Would it have been possible?

[An Enormous BB Fan]

If not for the influence of Burt's mother, Burt claims that he wouldn't have studied the piano. So let's suppose that Burt's mother had no influence on him and suppose that Burt had never taken piano lessons. Do you think that Burt would have grown up and never composed music?

[steveo_1965]

Great question....
I think Burt would not have been a composer if his mother had not insisted he take lessons...He even admits that...says he would have been a clothes salesman or rep, etc. Also, he loved sports.
Now me, I can't really remember how I got into music, but I think it was something I had to do, as I was always listening to records. Even as a little child my ear was glued to Glenn Miller on the old 78's. We had a huge cabinet with a quility 78 player(Philco) with a big speaker....now when the Beatles hit about 10 years later....I "had" to learn to play the guitar...there were no 2 ways about it. The Beach Boys and The 4 Seasons helped confirm my detrermination to be, well...at least as
good, or try to come up to their standard of musicianship. So, although Im not a succesful composer, I am a very good musician. No lessons were given on piano or guitar...I decided to flesh it out.

Steveo

p.s. the strangest thing happened when i was about 8..my grandmother, of all people, randomly picked up 2 discs, 78s that were sold for 49 cents each from a market, and gave them to me.
The music on them went against the grain of music that was on the radio, such as Ricky Nelson, etc..they were wierd little jazz records...
1. Brainwave by George Shearing(amazing blind pianist)
2. Sleighride by the Herb Geller sextette...(fantastic sax player, ala Charlie Parker)
i still love both of these records, and they are genius!
(my grandmother had no idea!)

[vincent.cole]

Bonjour An Enornous BB Fan;

In the Burt interview, "Coming of Age Sunday morning 2002," Burt told the host, that he would have gone in the clothing business! Burt's father had ties to that industry. Thank goodness, Burt's mother saw something in her son!!!

Take care mon ami.

Vincent

[An Enormous BB Fan]

Thanks for the replies Steve and Vincent.

I have a different take on this. I think that Burt would have ended up a composer no matter what. Obviously, there's no way to prove this. It's just that I can't imagine someone who has this genius for composing would never have ended up a composer. The idea that Burt Bacharach would have gone through life selling shirts is totally incomprehensible to me. To me, it's like saying that Thomas Edison would have gone through life and never invented anything, or that Michaelangelo would never have been an artist. I believe certain people are destined to do that which is inside of them. I believe that Burt is one of these lucky people.

[steveo_1965]

Enormous,
Thants a very good theory..one I entertained myself before answering your question. I think your thought
has a lot of merit.

Steveo