"T-Bone" Wolk Passes

The legendary bassist and ardent sideman "T-Bone" Wolk passed away over the weekend. If you are not aware of him he was the bassist in the Saturday Night Live band for many years and played for countless artists throughout the years most notably Hall & Oates.

Though I never met him his style was very unique. His sound was very soulful yet he had a masterful grasp of what worked in the pop world as well. John Oates of Hall & Oates wrote this about him, "He made everyone he played with better. So many times when I'm working on a musical passage or part, I think to myself, 'How would T-Bone play this?" and aspire to his level every time I perform.

Wow what a quote! What a lesson for all of us Sidemen! Making everyone else we play with better. T-Bone was the ultimate Team Player! A true art of a great Sideman. Looking to better the band and artist you are working with. This is a HUGE key to job security!

The "Team Player" concept will be discussed further in more detail later.

Sideman Pro honors "T-Bone" Wolk for his masterful contribution to the musician world. Thank you for your tone and talent!

Welcome...

Welcome to Sideman Pro! This blog is being started in hopes of inspiring and informing all of you aspiring musicians out there on how to succeed as a touring and recording professional.

With over fifteen years as a professional guitarist I can't tell you how many times I've been asked,

"How do you get into doing what you do?"

There are no online job postings or career fairs that inform you to who is looking for a "new guitarist with great singing ability" out there. Or you will never see a Craigslist posting that states "Super Star Faith Hill looking for Drummer! Please call."

But don't fret! (no pun intended) Having played and performed with many hugely successful artists across the genre spectrum throughout the years and experienced firsthand the audition process, I'm quite convinced there are tried and true steps to being "discovered", landing and KEEPING the gig.

Sideman Pro is THE forum to discuss and equip the next generation of musicians for the real world of the touring and recording professional.

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