Don’t quit your day job.

Am I the only person who has ever wondered what Fred Flinstone was listening to as he hopped into his car after a long day as a "bronto crane operator" at Slate Rock and Gravel Company?  I like to think that he was hearing Workingman's Dead, the fifth album by the band the Grateful Dead.   According to one interview with legendary front man Jerry Garcia, the title of the album comes from the band returning to the Pacific High Recording Studio in San Francisco to record the album in nine days, after taking approximately 7 months of studio sessions to record the album's predecessor, "Aoxomoxoa".  And on some days, maybe Mr. Flinstone was hearing the Rush song, "Working Man" which includes the lyrics, "I get up at seven, yeah/And I go to work at nine/I got no time for livin'/Yes, I'm workin' all the time".   There are many artists who work extremely hard to become full-time musicians: some wearing many hats to get there and others who show a diverse skill set to maintain their place in the world of music.

My friend Jeff S. called Stone Gossard the working man’s musician.  Primarily known as the rhythm and lead guitarist for Pearl Jam, but he is also a songwriter.  8 of the 11 tracks on Pearl Jam's debut album, "Ten", were musically written or co-written by Gossard, including "Alive" & "Even Flow".   Gossard is also a lyricist.  He penned the "Yield" song "All Those Yesterdays" and the "Binaural" song "Thin Air".   Not limited to being in the spotlight, Gossard's credits also include working as a producer.  His most notable production roles with the bands Satchel, Green Apple Quick Step and Critters Buggin’.  And to top it off, all of his production work comes from within the walls of his own recording studio, the prestigious Studio Litho, in Seattle which still operates today, with Gossard as the owner.

I also think of Ahmir Khalib “?uestlove” Thompson who has written, performed and produced for his own Grammy Award winning band The Roots.  Known for a jazzy and eclectic approach to hip-hop featuring live musical instruments, The Roots have risen from the streets of Philadelphia (a well-intended nod to blue collar musician Bruce Springsteen) to record a Top 40 song,  "You Got Me" and are now the house band on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  And although he is best known as the drummer and joint front man, Thompson also works as a DJ, journalist, arranger and record producer.  He has produced for such heavy-hitting artists including Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu and Jay-Z.  He has also played drums on John Mayer's song "Clarity" and he has arranged and drummed on Joss Stone's cover of the White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a Girl".

It appears that it is this non-stop work ethic that separates those musicians just happy to create their own music and those driven to take it to another level.  Those artists willing to recreate themselves and lend a hand to all parts of the music making process.  “Yabba-Dabba Do”. 

Thanks for reading.