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The Rez · 01-22-2006, 01:59 AM

Doug,

Here's my half-cent . . .

Audiences *want* the band to sound like the record - whatever record by whomsoever. Avoid this at all costs. Be yourself and find your own horizon.

I'm a baritone, so the *tag* I often got stuck w/ before I found *me* was, "Wow, you sound just like Neil Diamond!" While it was meant as a compliment, I did everything I could to *not* sound like Neil Diamond. It's so very, very easy to fall into, however. Just like a tenor singing Gord.

But, hey, even Brother Ray started out sounding so much like Nat Cole and Charles Brown. It kept him a working musician, but it wasn't until Ray Charles Robinson found Brother Ray that he grew and wore his own clothes.

No sin in sounding like your influences . . . in the beginning. Just don't stop there. Create something new that, if your influences heard you, they'd say, "My Man!!!!"

Blessings,

The Rez

PS: *My Man!!!!* ain't restricted by gender, btw

01-22-2006, 01:59 AM	#19
The Rez Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Balboa, CA, US of A Posts: 598	Doug, Here's my half-cent . . . Audiences want the band to sound like the record - whatever record by whomsoever. Avoid this at all costs. Be yourself and find your own horizon. I'm a baritone, so the tag I often got stuck w/ before I found me was, "Wow, you sound just like Neil Diamond!" While it was meant as a compliment, I did everything I could to not sound like Neil Diamond. It's so very, very easy to fall into, however. Just like a tenor singing Gord. But, hey, even Brother Ray started out sounding so much like Nat Cole and Charles Brown. It kept him a working musician, but it wasn't until Ray Charles Robinson found Brother Ray that he grew and wore his own clothes. No sin in sounding like your influences . . . in the beginning. Just don't stop there. Create something new that, if your influences heard you, they'd say, "My Man!!!!" Blessings, The Rez PS: My Man!!!! ain't restricted by gender, btw __________________ I came to Love the Music Before I came to Be [Psalm 139:13]