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Editorial writer and former music critic Eric Deggans wonders this: Could Prince get a recording contract in 2005? Yeah, him, Grammy Award winner this year for “Musicology” and the star of “Purple Rain” two decades ago.

Prince Rogers Nelson is a skilled musician in addition to singer, songwriter and producer. He honed his instrumental chops in clubs and at concerts, and of course in solitude at practice. Today, there are fewer places to play live music, explained Deggans, and fewer places to learn to play instruments.

Heck, the music industry has computer technology, so producers may not see a need for musicians.




Are we witnessing a talent drain just days before the month-long celebration of Black Music Month, recognition in June of a multibillion dollar phenomenon that Philadelphian Dyana Williams calls “one of America’s greatest exports?"

“Recording with instruments came from the ranks of people who played live,” said Deggans, a staffer of the St. Petersburg Times. “There was an economic incentive to play instruments. Now, we’ve reached a point where that’s not happening.”

Many public schools, financially stressed for decades, cut music instruction programs. That’s a travesty, said Williams, president of the International Association of African-American Music. “In this country we’ve abandoned music programs. Music is a healing force. Children are less prone to act up,” she said, when they receive music instruction.

Williams acknowledged that the numbers of musicians are shrinking, yet she said “there are still pockets” of young people learning the craft.

So where is this talent being cultivated?

“When I hear about drummers,” said Deggans, who happens to be one, “they’re out of church, the only place where there seems to be live music.”

Mark Anthony Neal, author of several books on black popular music, seconded that emotion.

“The black church has always been a training ground for black musicians of all genres,” he said. “With the attacks on music programs in public schools and the lack of venues in close proximity to black communities, the church is even more important in that regard, not just for musicianship, but access to the intricate harmonies featured in much of our vocals.” Neal is an associate professor of black popular culture at Duke University.

“Drummers, keyboard, guitar and bass players are learning to play and perfect their skills in the black church,” added Portia Maultsby, professor of Ethnomusicology at Indiana University. “Church musicians are also giving music lessons to the youth of the church and providing opportunities to perform.”

Yet, Neal acknowledged, “Not everybody who is singing and playing come from church, so it’s been interesting to see young cats learn how to program music on drum machines and the like.”

“This generation has become accustomed to Pro Tools,” Williams explained, referring to the computer program that can convert sounds into digital information, simulate instruments and can correct a singer’s pitch or a drummer’s timing.

Deggans noted that the computer program has also freed producers who can play a keyboard to create music and do sequencing, then call in musicians if there is a compelling need for them.

“Everything is specialized now,” he said. “That does not leave a lot of room for musicians to play.”

If that statement is true, what a doggone shame. For every new recording that has synthesized instruments and even vocals, they are nowhere near as moving as the organic sounds of drums, organs, tambourines and other instruments played creatively with human hands that produce sounds that tingle the spine and nourish the soul.

Williams, who said she co-wrote legislation that eventually got Black Music Month recognized with a presidential proclamation, sounds like a clear-eyed realist not smothered in nostalgia. “Of course [the decline in musicians] is cause for alarm,” she said, “but it’s not going to change any time soon. The pendulum must swing back.”

That means parents must step and provide music lessons for their children and battle with school districts to keep music programs as they fight to raise reading, writing and ‘rithmetic standards. And churches can be continued to be mined as places producing sacred and secular music.

Just don’t sacrifice of Black music heritage to technology and neglect. Creativity and time spent sharpening musical skill with an instrument matters.

Just ask that true funk soldier, Prince.

Excellent article that spoke the truth. Great read and thread! Thanx.

I agree, good read.

wow...so could he get a recording contract this year?

great article by the way.

pr1ncecismylover said:

You would think since that is the lead-off question to the story that at some point the writer would answer that question.
He never does.
It could have been a great article except he is writing 2 articles at once.
The first one is could Prince get a contract if he were starting out today?
This story he abandons after the second paragraph and starts a new story on where are the musicians of tomorrow coming from. Then at the end of the story he brings up Prince again like that somehow ties it all together.
This writer needs an editor.
But thats the problem with blogs is now everyone
considers themselves a writer & a critic.
[Edited 5/27/05 15:06pm]

Its only an opinion.

thedoorkeeper said:

You mean, sorta like you?...

Seeing how much music has changed over the years,I dont think that his style of music would be very popular, therefore leading him to not get an contract. But if I were in charge of an record company, I would sign him in an heart beat.

Prince would get a deal, a damn good one. Probably better than the one he had when he signed way back when. Independent artist have done quite well for themselves, the way I see it Prince would probably get a Master P type deal, get rich off his first couple of albums, do a remix with Jay-Z and Kanye about how much money he's got and how his Bentley's got 24 inch rims with spinners, and finally, shoot to r&b stardom with his DR DRE lace ode to the chronic "Purple Haze".
[Edited 5/27/05 22:45pm]

popgodazipa said:

Bullshit. Prince's classic records are nothing but synthesized sounds, sequenced, programmed and plastic to the core. Why do "articles" like this continue to keep surfacing time after time?

Novabreaker said:

yes prince used many electronic pieces of equipment BUT !!!
it was a choice...he can play the hell out of the drums ...keyboards...guitar...bass...he can sing (in tune)...and dance...and he can and DID toss all that stuff at different points in his career in favor of more traditional instrumentation...this article is true...i make my living playing music...and i wouldnt have a clue about how to get down if i didnt grow up in the last era of BADASS black musicianship ...prince ..the time...jessie ...these were my first music teachers...today id be looking up to some hoodlum bopping his head while pressing play on a drum machine talking about..."yo dis sample is off the chain my n_gg_a ...."

As Prince told Chris Rock when he was asked that question: "Oh yeah, I'd get a record deal." Prince is very smart. He knows what to do.

