Young and handsome, proud of my newly acquired skills, I was ready to wrestle the world, and make it bend to my will. I discovered the music world in a small French city that not even French people know. The place sits with a mountain on its back and is surrounded by the lace of a river that marks its perimeter. As for music, although it’s not exactly neglected, I wouldn’t call it predominant.
As I was slaving on my drums, I was dreaming of the days when I would dominate the rock stage, dressed in lights and leather while riding a red monster spitting fire to an adoring crowd. But my town vexed any aspirations of fame. So, I flew to a better land and headed to America!
I won’t tell the tale of my tedious practice yet again, I’ll just mention this: 10 to 12 hours a day sweating on the horse. After that, my imagination was fed by all the chops I could use. I developed speed, nimbleness, versatility, which in turn grew my certainty that far away lands would soon recognize my name.
Then, I arrived in Chicago. Oh, Chicago, I’ve sung many times your beauty, your generosity, your gorgeous winters, your glorious summers. I urged myself to find a place where my chops would shine. Steve Smith, a Berklee College of Music alumnus, just like me, had acquired fame with the band Journey, there was no reason I couldn’t discover another pearl in the sea.
But then, the story twisted in another direction. You see, every one, before they can pretend to be an artist, is human. Meaning a stomach always prevails over a piece of art. Thus, I needed something that would provide an immediate and steady income. Since I liked people and I loved talking and interacting with them, I explored the idea of teaching. I soon realize it was my calling. I enjoyed gigging, of course, but nurturing a student resonated with me. I savored the individual contact much more than playing for an ever changing crowd. As a matter of fact, the bane of famous people reside in their inability to be anonymous (Look it up!).
What sold it was that I was able to secure my livelihood with a full schedule, something that came pretty quick. With that predicament, I might not climb high on the pop chart, but I could build a life. I then decided to change the race. I wouldn’t be someone running a sprint, I would pace through a marathon. My calculations, as I am reminiscing today, pointed towards a tranquil and serene existence, one that still help my current days.
I wouldn’t change it for the world.
