When touring and opening up for major acts in concert, a few of them told me that they had more fun when they were up-and-coming than they did once that made it.

There were pressures, schedules, promotional appearances and the feeling that they were a cog in a giant wheel.

However, not one of those people told me that they would quit the big time and big money and then go back to being small-time.

I 'almost' made the big time once. Our manager and the label couldn't agree on money (the label wanted to p i m p us) so the deal fell through.

We were severely disappointed at that time, and it broke the band up.

I went back to 6 days a week, and 5 hours a night for 1/4 the money.

Decades later, I realize it just was part of life's adventure, and to be treated as a peer by the stars of the day was an experience most musicians never get. Another good thing about never attaining stardom is that I'm not a has-been. wink

Since then, other than 2 attempts at being normal, I have made my life doing music and nothing but music. Again, I'm luckier than most.

I'm having a happy life, living it on my own terms and instead of saying "I have to go to work today", I say, "I GET to go to work today." And that's a good way to live.

Long ago I quit comparing myself to the great sax players. I do try to learn from them, and even the passive listening I do for my own enjoyment gets internalized and comes out in little ways.

And (back on topic) there is no definitive 'greatest' list in any of the arts. Was Picasso better than Dali? Was Stan Getz better than John Coltrane? How about Maria Callas vs. Renée Fleming? Mikhail Baryshnikov vs. Rudolf Nureyev? Muddy Waters vs. B.B. King? Tchaikovsky vs. Shostakovitch? Tolstoy vs. Dostoyevsky?

When it comes to art, it's a matter of taste. My greatest might not agree with your greatest and we could both be right --- or wrong.

It doesn't matter. Just enjoy what you like.

I like quite a few on that list, some don't speak to me musically, but I don't dislike any of them and they are all worthy.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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