Prior to the receipt
of the final CD’s from Nashville, over 100 DEMO CD’s
were distributed to friends and relatives. Many of the recipients
volunteered their individual comments, opinions and reactions. There
is, of course, no way of knowing whether or not these reactions
may be considered “typical”. A cross-section of letters
and E-mails was carefully screened and analyzed.
“hi! my name is sang. a nurse
working in northside hospital. dr. philip robb comes to our o.r.
to operate and i happen to listen to your music. the spanish music
is one of my faborate. i am amazed the different styles of musics
that was composed by one person. my music hour is very much limited.
i listened to my cd only when i am driving. so naturally i listen
to it over and over. it takes me about 3-4 months to really get
use to that music and i can shut my brain and just go with that
music. the children’s song and waltz, oratorio, swing, country,
etc. i enjoy your music very much. because there is so many variety
and easy listening.” Nurse working with son, Dr. Philip K. Robb,
Atlanta
Popular Band Leader of the forties, - Signature
on photo: “To a most promi- sing composer...regards from Ray
Anthony”. Ray Anthony
“Dear George: Thank you so much for the CD
of your music. Even though the music was not
our style, we enjoyed listening to it.” Bill & Jane Boschert, former neighbors
in Country Gardens, Platte Woods, Mo.
“I listen to your music just about every
day. All my friends and relatives have heard it and they are absolutely
enthralled. How can you manage so many different varieties? And
all so beautifully done!” Dale Butcher, former neighbor, Woods of Walnut
Creek, Kansas City, MO.
“I laughed when I heard your spiritual, “Oh Lord, Where’s
That Man?” Sean and I thought it
was really funny!” Sean and Vicky Campbell, apt. neighbors.
“I did indeed receive your CD. Sorry it has
taken a follow-up note from you for me to say, ‘Thank you’.
I was blown away! So many styles of music and the arrangements are
wonder-
ful. Thank you for sharing your music with me.” Dr. Robert Claassen, Dentist.
“Thank you very much for the Demo CD of your
upcoming release. Very nice mix of musical
styles, some of them reminiscent of songs I remember my father listening
to when I was a youngster. The production is excellent also. I will
be sure to pass around the lab and especially Cheryl Young who provided
the High Res art scans on your various projects. We wish you success
with your CD and thank you for the wonderful demo. Will the CD be
available at area stores?” Joe Goodwin, Asst. to the Pres., Custom Color
Corp.
“We just got a copy of your CD, ‘George
Robb’s Americana’ and WOW! You have put a lot of effort
into this package . We find the 3rd cut for children excellent.
It’s whimsical and light and airy. Very appealing to the ears.
Excellent job of arranging and composing the piece. Fol-
lowed by a close second, ‘There’s Gold in Them Thar
Hills’...it’s very folksy, very Americana and has a
great deal of foot tapping beat to it. Again, a nice job of arranging
and composing. We are very proud of what you have done with your
music over the past few years. It’s great to see you develop
and grow within this medium. Keep up the great job!” Roy Gladsen, Supervisor, H. & R. Block,
Atlanta, GA., and friend, Chet Elkins.
“NEVER THINK NEGATIVELY. Your CD will be
fine, and besides, think of the self- satisfaction you will get
in doing it. To hell with recognition.” Dr. Murray Gottlieb, cousin, residing in Eugene,
Oregon.
“I was delighted to receive the CD in the
mail. I am getting ready to listen to it for the first
time as soon as I conclude this E-mail message. I’m sure you
are looking forward to finishing up this dream of yours. Thanks
so much for the opportunity to be part of the project. As a friend,
you have my admiration and respect. However, I think your CD cover
is irrelevant as far as ‘Americana’ is concerned. I
also think the story line behind it is depressing.” Steve Herold, Arranger.
