Another evening, another chat show interview. It was all part and parcel of being a famous singer, and most of the time it was fun, although a lot depended on who the show’s host was. Some did a better job of it than others. Still, Randy Lane enjoyed talking about his music, the highs and lows of being on the road, or touring overseas, and usually managed to deflect any questions that he felt were too personal. There were things about his life that weren’t public knowledge and which he preferred not to talk about, and in many cases, to not even think about; he had a lot of pain, both physical and emotional in his past. Just because he’d stumbled into a career in entertainment didn’t mean he didn’t deserve to keep his private life private.

Even when talking about his working life though, there were some questions he dreaded being asked, just because they were so difficult to answer, and this happened to be one of them.

“So, Randy, I’m sure you’ve probably been asked this many times before, but what, or who, were your musical influences growing up?” David Letterman asked.

Randy gave a theatrical groan, then laughed. “I really hate questions like that, because I don’t have an answer that will satisfy anyone. I guess the most honest answer I can give is… everything. Music was a huge part of family life when I was a kid. My parents weren’t in any kind of musical profession, actually they were art dealers, but they both played several instruments, and started teaching me as soon as I showed an interest.”

“What instruments did they play?”

“Uh, dad played guitar, fiddle, and mandolin, mom played piano, cello, and the flute, so I was learning a bit of everything as soon as I could hold the various instruments, or child-sized versions.”

“And you played country music?”

“Some of the time, but by no means exclusively. My parents played and listened to pretty much everything: Classical, folk, rock, county, jazz, blues, pop, show tunes, and it was never a case of ‘this kind of music is the best, this is what you should listen to and play,’ because it all had its place. Different music suited different moods, and could even be used to create a particular mood, something cheerful to lift your spirits if you were feeling down, something soothing when you wanted to relax. Obviously we all had our favourite singers, bands, and musicians, but we didn’t stick to any particular genre, they all had their place, like threads in a tapestry. That’s one of the things I love about music, there’s so much variety.”

“Do your parents still play? And do they like your music?” His family was one of the things Randy Lane never talked about, so David knew he was taking a chance asking about them, but Randy had been the one to broach the subject in the first place.

Randy’s smile turned sad. “I lost my parents when I was eight, and the people who adopted me a year later passed before I ever entered the songwriting contest that led to all this, but I like to think all of them would have enjoyed my music. My adoptive parents weren’t as musical, they liked listening to music, but they didn’t play any instruments themselves. They always encouraged me to continue playing though, they were very supportive of my interests.”

“They sound like good people.”

“They were, I was very lucky. Because of their jobs we spent a lot of time overseas, and I got the opportunity to learn about music traditions in other cultures. It was quite an education. Wherever I go, I still like to check out the music scene when I get a chance, even if it’s just listening to local radio stations. There’s not much free time when I’m on tour, obviously, but thanks to the internet, anyone can access music from all over the world, whenever they want. I can’t say that anything I’ve listened to, either when I was growing up or more recently, has had any particular influence on the songs I write, but it’s all played a part in making me who I am, and that, I hope, comes out in my music.”

“So what advice would you give to anyone interested in a music career?”

“Oh, that’s a far easier question to answer. Listen to everything you can, find what speaks to you, but keep exploring. There’s so much variety in music, and it all has something to say even if you don’t like or appreciate the message. And don’t be afraid to experiment, musically speaking. Music is something that’s continually evolving, and that’s a good thing. There’s always going to be something new to discover. Keep an open mind. And practice, of course. No musician or singer ever got where they are by not working at their craft.”

And with that, another interview came to a close, leaving Randy Lane wondering if anyone would ever cite him as one of their musical influences. It could happen, but he wouldn’t be holding his breath and waiting.


The End