The Producer

The other day I had a conversation with someone of a younger generation about Singers/Recording Artists.  It was quite interesting to hear how they worshiped a certain performer and how this performer was the greatest.  Through the years I've had the same conversation many times over.

  

There's no doubt that certain performers/singers come along who seem to take the world by storm.  The first was Bing Crosby then came Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and of course the list goes on.  Ultimately it's the producer who is the one that is responsible for the above name performers and all  of the rest too many to mention.

To me Bing Crosby was one of the Greats.  But without those first producers who created the Bing Crosby sound, or trademark, Bing Crosby might have ended up living the rest of his life in the same town he was born in, Tacoma WA.  Were it not for Quincy Jones producing Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall", "Thriller" and "Bad" albums would Jackson have achieved what he did?

 

If Sir George Martin had not been "The Beatles" first producer would they have gone on to become what they became?  He produced "Wings", "America", "Candle in the Wind" and so much more.  Barry Gibb, Bob Gaudio, Barbara Streisand, Phil Romone, Richard Carpenter, Chris Christian, Robbie Robertson, Tom Catalano and Rick Rubin are just a few producers who have shaped music into what we listen to today.

The sound and style of every artist that you know found their voice from a producer who is responsible for making them the artist they are today.  And it's easy to tell because when you listen to the music of a producer before the first hits of any artist you hear the music and style of that artist.  When I hear songs from Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, The Guess Who and Karen Carpenter I hear Phil Romone the producer.  When I hear Neil Diamond's best albums I hear Tom Catalano, Robbie Robertson, Rick Rubin and Bob Gaudio.

I don't want this to take away from each artist I've mentioned because I'm a fan of so many of them myself.  But like in any trade there is always the one who comes before and teaches.  Before one becomes a Master Carpenter they are a Journeyman, before that an apprentice.  While they were an apprentice there was a Journeyman or Master Carpenter who taught them, "This is how it's done".

Let's not make our focus on just the "Artist" or "Entertainer".  Behind all of them they have others making them who they are today.  There is only one who needed no one to make them who they are today.  He was and is and will always be.

Artists of any craft are taught.  If they are smart they learn and become more than their teachers.  I mention this because I have to always pull myself in and remember that the greatest Master Teacher is still teaching me and I have so much yet to learn.  His name is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.  I will never become more than my Teacher but I am just fine with that.