Dave Brubeck paid his dues
as a modern jazz innovator
Paying your dues means being willing to endure hardship.
Hardship separates the passionate from the also-rans.
Jazz pianst and composer Dave Brubeck is an example.
Brubeck grew up on a California cattle ranch.
But Army service convinced him music was his calling.
His father tried to convince him to live the ranch life.
Not Brubeck. Music was his drive and his passion.
He studied with composor Darius Milhaud.
Milhaud convinced him to keep pursuing his music.
He picked up what money he could in jazz bookings.
Jazz musicians do what they do for love, not money.
He and his wife Iola made do with very little.
His butcher gave him beef bones to make soup.
He picked up discarded fruit and vegetables at a market.
He made two of the most popular jazz albums of all time.
They are “Take Five” and “Time Out”.
Now at age 90, Brubeck is widely respected for his music.
He lives the comfortable life of one who paid his dues.
He feels his father would be happy with how he turned out.
Paying your dues is an important early test in life.
Don’t be discouraged by hardship.
Don’t be tempted by easy ways out.
Are you are willing to sacrifice for your calling in life?
If you aren’t, it probably isn’t much of a calling.
You are a person of character and intelligence.
Your gut instinct should tell you which it is.
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