I love playing guitars and own a couple of Gibsons.  Of course, most of you know how much I love to sing.  I'm a tenor and was the original lead singer for Acappella.  I love leading groups, and have led various kinds of bands in the past.  Dealing with voice rest and voice overuse is a regular experience for me.  Recently I posted about how I enjoy Paul McCartney's creative talents and I recently posted a story about Beach Boy's Brian Wilson.  My friend, Roger Ferguson, shared some of these things with me.

What do all of these things have in common?  I believe many of you will find this Gibson Guitar Magazine interview that Courntey Grimes conducted with Jeffrey Foskett, Brian Wilson's band leader, to be most interesting.  Here are some excerpts:
 
CG: What has it been like being the Musical Director for Brian Wilson? What has been your biggest challenge there?
JF: With Brian, I am the one in charge on stage. Brian looks to me to make sure that everyone is at sound check on time, is singing the correct part and basically has it together. Of course he is totally capable of doing these things himself and often asks "who just sang that note?" when he hears something amiss. I think it's easier for him to rely on me to do the day to day business of keeping things flowing smoothly on stage. Everyone in this great band is a pro. There are no ego hang-ups, (except mine), and we have grown into a very tight knit group of singers and players. I think one of our highest compliments came from Sir Paul McCartney. I was having a conversation with Cameron Crowe recently and he told me that he was talking with Sir Paul about Brian and his band and McCartney's response was, "Oh they're the best band in the business, everyone knows that." That's quite a statement from such a luminary.
 
My biggest challenge is to keep my voice fit for the shows. As was the case when I was with The Beach Boys, in Brian's band I sing all of the highest notes in the show. I was never a guy to go hang out in the bar or stay out late, so I think that has served me well over the years. I don't talk after shows and talk as little as possible during the day. Although the guys in the band are used to my weird habits, sometimes that is misunderstood by the general public. I'm not trying to be rude by making hand gestures instead of carrying on a conversation with fans after the shows, I am simply trying to preserve my voice for the next night.
 
. . . Later in the interview Jeffrey goes on to say:

JF: I love that God has given me such a great gift in my voice and guitar playing ability. I sometimes say I hold the guitar as a way to get on stage and sing. I love playing guitar but I am not nearly the guitar player that I am singer. God has truly gifted me with a great voice. What I love most about my career is that I get to make a living doing something that I really love to do. I don't consider my job ... a job. It is truly a joy!

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To top off this interesting article, Jefferey Foskett has chosen at least one song written by my good friend Roger Ferguson to use on a future project.  Way to go Roger!  Now I have to post the star photo I took of you on our trip to New Zealand, so I can get a jump on the paparazzi.