I use the name Ramblin' Bill when I perform.
My performances begin without a lot of fanfare or rhetoric, based upon my assumption that people are there to hear music, not dissertations. "Hello, I'm Ramblin' Bill and it's a pleasure to perform for you today!" Then, I just begin and for the next 1 - 3 hours I sing and play the music Hits that changed the world, in the genre's of Classic Rock, Country, and Blues. I've taken the words, rhythm, and familiar music of the past and blended them together into a concoction that seems to be acceptable to audiences of all ages, no matter what their tastes in music are, with the possible exception of RAP music.
Today, my audiences range in age from infants hearing music for the first time, moving their arms and dancing to my music; to people in my own 'Older Than Dirt' age group.
My job is to get people's hearts, minds, and bodies moving, and if I do my job right, my audiences will wrap their memories and dreams around my music. When I see them tapping their feet or singing along to a song, I know I'm on the right page. I have over 500 songs in my repertoire and when I sit down and open up my book of songs, I am literally prepared to play for 33 hours.
I cover the songs made popular in the past by an exceptional line up of entertainers, who represent the genre's I focus on, among which include:
B. B. King ● Bo Diddley ● Bob Dylan ● Cat Stevens ● Crosby, Stills, & Nash ● Delbert McClinton ● Fleetwood Mac ● J.J. Cale ● John Lee Hooker ● Johnny Cash ● Lynyrd Skynyrd ● Lightning Hopkins ● Muddy Waters ● Neil Diamond ● Neil Young ● Otis Redding ● The Band ● The Bee Gees ● The Doors ● The Moody Blues ● The Rolling Stones ● Van Morrison ● Waylon Jennings ● Willie Nelson ● etc.
I practice 2 hours a day and if it's in front of an audience that tips me a few bucks or buys one of my cd's, I'm delighted, so I don't hesitate to find a park, restaurant/bar, assisted living facility, or shopping center to practice in. Whether inside playing a venue or outside in a park enjoying nature, my job is to entertain my audiences, which includes bringing a smile to their faces and I earnestly and encourage them to sing and clap along. I am delighted if they have their own instruments to jam along with my music.
As a business man, I know that venues have to focus on profit and the reduction of costs, and there is always concerns about hiring an entertainer. It costs money! But if the profit is greater than the cost, most venue managers and owners will consider entertainment an asset rather than a liability.
I'll work with businesses or municipalities to insure they get their money's worth by giving me access to their customers.
