Remember when you were in high school and you thought music was primary to your existence? Maybe you dreamt of joining a rock band, recording pop hits, touring the country, performing for adoring fans, and writing and singing world-altering lyrics.
In those days, the music we heard on the radio was the voice of our generation, and many of us were absolutely convinced nothing could rival the experience of performing these songs. I’ll bet some of you even got your hands on a cheap guitar or electric bass in hopes of making it big in the music business.

Life on the road with a band seemed like an exciting and glamorous existence back then, and I envied people who actually “lived the dream.”

Sadly for this farm-raised trumpet-playing band nerd, the dream soon began to fade. It didn’t take me long to realize I was doomed to spend my high school career playing trumpet in the pit for the school musicals, providing taps at the local cemetery, and producing the trumpet “horse whinny” at the end of Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride at the holiday band concert. This wasn’t exactly world-altering stuff, and besides my mother, there were no adoring fans to speak of.

It was only a few years later I realized life on the road was not as glorious as I once believed. As luck would have it, horn bands were popular during my college years, and I found myself touring with a seven-piece group over the summer. Living on a converted school bus, eating cold meat sandwiches, and cleaning up in gas station restrooms was not exactly the way I had envisioned the world of Eric Clapton or Jim Morrison. It was at this time that I began to warm up to the prospect of a 9 to 5 job and my very own bathroom.

Because of this experience, I’ve gained a deep respect for those musicians who dedicate themselves to road life and the music they love. I am particularly fascinated by the blues bands that appear at the Blues in Central Park series. These bands tour constantly, performing 200-300 shows per year throughout the U.S. and Europe. And while I am certain they enjoy living conditions superior to what I recall, life on the road nevertheless requires a kind of stamina few of us could muster.

On Thursday, June 16, Kelly Richey appears with her power trio on the Central Park stage. Richey, a Cincinnati-based blues singer/guitarist/songwriter, will perform throughout the country this year, and also will tour Europe.

Joe Bonamassa brings his band to Central Park on Thursday, July 21. Since opening for B.B.King when he was 12 years old, Bonamassa has enjoyed a wildly successful career as a touring blues guitarist and recording artist. He’ll conduct two separate European tours in May and June prior to his Decatur appearance. Influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughn and Robben Ford, Billboard Magazine calls Bonamassa “a bold talent.” This concert will be a series highlight, so don’t miss it.

Finally on Thursday, August 18, Motor City Josh takes the stage with what he describes as “funky blues you can’t refuse!” Based in Chicago, Josh performs an impressive 300 shows per year, mostly in the United States, England, and Scotland.

While I’m sure none of these blues artists tours in a converted school bus or lives on cold meat sandwiches, their grueling tour schedules are still impressive. And I bet if you asked them about the hardships of the road, they’d say they wouldn’t have it any other way. These people are highly skilled and artistically driven musicians who want nothing more than to perform. The road life enables them to do just that.

All three Blues in Central Park shows, presented by Decatur Magazine for the fifth year, are scheduled from 7-10 p.m., with food and beverages available starting at 6 p.m.

For twenty-five years, Randy Reyman has tried to convince his relatives that “college music professor/professional trumpeter” is in fact a real job. He’s still trying.

This article originally appeared in the June / July 2005 issue of Decatur Magazine.
It may not be reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the publisher's consent.
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