“Just finished listening to your CD, ‘George Robb’s
Americana’. What an accomplishment! A wonderful eclectic mix
of beautiful and inspirational music. The arrangements and the instrumentation
certainly have made the music “pop” into life. Also,
the addition of professional musicians and the detail given to each
piece is very enriching. I think that anyone who would hear your
work would find something in it for themselves. And you have covered
every one from children to adults, which is also a different way
of presenting something for everyone. A marketing approach might
be ‘something for the entire family’. Something to touch,
move...make you think and remember. GREAT JOB! Not only you, but
your entire musical and production staff. I know that his has been
a huge and sometimes exhausting involvement for you. My best wishes
in seeing your work receive the praise that it deserves.” Ron McCorkle, Pastor & Hospital Music
Therapist, Kansas City, MO.
“I sure hope the music in 2004 and beyond
will be your music! Boy, that would be great!!! George, did you
know it took 8 yrs. before Tony Bennett recorded, ‘I Left
My Heart in San Francisco’?” Ron McFarlane, Friend, Retired, Residing in
Levittown, PA.
“Last night I had the opportunity to play
the CD a couple of times. I shared the experience with my wife.
We both thought it was very nicely done. The clarity and quality
of the music and singing was actually quite impressive, both in
the original creations themselves, and in the level of talent and
production. They are first rate. The children’s novelty song
is particularly wonderful. Here is my only significant thought:
the music traverses a lot of territory in terms of genres and historical
periods. These incongruities might leave the listener wondering
what is the relevance of the collection. I think it would be a good
idea to have a narrator - maybe yourself - set the stage, so to
speak, in the development of America, how music, with all its influences,
has reflected the vitality and spirit – and in a sense, the
spirituality, of the ever-changing American people. Then, a very
brief (a sentence or two) verbal transition between each song that
notes something about the times and social or religious influences
that helped shape the sounds and lyrics. I think the CD needs “context”and
a more evident personal touch. I think that giving the music a transitory
voice will help bring your visions and talents home to the listener
and complete your mission of sharing what’s inside of you.” Pat O’Neill, O’Neill Communications,
Kansas City, MO.
“You certainly selected a jazzy cover for
your production.” James Owens, Kansas Dept. of Commerce &
Housing, Topeka, Ks.
“Dear Uncle George: “I listened to your songs and here
is my opinion for what it’s worth. First of all, I think you’re
a great songwriter. You have a fantastic ear for going to that interesting
place in a turn of a chord or phrase. Your strength in writing seems
to be in jazz, swing mode or Frank Sinatra ballad style. So get
to work so I can tell everyone I have a famous uncle. Don’t
spend any more time in the studio right now. Go out there and market
your product. Now is the time you need people to hear it. Call and
find out which jazz artists are recording and see if you can get
them to cover one of your tunes. Last I heard Vanguard was a big
jazz label, but you can do Internet research and find out. Start
taking trips to recording and publishing houses and market your
wares”. Joan Robb, Niece, Northampton, MA.
“Dear Uncle George: Got the CD and enjoyed
it...also Mo and the kids got a kick out of it. I think the selections
are very varied and quite good. We wish you every success in marketing
the CD. Keep us informed of progress.” Dr. Nina Robb, Niece, Detroit, MI.
“Thank you for your CD, ‘George Robb’s
Americana’. My students were most impressed by the variety
and quality of your music. I trust you have a solid marketing plan.” David Benjamin Hirsch, Professor, Music Dept.,
University of Heidelberg, Germany.
“This morning our entire office staff listened to your “George
Robb’s Americana” CD in our
conference room. Excellent work! Water cooler talk.” Dr. Karl-Josef Stohr, Stohr-Mager, Berlin,
Germany.
“Spanning a wide spectrum of mood, rhythm
and melody, ‘George Robb’s Americana’ offers the
listener a buffet of musical treats both varied and satisfying.” Dr. Herbert E. Robb, Professor Emeritus, Psychology,
Pace University, N.Y.
Additional comments by wife, Evelyn Kogan Robb: “Catchy tunes,
rollicking rhythms, reflective melodies, inspiring sentiments, you
will find them all in ‘George Robb’s Americana’.”