest number of times I’ve recorded myself is 10. It’s fun, man!
I’ve written 126 songs, 112 by myself and 14 with some very talented lyricists. Consequently, the vast majority of songs on my albums are originals. I cover, with permission, only three songs. I cover an old rock n’ roll song that was originally recorded in the early sixties by a group called The Ronettes. The song is called “Be My Baby” and it’s one of my all time favorite songs. I also cover an old American labor song entitled “Joe Hill”. This song was written in 1936 by two gentlemen named Earl Robinson and Alfred Hayes. Finally, I cover a song written by a friend I met at another literature based message board. The person’s name is Jason Oliver and the song is called “Cemetery Rose”. That’s it for covers.
With a few exceptions, I provide all of the vocals in my songs. I provide the lead vocal and every back-up harmony with a few exceptions. My wife, Tina, sings with me in a song entitled “Don’t You Wish Today Would Never End”. Two very talented women, Doreen Peri and Kim Chong, sing a song I wrote called “I Can’t Be Owned”. They are both on my album From The Heart. The renditions are different from one another yet both are very good. Doreen sings “I Can’t Be Owned” on the second track and Kim sings it on the tenth track. I also wrote a 10 minute spoken word piece called “I Long For A Better World”. I needed a “gospel lady” sounding voice for that song and Halley Crast provides that voice and more in “I Long For A Better World”. Halley and I provide backup harmony for the song and, at times, we sound pretty much like a choir. Finally, my daughter, Leyna, sings a song entitled “my lost love” on my album Young Man (look at my life) (yep, I ripped off Neil Young with that title). Leyna not only performs the song but wrote it as well. I’m really proud of her. Leyna, Tina and I do all of the album art.
I play a Takamine acoustic guitar, a Gibson ES175D electric guitar, a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, a Fender Jazz Bass and, of course, the keyboard..
I’ll try to listen to your music and I’ll attempt to constructively comment on it. I’ll post or link to my songs one at a time, every three weeks or so. As I mentioned, I want it to be no secret that I want people to hear my music and critique it. However, I need to work at listening to the creativity of others and critiquing it.
To friendship,
Michael
“Fools rush in where fools have been before.” – Unknown
Have no fear about the signature. I don’t presume anything. I’ve just been using this signature for quite a few years. I thought that, while others were saluting our troops or our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or the flag or the bible, it might be refreshing to salute friendship, that’s all.