Here’s answers to a reader post. This is very self indulgent – but that’s the kind of thing that belongs only on a blog. Just be thankful it’s not a post about my cat.
*****************
Really enjoyed this young person’s “Report On a Music Producer“!
How would you feel about answering 20 random questions from a (lol) slightly older group who would like to know more about you?
ANSWER: Happy to do that. FYI, if you’re over 30 then you’re an old fart.
– You graduated very young. Would you say this was more the result of having your abilities recognized and fostered, or, an unusually early discipline and drive?
ANSWER: I skipped 3rd grade and 12th grade. I skipped 3rd grade because I went to a Montessori school in Memphis, TN (Lausanne) that let you go at your own speed. I chose fast. I skipped 12th grade because high school seemed like a waste of time. Instead of partying my last year I decided to double up on classes and graduate early. I REALLY enjoyed college, much better environment for study.
– You’ve played amongst world renown artists and in some amazing places. Tell us about a performance that remains as vivid in your memory today as the day on which it occurred.
ANSWER: Everything is always a blur to me. Friends have to remind me to get haircuts. But gigs that jump out as memorable were playing with Freddy Fender on his 60th birthday in Wisconsin. Playing on the DMZ between North and South Korea at a party for General Sherman (junior) Now THAT was a party! Singing with Archie Drake and Seattle Opera in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Playing with William Shatner at the Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth, CA. When Paul Shaffer sat in and played my keyboards at the Gold Coast Casino in Las Vegas, NV. My first piano recital when I played “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (a woman told me she thought it was very good and I had never received a compliment like that from a stranger, it was a good feeling). I’ve played two country dance gigs where a dancer had a heart attack in the middle of a set. One made it, one didn’t – I remember both of them. What a great way to go….
– Enormously gifted…tell us something you CAN’T do.
ANSWER: LOTS of things I can’t do. Keeping small talk going for more than two minutes. Guitar. Cleaning my office (I have little elves that help me). DANCING. The “Wedge” fugue by JS Bach. I always miss a chord in the turnaround to “Georgia On My Mind” – and it’s so simple, that really bugs me. I cannot listen to music or play piano and carry on a conversation at the same time.
– You’ve traveled extensively – what’s your favorite city?
Of course I love the Seattle, WA area up to the Canadian border, and Mount Vernon, WA. For towns I’ve gigged at I would pick Albuquerque New Mexico, Hayward Wisconsin, Santa Barbara California and Colorado Springs, CO. My favorite international towns are Kobenhagn Denmark (Copenhagen) and Shanghai China.
– Lol, I read once that you drive rather fast. Any bumper stickers on your vehicle?
ANSWER: Au contraire. My friends all say I drive like an old grandma. I have one bumper sticker – BIG BEAR. It’s from Big Bear Lake in California. I used to do a lot of nature field recording there.
– You’re given 24 hours of sheer bliss and contentment; what would you be doing?
ANSWER: Exactly what I’m doing now. The rest is not appropriate for print.
– What is the most common trait amongst your close friends?
ANSWER: They enjoy least to talk about news and other people, but enjoy most to talk about ideas.
– Three words your family and friends would use to describe you.
ANSWER: My friends are overly generous with me. I cannot post their kind and sometimes admonishing words because then they would be mine, not theirs. So I will answer your question in a more clever fashion.
THREE WORDS FRIENDS USE TO DESCRIBE ME:
- Conrad
- is
- a
– Who have been your greatest mentors/teachers?
ANSWER: George Fiore. Richard Sparks. Marlene McComb. Anne Rossiter. Archie Drake. Billie Jo Richards. George Shangrow. Richard Farner. Ron Stein. Freddy Fender. And I bet that none of them know that! All of these people are truly amazing.
– As a network Administrator, you provide a very large number of forums, including those for discussions of faith. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible?
ANSWER: The books of Corinthians.
– Your experience in the music industry is very diverse, with projects ranging from classical to rap. What is it that would lead you to choose one project over another should they arise at the same time?
ANSWER: That happens a lot. I picture the end product – the one that makes me feel best for the time invested is the one I choose. That might be my Achilles heel.
– I’d rather be dunked in boiling oil than __________?
ANSWER: Do another Karaoke recording demo.
– At what historical world event would you like to have been present?
ANSWER: THE REFORMATION!
– Favorite authors?
ANSWER: Kahlil Gibran. Scott M Peck. Carlos Castaneda.
– You seem to thrive, and indeed, even gravitate towards challenging conditions. Are you a rebel, or a visionary?
ANSWER: If I say I’m a rebel then I sound like a meaningless troublemaker and if I say visionary then I would be pompous. I have heard the “visionary” word thrown my way a lot but think it extremely poorly placed. To me, to be a visionary, you should contribute something that really impacts mankind in a meaningful way. Something that pushes the tipping point in a better direction. Sadly I have yet to do anything remotely like that.
– You’ve been known to really enjoy a good prank; are you someone others avoid on April Fool’s Day?
ANSWER: You’re safe on April Fool’s – but watch out for every other day of the year. (Doing a joke on April Fool’s is too obvious.)
– You compose, conduct, teach, produce, perform – are there any avenues musically you have yet to take your skills to?
ANSWER: I have not written a hit musical. I have not scored a major motion picture release. I have not yet been hired to score a hip hop album with orchestra. I have not conducted an opera. I have not conducted a major symphony. I have not worked for Cirque Du Soleil. I have not been musical director for a long running show on the Las Vegas strip. Yes, there are still a lot of things left to do. Hehe….as I was writing those I had to go back and re-word several of them because I realized that I have or am doing many of them. Life is good.
– You’re a contestant – Fear Factor, or Jeopardy?
ANSWER: JEOPARDY!
– Hilary’s bid for the Presidency is being watched with great interest. What woman (or women) would you like to see nominated?
ANSWER: I don’t see a difference.
– I once said I had a mental picture of you hosting a dozen dinner guests, and breaking the ice by throwing out a very hot topic…then sitting back, and watching with great satisfaction. Tonight, what 12 guests would you like to invite? (And, P.S. – From the thousands of us you have drawn together in various forums, theatres, churches, arenas and numerous other venues, thank you. We’ve enjoyed ‘sitting’ at your table!)
ANSWER: My Twelve Dinner Guests
- Carl Sagan
- Socrates
- Freddy Mercury
- Michael Shermer
- Martin Luther
- J.S. Bach
- Victor Borge
- Paul
- Klaus Nomi
- Orson Welles
- William Shakespeare
- Mark Twain
Then at dinner I turn the conversation over to religion and politics. Ah, what a great round of talk that would be to see. And then they would each have to perform a work of their own creation. Klaus Nomi would not have much to say, I just want to see him perform after dinner. We should probably invite Ann Druyan to keep Carl Sagan in line.