Welcome

Welcome Dear Supporters and Participants of On That Note!

This blog was created with the intent to showcase and promote a project called  “On That Note…Sidemen Tell Their Side” (Copyright 2007 © All Rights Reserved), dedicated to celebrating the “unsung heroes” of the music business: world-class musicians often working behind the scenes and in the background, just to the side of the spot light. It is all about sidemen (and women) who whole-heartedly share with us their gift of music. These are in fact, the individuals  who create the real magic of music that draws us in, captures our hearts and takes us on a journey that spans generations and genres. Furthermore, this project is about bringing musicians and their fans up close, allowing for a more intimate glimpse inside the world of sidemen and opening up a possibility for a dialogue exchange that will inspire and educate in the process.

PLEASE BE SURE TO VISIT OTHER PAGES OF THIS BLOG BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS LOCATED ON TOP OF THIS PAGE & TO THE RIGHT: Sidemen/Participants, About Ilona, Events

But first, defining the term sideman -  A SIDEMAN is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he is not a regular member. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit smoothly into the group in which they are currently playing. Many sidemen are famous in their own right, however, and may be highly sought-after by bands. Often sidemen go on to form their own groups and/or solo careers…(Wikepedia)

How did this project begin?

It all began a long time ago…  As far back as I can remember, I was a musician. Growing up in the former Soviet Union, I was exposed to great music from early on. My father met my mother while singing and playing Jazz at the time when the Communist Party claimed Jazz to be a form of anarchy and therefore pronounced it anti-communist. Although my parents got divorced when I was two years old, I inherited my musical talent from him. This led me to study classical piano and all other music related subjects for about ten years until I left Kiev in 1979. My aspiration was to become a music teacher and live happily ever after. Little did I know, there was another plan in store for me. My mother knew well that staying in the country with rampant anti-Semitism during those years, would be detrimental to my success and happiness, and so she quietly planned our escape to the US. In January of 1979 we emigrated, finally leaving behind a regime that was built on control and persecution.

Looking back at those years growing up in the Old Country, I can still recall how precious yet challenging it was for us to witness a live musical performance. To purchase a record made in USA was almost impossible. Back in the Soviet Union music fans would spend their entire months paycheck to see a concert (or purchase a pair of American blue jeans). My cousin, Vadim, was making lots of rubles by reselling American Jazz, Rock’n Roll and Blues records on the black market to the music fans in Kiev, which nearly landed him in prison. Immigrating to the United States in 1979 with my mother and thousands of other Jewish refugees escaping the Soviet regime, I never anticipated ending up in Los Angeles, eventually meeting Gerry Brown (a legendary master drummer), and writing a book about the one subject I had loved for so long.

About three years ago, shortly after Gerry and I met, I decided to take some time away from my thriving Interior Design business and get a peek into his life on the road as a touring musician. At that time, Gerry was performing with Diana Ross, and the band was going to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. I had never been to Australia, so this was a great opportunity to get a taste of this far-away land as well as to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the man I fell in love with, Gerry Brown.

It was on our way from Sydney to Melbourne, sitting on the tour bus for hours with members of Diana Ross’ band (C.C. Thomas Jr. – bass, Kevin Chokan – Musical Director and guitar, Gerry Brown – drums, George Svetich – keys, Richie Garcia – percussion, Valery Pinkston and Fred White – vocals), while everyone seemed lost in their Macs and iPods, that I obnoxiously popped a question and suggested that everyone shared some funny or embarrassing stories from their extensive music careers. To my surprise, instead of rolling their eyes and brushing me off, these musicians opened up and started telling some of the funniest stories which kept everyone in stitches for hours. We all had a blast and all I could think of was how lucky I was to hear them speak openly about their life experiences on the road with some of the biggest, most legendary artists of the era. I humbly recalled the long journey all the way from the USSR, where I couldn’t even purchase a record made in the United States, to that present moment where I was actually privy to some of the best musicians telling their personal stories. Their passion and amazing experiences had me entertained and inspired me to the depth of my being.

At that moment I KNEW I wanted to bottle this experience and share it with other passionate fans around the globe. Having spent lots of time in different settings with many other musicians in the next few years, I discovered that most of them don’t have very many opportunities to tell THEIR side. One of the reasons being that as sidemen, they are not in the spotlight, enjoying the celebrity status and getting all the attention. Considering that the American culture is wrapped up in sensationalism and enamored with celebrities, very often playing a supportive role on or off stage is misperceived as secondary or of less importance. In reality, without the mastery of sidemen the show would be a mere well-engineered illusion, enhanced by technology and special effects. Instead, these brilliant hard working men and women make the show come alive and create an imprint that is truly unique and unforgettable.
My personal interest has always been captivated by “real” people- those who may seem ordinary yet are full of special qualities and talents just waiting to be discovered and brought into the light. Perhaps this is what it’s all about; allowing these wonderful, inspiring, fascinating tales of victories, triumphs, failures, and lessons learned, to open up the intimate world of often quirky and odd, possessed and obsessed individuals whom we already know and love for the gift of music they have given us.
I never though that being a great observer, having a natural curiosity for life and people, and my “Piscean” ability to fit in just about anywhere would come in handy. I believe that it is these very qualities that allowed me to get a real taste of the life of sidemen, the good, the bad and sometimes even the ugly. I will allow the stories in the book to reveal the truth about the ups and downs of the musician’s world. I will however mention that it was NOT at all what I had imagined or anticipated. It was definitely  an eye-opener for me, allowing me to gain deep appreciate for the hard work and the sacrifice that go into a lifestyle of a musician, a person who chose to do this “music thing” for a living, for better or for worse.

This trip to Australia with Diana Ross’ band became the first one of many I participated in during the years traveling alongside Gerry and other sidemen and women. All along, my mission became to document anything and everything relating to sidemen and their life on the road. (Thank you guys for your patience and graciousness putting up with me and my camera). Finding a way to preserve these experiences remained just an idea until one day, almost a year later, a title “On That Note..” popped into my consciousness, I could no longer resist.  The book was born.

After a year of tediously collecting close to a hundred interviews and hearing countless stories, I feel very humbled and honored to meet so many extraordinary talented people and get to know them personally. This process has enriched my life in more ways than I can describe, teaching me unique lessons in creativity, perseverance and commitment to excellence along the way. For that and so much more, I am eternally grateful!

On THIS Note, lets celebrate SIDEMEN! Thank you for your time and for your support.

In deep gratitude and with love for music,

Ilona Glinarsky

To CONTACT Ilona, please call at: 310.621.0622 or write to: onthatnote@yahoo.com

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