Rock 'n' Roll

Hi Mark,
Wow! What a blast working with Sherry on Saxophone Rock! She's sharper than 3 tacks. To give you a little history on this, I wrote the song from scratch at age 16 (51 years ago). It is about 80% true. I have been married to "my little mamma" for 47 years and actually "stole" her from my drummer. I had a band called "The Crystals" at that time, but never played the song in the band (obvious reasons). I burried it and it stayed burried all that time. Strangely, I found it a few months ago nestled among my old Schillinger Jazz books. I hope Schillinger never finds out! Sherry can tell you more about what part BIAB played in the song. I did the solos on my keyboard (that's the reason it took so long) and I was never happy with them, somehow it just "ain't the same" as playing a sax. I liked the piano part too, and I had a big problem adding sax to the rest of the song because I didn't want to encroach on the flavor. I finally got the idea to use the bass part and edit it a little to fit the sax. It turned out to be the right thing to do. Sherry is doing the vocal also. We're equal partners in crime. It would have been great to have had you join in the fun, but I can only imagine how busy you've been.
Fred

Hello Fred and Sherry,

This is a remarkable collaborative effort you two have done, congratulations!

This sort of collaborative composing has been going on in the Internet for years, but I haven't taken a close look at what people have come up with. The end result of your joint effort, the music, is quite admirable. But also, the way you worked together is quite admirable.

I hope we'll see more of this kind of collaborative music making in this forum.

Please do post the music here when you're ready.

Cheers
-- Mark

Hi Sherry,
Nah! I can't do the vocal. I wouldn't mind having a karaoke type file for it, but my voice isn't made for rock & roll. My experience in that arena was limited to " doo wap, doo wap" and "sha na na na". I would love an MP3 of the final product. I think you are elected for the vocal. It might also be a lot of fun to have everybody who wants to have some fun chime in and sing it, too. I know Tim can do it. His "Baby, I really got to go" cracks me up.
If I had known 50 years ago that this thing would be on something called the "Internet" I would have added a 4th chord.
Have fun!!!!
Fred

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the compliments. Sherry and I did put in a lot of time, and had a lot of fun doing it. I also learned a lot from the experience. I think working with others adds motivation. Working with Sherry made the whole thing really interesting. I agree with you, it would be great to have more of this type of collaboration on the forum. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with someone with so much skill. I welcome any chance to do it again.
Fred

Hello Sherry,
Wow! You Da Lady!!!!!!!!!! How, in the name of Herbie Hancock, did you come up with that growl in the sax? What a Master! The sax level is perfect. I would raise the volume slightly on the piano and a tiny bit on the bass. The drum and organ volume is perfect, too.
It would be great to have both a karaoke version and a finished version. It probably would be a good idea to have a midi version of the accompaniment, too. Great job! Thanks again!
Fred

Hi Sherry,
You once sent me the Roland Super Tenor soundfont, but it was a .rar file and I coulnd't find a way to use it. I can download a trial version of WinRar, but the file is not the typical .zip file. The icon is the windows icon that denotes the file can't be opened without knowing which program created it. I'm not sure if I actually unzipped an original zip file or not to get the .rar file. If it is available as an SF2 file, I can use it. I'll have to check that all out. Thanks.
BTW I also found that Roland file on some web site but I don't remember which one either.
Fred

Hi Sherry,
Everything sounds good to me! I really like the reverb, too. That's cool! Ain't we got fun?

Freddie The Rocker (don't tell Peabody)

Hi Sherry,
Oh No, the reverb is perfect! I like it.

I can do the melody line if you like. E is not my key, but it will give me some needed practice. Anybody that wants to sing it will do their own thing anyway.

Peabody? I don't know about today, but back then there sure were not any rock and roll classes. Would you believe that my entire band consisted of nothing but serious classical and jazz musicians from Peabody and Juliard? At least most of us used stage names. (Mine was Freddie Brent).You couldn't make a dime then playing jazz, all the money was in rock and roll. We did upgrade when we went on the road and did mostly Chicago, Blood Sweat And Tears, Three Dog Night, etc. We also had a 40 minute show with nothing but the Beatles. And we all wore long wigs. It was a panic! Oh well, back to the present day. I have to run down to North Carolina now, but I'll work on the melody line when I get back.

Fred

Hello Fred and Sherry,

Congratulations on finishing this song. It sounds great!

Are you going to publish an MP3 of this on the 'net somewhere, such as at soundclick.com? Lots of folk need to hear it.

Cheers
-- Mark

Hi Sherry,

If you are sending me a CD of the wav files, if there is room form some of the sound fonts on the same CD that would be great. My dial-up connection is ssslllloooowwww. Thanks again!

Fred

Hi Mark,

Thank you!! Saxophone Rock MP3 is now published on my soundclick web site. You can hear it at:

www.soundclick.com/fredwinterling

Fred

It's a hot summer night in 1955 and we're in the White Hut, less for the fries dripping grease, than the juke box, which is never silent because the supply of quarters is virtually endless. Louis inserts a thumb and forefinger into a small pocket in his black leather jacket and they emerge with one of those between them. To please our girls, he plays two by Elvis, but the third is a new one, called "Saxophone Rock."

Cool sound and nice memories, you guys.

best,
mgj

Thanks MG,
I remember my black leather jacket, too. Would you believe I still have enough hair left in the back to comb it into a D.A.? Those were the days!
Fred

Hi Sherry,
Thanks! Good idea!

Fred

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for your support of Saxophone Rock on the soundclick web site! After only one day, it is #68 out of 853 songs in the Rock & Roll category, and it is being downloaded. Not only that, but my other songs are also being downloaded for the first time. If you haven't heard it, go to my web site or Sherry's and help us push it higher. Thanks again!
Fred

www.soundclick.com/fredwinterling