Work may not always be what you want it to be, but if you make the best of it and surround yourself with people you like, then it can be something special.
That is the message of a documentary called The Wrecking Crew, about a loosely-knit group of top-ranked session musicians – numbering as many as fifteen or more — who backed some of the greatest artists of their time, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, as well as backing for groups like the Beach Boys, The Byrds and the Monkees.
The core of the group was Tommy Tedesco on guitar, Hal Blaine on drums and Carole Kaye on bass. At least two of the Crew became solo artists: guitarist Glen Campbell and pianist Leon Russell.
Music lessons
What we learn by watching the documentary produced by Denny Tedesco, Tommy’s son, is the commitment to craft that each musician brought to their gigs. Each was highly skilled on their instrument and talented at adding something special to what they played. Here’s what I gained from watching them.
Respect for craft. Know what you can do. Practice your “instrument.” And keep in tune with your colleagues, from whom you can learn.
Respect for process. Making music is a joy, but it is also hard work. It requires a blending of skills to meld with the other artists to produce the sound that is just right for the song you are creating.
Respect for the artists. Session musicians are paid by the gig. They are not the stars, but they support the stars. (Or if doing a jingle for a commercial, the product.)
And lastly, there was a respect for one another. Because they played together on so many gigs, they became like family. They brought a sense of camaraderie to the sessions that not only enabled them to collaborate more fully with one another but also made it comfortable for the name artists they were backing.
Keep believing in yourself.
There was a downside to being a session guy. No publicity for what they did. Their names rarely appeared on the credits of the records they produced. Their recognition came from being recognized by the music producers and artists who hired them.
There is one story that deserves special mention. A young trumpet player was breaking into the business in the early Sixties. He had a good Latin sound and was trying to get his first record produced. So, breaking union rules, he hired a bunch of studio guys from the Wrecking Crew and paid them $15 for the session, a paltry sum.
Lo and behold, the song they recorded was “Taste of Tijuana,” and it soared to number one. Herb Alpert was the trumpeter, and unlike so many in the entertainment industry, he did right by the musicians. He went to the union, paid a fine for not paying scale and sent each of the session musicians a check for their work.
Sometimes artistry does pay.
Posted 6.07.2006