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I know, I know. I borrowed the above title from the name of the biography written by Neil's father, Scott Young. However, it seemed that "Neil & Me" was the phrase that best described the importance of Neil Young's music in my life. From country, folk, rock, folk/rock, alternative and just about every genre of music, Neil Young has been a leader and inspiration to musicians and non-musicians alike. No other artist has bridged the gap between styles so well. For me, his dedication to finding the "groove", getting the best "sound", and never compromising his commitment to the music has been the foundation of my respect and admiration for this artist.
The first song that really made an impression on me was "Cowgirl in the Sand". Coincidentally, this was also the first song I learned. However, it was much later when I realized that Neil was using a variety of tunings for his guitar and that Cowgirl was tuned in a dropped tuning. In the last few years I've tried to adapt my playing, as adequately as my ability allows, to reflect Neil's songs with regard to these tunings and his style.
As a musician, the next logical step was to incorporate Neil's piano pieces into my repertoire. Not having ever played the piano, this at first seemed an obstacle I wasn't sure I wanted to tackle. Knowing that Neil was basically self-taught on the piano, I thought it was worth a try. Lately, I've moved to a place where I can incorporate many of Neil's piano songs in my sets.
In the past couple of years I've begun writing and recording my own material. I've thought about the musical journey that Neil has been on for the past five decades and realized that staying true to oneself and following the muse has been the foundation of his music. Therefore, as I begin my journey, I only hope I can stay as true to myself as Neil has.
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One of my most treasured possessions is my autographed fan that I received from John Einarson, a friend of mine who attended both Prairie Wind concerts held in August of 2005. Upon returning to Winnipeg, he surprised me with the autographed fan that read, "To Bill. Neil Young." On the other side were autographs from Pegi Young, Ben Keith, Rick Rosas, and Karl Himmel.
While attending the concerts, John had a chance to sit down and talk with Neil. It was at that time that John mentioned to Neil that there was "this guy from Manitoba who performed his songs, and if you closed your eyes you couldn't tell the difference. Neil reacted by saying, "Tell him to quit singing my songs." Of course this was said in jest and for that brief moment the stars aligned. That has been as close as I've come to "the man himself," but alas, I will have to wait for my own opportunity to meet my idol ...
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