Bobbe Seymour's newsletter

Jory Simmons · Post by **Jory Simmons** » 31 Jul 2008 6:50 am

Did He actually say That singers aren't musicians???? I have a Lot of respect for Bobbe....but come on!!!!!!!!

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 31 Jul 2008 7:21 am

In most cases I would have to agree with Bobbe,but Billie Holiday,Peggy Lee..Most beautiful musical insturments that I've ever heard.I heard Peggy Lee on a recording one time[on a juke box]that I never did,after several plays,figure out just exactly when it was her and not the sax..Her voice blended right into the sax tone..Even our much applauded country hero singer "Ray Price" said his voice was a musical insturment and he treated it as such..Sorry Bobbe..

...PJ...

Gregg Galbraith · Post by **Gregg Galbraith** » 31 Jul 2008 7:38 am

You can't always believe what Bobbe says!

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 31 Jul 2008 8:12 am

Did He actually say That singers aren't musicians????

Like drummers, they just hang out with musicians.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 31 Jul 2008 8:47 am

I agree with Bobbe in that singers aren't musicians as they don't play an instrument. It's like when driving a car, there's the driver and the passenger who's not the driver although he or she is in the car.......

What's worse than that, I saw in the paper this morning in the famous person birthday listings was "Fatboy Slim" who was listed as a musician. Have you ever seen or heard of him? He's a freakin' DeeJay.............JH in Va.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 31 Jul 2008 9:37 am

If you Believed everything Bobbe Said, You'd Be in, as The Native Americans say,
Heap Big Mess!

Now I know Bobbe Wouldn't Tell a Lie, But He might Reach out there and find the outer Limits of the Truth!

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 31 Jul 2008 9:50 am

The American Federation of Musicians does not. They never had to be on the contract.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 31 Jul 2008 10:00 am

..singers aren't musicians as they don't play an instrument.

The way I see it that means they're not instrumentalists, while stating that someone isn't a musician means they don't have musical skills and/or talent - if I were a singer and had spent years and years on developing my craft I would probably have been more than a little upset by such a statement.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 31 Jul 2008 10:18 am

Does the Musician's Union recognize "singers" as "musicians?" I don't think so.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 31 Jul 2008 12:43 pm

I agree with EVERYTHING Mr. Seymore says,Also his opinions of what has is going on in the industry today,If he dose'nt have the credentials to know what he's talking about,NOBODY does,He also has the fortitude and courage to tell it LIKE it is,regardless of the feathers he may ruffle,KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MR.SEYMORE.DYKBC.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 31 Jul 2008 1:00 pm

I agree 100%

Also what he says about supporting live acts. I have about 300 contacts with other musicians in the Seattle area via Myspace. Typically, not 1 person I sent an announcement will be at my shows. I rarely go see their bands either. I guess if we dont support each other who will?

Larry Petree · Post by **Larry Petree** » 31 Jul 2008 1:29 pm

I once worked with a girl that told us that her voice was her instrument. There were times that the rest of the band, wished she would tune her instrument with the rest of us.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 31 Jul 2008 1:34 pm

Bobbe fools alot of people!

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 31 Jul 2008 2:29 pm

Bobbe MAKES fools out of a lot of people would be more correct.DYKBC.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 31 Jul 2008 3:39 pm

Nah, he fools alot of people.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 31 Jul 2008 4:49 pm

wasnt he talking about a few specific singers, and not singers in general? There was also a distinction made between artists and entertainers that I agree with. More spectacle than substance.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 31 Jul 2008 6:31 pm

Nobody can convince me that Ella Fitzgerald wasn't a musician.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 31 Jul 2008 6:40 pm

Bobbe's accomplishments in the steel guitar world AND the music business [and his knowledge of what country music is and is NOT] is good enough for me.When he speaks the TRUTH,he's not fooling anybody,except the ones that don't want to hear it,DYKBC.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 31 Jul 2008 10:29 pm

The voice is a fretless instrument.
Like a violin or steel, it can sound beautiful or horrible, depending on who's playing it.
There are also singers who can sight-read as good as any musician trained in reading.
When I think of great singers, I think of people like Mel Torme, George Jones, Cleo Lane, Vince Gill etc.
(and then there was Tiny Tim ande Mrs. Miller.)

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 1 Aug 2008 3:41 am

I personally think that Bobbe's comment was more a reflection on the current state of "Country Music" and the scene in general than a statement that "singers can not be musicians". No one could deny that singers CAN be musicians. Frank Sinatra is a good example since he did a lot of horn arranging in his time but there are many others that pass the test as well. He made a good case about the deceptive nature of a lot of live performances and the difference between art form and entertainment in the current music scene so taken in context I have to agree with him.

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 1 Aug 2008 5:00 am

I once heard that the definition of a "Singer" is; "Someone who keeps a good song from being a great instrumental!"

Ellis Miller · Post by **Ellis Miller** » 1 Aug 2008 10:44 am

From Webster's Unabridged: Mu*si"cian\, n. [F. musicien.] One skilled in the art or science of music; esp., a skilled singer, or performer on a musical instrument.

I'm thinking ya'll are splitting hairs!

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 1 Aug 2008 11:19 am

I'm thinking ya'll are splitting hairs![/quote]

If I split ALL my hairs,There still wouldn't be enough for a decent "comb over"..

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 1 Aug 2008 11:53 am

Steve N. is right, Bobbe was talking about some specific singers in a news article. The human voice is the original and the greatest musical instrument. But, like any other instrument, some can use it well, and others can't. I think Bobbe just got carried away making a point. I don't think anyone has the right to define another musician they don't care for as not being a musician.

"There's no bad music, just bad performances." - Ornette Coleman

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 1 Aug 2008 2:08 pm

Jerry Hayes wrote:What's worse than that, I saw in the paper this morning in the famous person birthday listings was "Fatboy Slim" who was listed as a musician. Have you ever seen or heard of him? He's a freakin' DeeJay.............JH in Va.

Ouch. You maybe want to consult wikipedia. How big is your footprint in music history?

Martin

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