b'ride the crest of the music businessMusics a hard business, and whenHisre-entrytothebusinessalso Hepointstohisrecentcomposi-in search of greater success, perhapsI got married and we started a fam- coincided with seismic changes in its tion, Michael & Me, as an example.even stardom, or opt for a more tra- ily, they de nitely camein mydynamics. Thatonestartedasafunky rst ditional way of earning a living? life.I didnt want to be on the road Back when radio was king, a sta- groove.I had [bass guitar icon] VictorItsagypsylifestyle,tryingtoI wanted to be at my kids events. tions Program Director might receive Wooteninmindasthesongtookmakeitinthemusicbusiness. AsTo be honest, Im more of an artisthundreds of 45s from aspiring artists shape.It had to allow space for eachmuch as I loved music, I decided Ithan I am a musician.I really enjoyevery month.The record companies instrumenttoexpressitselfthatdidnt want to be a broke artist. the creative process, and I was able toprovided screening for new acts, so gave it the spirit of a jazz piece.Jeremysself-examinationendedsatisfy that need through the mediamost of what landed on the PDs desk Jeremywasthrilledtowhenin an epiphany. company. was worthy of airplay. Wooten agreed to play on the nishedIgotacoursecalendarfromBut life evolves, and again, so didButtoday,homerecordinghas composition.DurhamCollege.IdalwaysbeenJeremy. openedupthemarkettoliterally Hes mind-blowing talented.goodwithart,soIenrolledinaEntering his late 40s as an empty- hundredsofthousandsofartists Jeremy casts an eye toward the fu-graphic arts program. nester,Jeremyactedonapromiseallofthemunscreenedbyarecord ture, which includes further evolution. and all that jazz Thechoicesethimontherighthed made to himself. company.And nowadays the music in his winding path.(continued from page 3) pathforthefuture.AftergainingI was determined, once my kidsstreamingserviceshavecreateda Right now, graphics occupy my I have a vision of an album whereexperience fresh out of college withwere grown and established, that Idglobal marketplace for music. days and the guitars an evening ac- Idbecollaboratingwithdierenthis earlier period.The new directionanestablishedgraphicagency,hereturn seriously to music. He perfectly summed up the situa- tivity.Five years from now, I want to musicians whom I admire, guys whosuitedhisgrowingneedtostretchfounded his own. Andhedid,devotinghiseven- tion he faces. reverse that order. have inuenced mejust like work-himself as an artist. BentDigitalMediasbeensuc- ing free time to his artistic pursuit.Youre a needle in a haystack. Ive reached the stage where I can ing with Victor on Michael & Me.PeriodofDenialwasaseriouscessfulfor21yearsnow.WedoAgain, he was reminded of musicsStill,itisartisticallysatisfying. do music on my own terms, because And who knows what unplannedband, always searching for more andbrochures,magazines,websitede- bitter realities. And hes still growing, this time in yet Im not nancially reliant on it.What watersJeremywillnavigateashedi erentsoundsfromourinstru- velopment, logos.Its provided theYoureprettymuchanobodyanother dierent direction. I produce isnt millionaire stu, but moves toward that next chapter in hisments, he recalls.Myself, I was in- stability I was looking for. unlessyoureaname,hesays.My music is a fusion of jazz and it can provide a decent living and give musicaljourney.Onethingstrigued by time signatures and beganAndstabilitytoppedJeremysMusicians knew me, but not the pub- funk.It fuses the complexity of jazz methesatisfactionofplayingwith for sure: artistically, hell neverprogressing in that direction. prioritiesinlightofsomenewlic.Ididsessionworkandreleasedwithfunk,whichisamorewidely great musicians. stand still.Buthesoonfoundhimselfataresponsibilities. some of my own stu .And there arepopular style.It grew out of my ear- And he drops a hint about his next By Scott Mercer, Rock . Roll . crossroad:wouldhecontinuetoIm a good dog, he laughs.millions of musicians just like me. lier experience with other styles. direction. Focus on ScugogBy Scott Mercer168 QUEEN ST. PORT PERRYwww.brocks.ca4 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2020'