Simply Six: Don Sprik

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later.  Is there such a defining moment for you?  Singing was always a part of my life.  My dad was in a gospel quartet.  I had 5 older sisters who always encouraged me to sing around their friends as a child.  Fast forward to seeing Bob Seger several times while I was in my late teens further planted the dream.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of your favorites?  Joe Cocker is one of my favorites.  I love his interpretations.  Greg Allman, Bonnie Raitt... basically I love blues based singers that are capable of letting me close my eyes and feel their emotion.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?  Definitely this new CD.  I have been able to be closer to the center of every song.  This project is the closest that I have come to matching what's in my mind to what comes out of the speakers.  Though it was a long process, we had a great cast of players and once again, like on the previous two CD's, I enjoyed co-producing with Al Hurschman.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?   How much can music influence current events?  To me, music is entertainment -- a vacation for the mind, if you will.  Whether music influences trends or trends influence music, the thing that remains is change.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician?  It's made it hard for me to keep up :)  Seriously, for me, it hasn't changed things a lot.  I love the song creation process, every aspect of it -- from a blank piece of paper and a concept, to putting the right players in a room and capturing a performance.  A great song, with great interpretation, is what I love, and that hasn't changed.

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?  Hiking boots!  'Cause I wanna go somewhere...