GoldiesParade said:

That doesn't negate the need to support it.

Novabreaker said:

Yeah, but you have to put it all in the proper perspective too. When Prince used "synthesized" sounds, that was by design - he was doing it to be different and creative. In Prince's mind, the intro to "1999" for example, was written for organic horns, he only used synths to be different. You have to remember that coming out of the 70's and into the 80's the big band sound of "Earth, Wind and Fire" was very common. So again, Prince used synths to stand apart. But if you listen to the synth horn lines, in just about anything written by Prince, they are clearly written for live horns. And that is the key... Prince actually created and wrote horn parts because he was talented enough to do so. He didn't sample "Earth, Wind and Fire", he created his own stuff! and therein lies the difference of what is often missing in today's music - especially in R&B.

FutureShock said:

Agreed. You gotta know the rules B4 u can break the rules.
[Edited 5/28/05 17:02pm]

cranshaw62 said:

I couldn't agree more...Prince could pop up in almost any generation and I believe he would be the musical force he has been in the last 25 years. He is the total package: musician, singer, composer, dancer, intelligent, and--most importantly-- infinitely determined. The man completely believes in himself and his craft, and -thankfully- never gives up doing what he wants and how he wants to do it.

You people think making music on the computer is easy? Try to make something that is enough good to be released and will indeed get released, on a real label, and you'll see.

Of course if this article's about classic African-American music about being far better than today's hip-hop balony then I wholeheartedly agree. But music - any kind of music - having soul, quality or artistic vision has nothing to do with the "authenticity" of the used sound souces. If it would I'd have to say there's still more soul on my Logitech wheel mouse than there ever was on my Fender Stratocaster, when I still used to play it 35-60 hours a week.

Novabreaker said:

Everyone who likes to make music has their instrument(s) of choice.

I just can't really LOSE myself in the creation of sounds staring at a monitor. I find it a bit distracting.

Just headphones, instruments (yes, a drum machine, too) and a recorder.

I was never schooled in church, but I know many kids that had the desire to learn an instrument on their own akkord(sp?) Is that the next wave, then?

Morrissey and Prince are true funk soldiers
[Edited 5/30/05 12:22pm]

PurpleKnight said:

I might be inclined to agree. However, I must say that I understand that Prince was being used as an extreme example to prove a point: the state of music today is such that even the single best musician in the world may be overlooked by the industry. As you said, I think the writer doesnt illustrate that irony which was generated from the hypothectical question that he poses at the beginning.

It is food for thought - but its only a snack

PurpleKnight said:

Actually, you need to blame the person who posted the article on The Org. If you actually click on the link to the website provided, there is a different title which is: "Commentary: Want More Meaningful Music? Support Real Musicianship"

When a source is provided, check it.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

I wouldn't blame the consumer as much as I would blame the industry. The industry in the late 70's and early 80's allowed Prince to grow into the artist we know and love today. I don't think there was anymore widespread acceptance of Prince back then initially than there would be today. It's just that the industry let Prince be Prince, and over time, more and more people caught on. But it took time... and that is the kind of time simply not granted to young aspiring muscians nowdays.

It's all about bottom-line profit now. And as a result, the dumbing-down of music has occurred. It takes time to acquire a taste for something that is deep and complex. But if all one hears on the radio is music that is the equivalent of music on the 1st grade level, then how can music progress? So, that's not the consumer's fault. It's the fault of the industry which has little or no patience for anyone that doesn't turn a quick profit - talent be damned!

FutureShock said:

Good points. I should have been more explicit in my initial post in relation to the strict gender lines. I agree the changes we've seen are mainly corporate driven.

actually, its the fault of the industry AND the consumer.
its the part of the industry 4 the reasons you mentioned.
but this is why it is the fault of the consumer also:

they're too CLOSED MINDED. kids today, alot of them, focus only on what they hear constantly and/or whats "new".
for example, we have 2 sing worlds greatest 4 our graduation...and alot of people were like, that old shit?!...but just a few yrs ago they were ALL feeling it.
its about whats popular. they listen to and form their taste around whats in at the moment. if consumers would stop being so damn CLOSED MINDED and ROBOTIC and ZOMBIE like, and buy what they really like instead of what they're TOLD to like, then music wouldn't be in the state its in..bumbling bs rappers with bs beats wouldn't rule. they'd exist no doubt but they wouldn't rule
i'm not saying musicians have to rule either, but atleast there would be more REAL TALENT, or atleast room for it

Moonwalkbjrain said:

I agree with what you're saying but let's be clear. There are no dumbass kids being forced to listen to anything, there are just dumb ass parents who don't expose their kids to original music. Robots aand close minds are just the uninformed, that's what Princes' last tour was about, "hello people, this is a guitar", that line just makes me laugh but it is true.

Everyone can do their part by turning the young on to real music that require musicians to perform it. If they don't know how can you talk bad about them? You can't, just show them the error in their understanding and ACT by showing them some Earth Wind and Fire or Curtis Mayfield, when they call it old, give them a lesson in James Brown and they will quickly shut up and learn.

As far as that article, any animal can write better and stay on point.
[Edited 6/1/05 14:00pm]

Slave2daGroove said:

i feel what ur saying..and its true...and so the uninformed don't apply..HOWEVER, i do not believe 4 a single moment that there is a kid in this whole friggin world whose parent hasn't been playing some older artist in the house...whether it be at a cook out (the most obvious place 4 this 2 happen), in the car, at a party, or just lounging i think its safe the say that EVERY kid has had a taste of the old..just as they are having a taste of the new... and as far as i see it, they chose the new over the old. sad, but true

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

-----
Co-Sign P would find work as a musician but to be the signed to a contract and have the freedom he had. It just does not happen today and audiences are much to conservative. Look at American Idol as an example.