JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Success Stories Forum PLEASE ENJOY! by Doug Dude / Douglas Murphy's "Success Stories"

Am I a success? Depends on your definition.

Once paid a dollar by a drunk women, no not to have sex, but to play a certain song. My first paying gig.

Once was paid 20$, again by a women??, for a twenty minute set. My second paying gig. (I am a professional!).

Once won an award, top 100 I’ll have you know, for a song in a song writing contest that I did not think had a chance. (Home recording, kind of simple all around.).

Have made an audience laugh, cry (no not that bad the song was sad) , clap and sing along (on a few occasions).

Once was called by a Fan (???) that I was not aware that I had (my first stalker) asking why he had heard that I was not going to perform at a local venue,.(Had a run in with the organizer) He told me that he was disappointed and that the only reason he was planning to show up that night was because of me. (I made up with the organizer.).

Have been compared to my all time favorite singer/songwriter John Denver at least three times and every time made me beam.

I have had people come up to me after a show (and out on the streets but for different reasons) and ask about my song. (Were you drunk? Are you now? LOL) and did I have a CD of it? (When I started doing this the question would have been on a cassette but I drift.)

My wife, my daughter and my sons actually listen to and look for my latest creations. (And this is now when they are older and not staring at me with kiddy eyes. My wife still does but again I drift.).

My children have some of my recordings on their I pods, (Do you still remember records and cassette players?) have shared them with their friends and generally seem to like them.

My eldest has started playing the guitar and wants to jamb with me, ON MY RECORDINGS!!

I use to entertain my family and friends with my melodies and wit. (Not anymore. We are that much older now and do not have the time for me to get to the point and they do not always get the jokes anymore).

I wrote and recorded our wedding song. we danced to it and are still married. (Good thing too that song took me weeks to finish.).

I have appeared on TV here in Canada singing a protest song about the government and taxes, that lead to another opportunity later on while un-employed and struggling day to day but because I had a home I was to affluent so was passed over.

Was once told that the reason I was not selected to appear on another television show was because I was to good??????

Have been told on a few occasion (to shut up but again I drift) by professionals and laymen that I had a decent voice. (Whatever that means?).

But the best example of my success is the story that follows”

Years ago, when I was young and youthful, I was in down town Montreal (not looking for a job but no one really did not know that they believed I was. I was looking at the women, beautiful women down town) and making my way to the building where my father worked.
My father was a carpenter a finisher by trade (that line describes a character in a song I penned called, Jesse and Kate) and he worked in the same high rise office building most of his working life. He could be on the second floor finishing off an office, then go up to the next floor to do the same and then end up back on the second to re-do after it was torn down what he had done before because that company moved out and another moved in. (I hope you understood that because I am not going to explain it again.)
Anywho. (Where was I?) So I made my way to his building and went up to the fifth floor where I knew he would be. The floor was bigger then I expected and being completely gutted. There were men and equipment everywhere and no father could be seen.
As luck would have it I arrived on the site around lunch time and in unionized jobs when the lunch bell goes so do the workers. As one the equipment shut down and men started to leave. (But still no daddy!)
Through the relative quiet a tune drifted through the air, a simple melody that was familiar. “Where had I heard that before?”
It was one of mine, a tune entitled, Mabel’s, and the whistler was my father. Following the sound I found him. (This is all true.) My father, who I never thought paid any attention to what I did with my music, was whistling to a tune I created.

If that is not success I do not know what is.

Douglas

So as you know that it is not always sunny out:

The first two live performances I participated in, a TALENT NIGHT, I was taken out by people laying on their backs with eyes drawn on their chins, two dots to represent nostrils and their mouths (upside down) but where a mouth would be lip singing!

I have competed with sports on televisions’ in a pub, another Talent Night and lost in overtime.


Once gave a song a brilliant introduction only to forget the melody. Drew a total blank for about three minutes.

But the worst experience I had:

I did have a whole audience stand up, cross themselves and leave but in my defense the wedding ran longer and the next group was coming in. I would have stayed but then the song I had written would have seemed a little premature since they couple had not even said “I Do” yet and if someone in the audience wanted to protest the union they would have had to interrupt me and that would have been rude.

AH! SUCCESS!

Doug,

Great story. Would you trade your father whistling your tune for a million dollars? (Ok that's not a fair question cause I'd probably have to take the money too) My point is though how much are all the things you mention really worth? One heck of a lot I'm sure. Can't put a price tag on that. Yes, you are a success.


Best Wishes
Kevin

Doug, that is tremendous. And yes, your father whistling that tune is how I'd define success, too. Congratulations.

Joe

Well, it would have been a success if he would have demanded a royalty from his dad for public performance of his song. Oh well!

