Always Almost Famous: Earl Okin on Creativity, Music, Success, and How Craft Matters

What does a lifetime in music actually look like?For singer, songwriter, guitarist, comedian, and raconteur Earl Okin, it begins with a wind-up gramophone at the age of three and unfolds across more than seven decades of listening, performing, writing, and constantly refining the craft.In this conversation, Earl reflects on a remarkable musical journey that has carried him from postwar London to Abbey Road Studios, from touring with Paul McCartney and Wings and Van Morrison to sharing stages with folk, rock, pop, and jazz legends, all while building a career that defies easy categorization.Along the way, he reveals how songs are really written, why Peggy Lee changed the way he hears and performs music, what João Gilberto taught him about bossa nova, and why the greatest artists are often their own harshest critics.Join us for a rewarding conversation about creative persistence, living one step ahead of the cultural curve, how to give your craft the right attention, and what it means to spend a career making, living, and loving music.In this episodeA postwar London childhood spent with a gramophone and collecting 78sDiscovering opera, jazz, and the Great American SongbookRecording at Abbey Road in the shadow of Sgt. PepperTouring the UK with Paul McCartney and WingsLife on the road with Van MorrisonHow songs emerge from instinct, craft, and “finding the gold”Learning bossa nova from the Brazilian mastersPhrasing or virtuosity? What matters most?Perfectionism, practice, and the lifelong pursuit of better performancesThe great musicians aren’t always the famous onesWriting an autobiography through stories rather than chronologyContinuing to compose, tour, perform, and create memorable music into his eighth decadeFeatured MusicIn order:“London Now” “Time”“Yesterday’s Wine”All music used with permission. Memorable Quote“You’re playing, and just a lot of clichés come out of your mouth... then suddenly there’s a little bit of gold. You take it, polish it, and eventually it becomes a song.”About Earl OkinEarl Okin is a British singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, arranger, comedian, and broadcaster whose career spans more than sixty years. Blending jazz, bossa nova, classic songwriting, and sharply observed humor, he has toured internationally, appeared on major television programs, shared stages with legendary musicians, and continues to write, record, and perform today.His work reminds us that music is not only a profession or a performance; it is a lifelong practice of listening.Connect with Earl OkinLinks:Earl’s Website: https://www.earlokin.net/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5NVqliGdTXQoIfOTTzAKxk Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/earl-okin/18143306 Earl’s Podcast: https://earlokin.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earl.okinYouTube: A large number of Earl’s songs and recordings are on YouTube. Here’s a good one to start with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAeKi4Mm0x8&t=65s In addition, a documentary is in the works, you can find a trailer and excerpts at the following links:·       Trailer for Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OirbKMmPB3M·       Extended Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyMJPsmaLZs·       Additional  Clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilPn_vZc_k8 About the ShowThe Sum of All Wisdom: Conversations on Music, Makers, and Meaning is animated by two ideas: ·      Music IS the sum of all wisdom, and ·      Music is humanity’s oldest way of knowing ourselves, each other, and the world. The show offers long-form, reflective conversations with musicians and related professionals who have spent a lifetime honing their craft, and whose work creates meaning, community, and cultural impact. The show prioritizes listening, craft, and the lived experience of making music as a way of making a living.The Sum of All Wisdom is written, produced, and hosted by Dr. Scott Catey. If this conversation resonated, consider sharin