How We Get Some of our Theme Music
Posted By
Bill Winke
at
9/12/2009 12:00:00 AM
Filed under:
journal
Jim Ryser has been working really hard to produce music that we can use for various parts of the show. We are very proud of our association with Jim - die-hard bowhunter - and wanted to share the story with you. Here is a bit of information about Jim and how he has been creating our stuff. The following words are Jim's.
CREATING THE MUSIC
By Jim Ryser
You would think that writing music for deer hunting videos would be a snap for a guy who has recorded with the likes of John Mellencamp, Hall and Oates, Tracy Chapman, and had my own records out (with a hit song, "Same old Look," in 1990).
Wrong!
Let's go a bit further before you scratch your head...
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Here is Jim Ryser down in his studio working on some original music |
The first batch of ideas were easy, as I was able to edit the instrumental parts of my "old" songs into workable background music for the footage. Bill's "Hitlist" sounds awesome with my music in it! I have been watching different hunting videos over the past 4 years since being re-introduced to hunting. I would always think to myself, "I would add a drum part here, a big bass part here, and use a guitar solo here..." My son in law Troy suggested that I do that, but as with many things, life got busy and my patient population kept my creative side hopping. Music took the back seat.
You see, I changed careers from music and now run a Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program in Indianapolis, Indiana. I did this after I went through a similar program back in 1990, having lost my record deal with Arista Records (you can still find my stuff on Ebay for next to nothing!). 54 surgeries left me with chronic pain and I had to find something different to do career-wise. My pain is well managed now, and hunting is a huge part of keeping it that way. Exercise is my best medicine, and now I hunt as much as possible. Meanwhile, music started to creep back in.
So back to why it is difficult to write for MWW! Well it is not really difficult but it sure isn't easy. Bill had some ideas about what he wanted, and of course I wanted him to get what he asked for. I play virtually all instruments (drums are my exception, but I have a drum machine for that!). But writing without singing became the challenge! I have always written with a melody and vocal in mind, so working with Bill was a new road.
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| Jim Ryser can play everything but the drums; he uses computer generated drums to fill that role. The intro song we are using in the latest show (Sept. 14) is one of Jim's original creations. |
My own musical pinnacle was singing the National Anthem at the Brickyard 400 here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2002. I remember talking with Tony Stewart just before singing; he used to come to my shows when we lived in Columbus, Indiana. Tony said, "Jim, I'm as nervous as a hooker in church!" I responded, "How do you think I feel - I gotta go out there by myself!" He laughed and said, "Well don't screw up..."
I get that same giddy feeling now when a tune of mine works on MWW; hunting is my biggest passion and to be able to combine my music to that, well, it just doesn't get much better...
I will drop a line from time to time to fill you in on how I do things, why I do things, as I am becoming the unofficial music guy for MWW. To be able to write just for the thrill of writing is a gift...and I thank Bill and all at MWW for the opportunity!