Knowing that my father actually paid attention means the world to me. No I would not take the money. Since his passing that day and the night when I graduated from night school, and then being accepted to University (the first and only one of my brothers and sisters) and he gave me a hung, kiss and telling me how proud he was of me mean everything.

Glad you enjoyed me tales.

Douglas

Hi Joe. Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed. It was fun remembering and writing.

Douglas

So true Jack. Who knows how many of his co-workers learned it and were whistling along passing it on to family and friends and....I AM RICH!

Thanks for joing in Jack. Glad you enjoyed.

Douglas

Yes! You are most obviously a success...for lots of reasons...good for you...great attitude...great stories...great memories...I will know I "arrived" when my son doesn't leave the room when I start singing one of my songs...LOL!

p.s. I went on your soundclick page and I love Dandelions in a Jelly Jar. I like you DougDude

Hi Vicki:

What can I say I have always been popular in the eyes of my children. Children?? at 25, 22, and 15 (this year)they are becoming more my adults (such a thing??)

When I thought about success these stories came to mind and yes I do feel successful.

Dandelions In a Jelly Jar is a collab. between me and Calvin Stewart of this Board. He wrote such a beautiful lyric I just had to sing it. Thank you for the complement.


Thanks for stopping by.

Douglas

good story Mr Dude ! ! I enjoyed it ! !

Thanks Herbie. Enjoyed putting it down as well.

Douglas

I loved your touching story, especially about your father. That is success that money can't buy.

Ain't it the truth. I really do count myself successful when remembering these stories. It comes it all shapes and sizes and from many locations.

Thanks for stopping in Everett, a fellow Canuck.

Douglas

HiDee Brother Dougie!

Hey, if your Family thinks you're a Success, you ARE, Amigo! I enjoyed the read..sorry I'm late to comment...but Yep, I've heard your Singin' & Guitar..& AM happy to comfirm You're Successful! (& real happy we've just done our first Co-write last week...for Midnight Bob's new movie..& He Likes It!!!)

So add that notch to your "Success Story"...& Congrats..& I'll add More Wishes that the Success continues to Build into a Fine Career, Amigo!

Congrats, Best Wishes, & a Big Successful-Guy Hug,
Stan

Thank you very much Stan. Glad you dropped in and happy you enjoyed. YEP! I truly believe in my success.

Douglas

Sounds like a great success to me. I particularly like the part about your family waiting for and appreciating your songs.

Tom

Thanks Tom. Success is measured in many ways.

Douglas

I think you're a success, Doug. I especially like the stories about your dad and your lovely wife and children.

Thank you Jean. It is how you look at it isn't it?

Douglas

Yes. It depends on how you define success. One of the things people forget is how our lives impact those of others. We can make a positive difference in the world. It starts with the individual and radiates.

So true Jean. I always had the star dream and still do at times. But if a song of mine can inspire someone or can connect with someone then to me it is a success.

Douglas

This is not a bump.

Wanted to add another "success" story concerning a recent video posted on Youtube (Close Your Eyes Christmas Lullaby).

Played the video for some friends who were over for dinner tonight and the lyric/melody brought tears to one of their eyes. It was my friend Bruce. He said, and I quote:

"It touched me."

(Both his little ones are full grown now and I imagine that he was thinking of them as he listened.)

So once again I am a success.

"Happy New Year!"

Doug

Hi Doug:

Golly that was interesting... and the part about your Dad's whistling your song brought a tear to my eye. My Dad died when I was twelve and only heard a couple of tunes by me on a penny-whistle. Thanks for sharing. Yes, you have known success!

Doug,

The story about hearing your dad whistle your song is absolutely classic. You should write a song about it.

Hey Dave.

Yep. When I think of success I think of the story about my father, my mother requesting a certain tune of mine at times, my children show-casing my works to their friends, having an elementary school choir and grade 3/4 spilt sing some original christmas tunes, my morther in law asking me to play, "That song about that hooker." (No word of a lie! But the character in the song wasn't about a hooker.) and latley me friends reaction.

This craft sure can be fun.

Thanks for stopping in.

Doug

That is a great idea Mike.

The only problem I have, and I've tried to write songs about my mother who passed away when I was 22 (52 this year)and later my father, is that the personal takes completly over and I hit the old wall.

The closest I got for a song about my father was a song that described how we were becoming more alike as I was getting older. (He actually got to hear it) The proof was when, all by accident, I had a flannel pj error when the button on the fly came loose. That little mishap was the inspiration for this line and then the lyric:

"Now I know I'm like my father,
there isn't any doubt.
I wear flannel pajamas
and my you know what hangs out...."

(Way too much info I know but you never know when the Muse will strike.)

Thanks for stopping by.

Doug