--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in my formative years, I…" description: "\"When I was in my formative years, I rejected Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Dean Martin. I now realise they were all great artists, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ian-gillan-4769_dean-martin_when-i-was-in-my-formative-years-i-rejec_1103743.jpg" --- # When I was in my formative years, I rejected Frank… ![“When I was in my formative years, I rejected Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Dean Martin. I now realise they were all great artists, but at the time, as a young man, you have to clear the decks.” quote by Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ian-gillan-4769_dean-martin_when-i-was-in-my-formative-years-i-rejec_1103743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ian-gillan-4769_dean-martin_when-i-was-in-my-formative-years-i-rejec_1103743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ian-gillan-4769_dean-martin_when-i-was-in-my-formative-years-i-rejec_1103743.jpg) > “When I was in my formative years, I rejected Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Dean Martin. I now realise they were all great artists, but at the time, as a young man, you have to clear the decks.” [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He rejected popular singers to clear his artistic path, later recognizing their talent. **In simple terms:** Early rejection can be a personal growth. Key Takeaway Reevaluate past judgments with maturity. Themes music growth self‑discovery Mood reflective nostalgic Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - musical influences - personal development Key Concepts cognitive bias cultural taste Questions to Reflect On - What biases affect your taste? - How can you stay open to diverse influences? A Different Perspective Dismissal of popular art may limit exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-artists/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [My memories of Las Vegas were all with my father when I was, like, a teenager. He was best friends with Frank Sinatra and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/my-memories-of-las-vegas-were-all-with-my-father-when-i-was-like-a/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole and Dean Martin, who was my favorite, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-like-frank-sinatra-and-nat-king-cole-and-dean-martin-who-was-my/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [I love listening to the oldies like Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin - songs I grew up hearing and still know every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-hilton/i-love-listening-to-the-oldies-like-johnny-mathis-bing-crosby-and/) [Kathy Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-hilton/) > [People are waiting in line for 15 years before they get rejected, O.K.? That's why people don't want to invest in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/people-are-waiting-in-line-for-15-years-before-they-get-rejected-o-k/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I often talked to Bing Crosby, and while I liked him, I never understood why he was so popular. To me his voice was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/i-often-talked-to-bing-crosby-and-while-i-liked-him-i-never/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [My dad was kind of a pool shark and had a Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin thing going on. I've always been fascinated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/my-dad-was-kind-of-a-pool-shark-and-had-a-frank-sinatra-dean-martin/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [I always been writing songs since I was, like, six. I was listening to Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Frankie Laine and people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/i-always-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-like-six-i-was-listening-to/) [Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/) > [There will never be another Frank Sinatra. I never wanted to be another Frank Sinatra. I only wanted to be another Michael Buble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buble/there-will-never-be-another-frank-sinatra-i-never-wanted-to-be/) [Michael Buble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buble/) > [I don't think it's ever changed, whether its Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Zeppelin, Guns n' Roses or anyone today, the reason why you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/i-don-t-think-it-s-ever-changed-whether-its-frank-sinatra-glenn/) [Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/) > [I'm a 'never say never' girl. Frank Sinatra retired four times. He kept coming back. But there are people in our business who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-m-a-never-say-never-girl-frank-sinatra-retired-four-times-he-kept/) [Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/) > [“There’s nothing to be scared of.” Instead of taking Charlie’s pulse – there was really no point – he took one of the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/there-s-nothing-to-be-scared-of-instead-of-taking-charlie-s-pulse/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Frank Sinatra turns 100 this year and his music has been a major player in the soundtrack of my life. So it's only right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/frank-sinatra-turns-100-this-year-and-his-music-has-been-a-major/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [Some of my other heroes around that time were, oddly enough, Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole and people like that - I was always more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bell/some-of-my-other-heroes-around-that-time-were-oddly-enough-frank/) [William Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bell/) > [Frank Sinatra discovered me at a nightclub called P.J.'s in Hollywood. It was 1962. He used to come in there a lot with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trini-lopez/frank-sinatra-discovered-me-at-a-nightclub-called-p-j-s-in-hollywood/) [Trini Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trini-lopez/) > [ I'm a big fan of \[Frank\] Sinatra, he was the best at what he did. The last thing I do is model my career… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-m-a-big-fan-of-frank-sinatra-he-was-the-best-at-what-he-did-the/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) ## More by Ian Gillan > [I love Buffalo. The people here are wonderful, genuine; they look you straight in the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/i-love-buffalo-the-people-here-are-wonderful-genuine-they-look-you/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [I've been in music all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/i-ve-been-in-music-all-my-life/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [If you think of a solo artist, you normally know them by their name; you don't normally describe their kind of music. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/if-you-think-of-a-solo-artist-you-normally-know-them-by-their-name/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [I've consciously avoided actually reading anything about Wikipedia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/i-ve-consciously-avoided-actually-reading-anything-about-wikipedia/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [No matter what I do, I've always recognized that Deep Purple is primarily an instrumental band. That's where all the music comes from in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/no-matter-what-i-do-i-ve-always-recognized-that-deep-purple-is/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [We soaked up everything from Beethoven to Chopin to Jimi Hendrix to Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/we-soaked-up-everything-from-beethoven-to-chopin-to-jimi-hendrix-to/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [When I picked up my guitar, I spent the first day learning the chord E, the second day A, then B7, and all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/when-i-picked-up-my-guitar-i-spent-the-first-day-learning-the-chord-e/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [Deep Purple was sinking with Ritchie. We were playing to quarter houses in Europe, which is one of our strongest territories - in Germany.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/deep-purple-was-sinking-with-ritchie-we-were-playing-to-quarter/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [My first contract was in 1965. There were six of us in this band - my band before Deep Purple - six in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/my-first-contract-was-in-1965-there-were-six-of-us-in-this-band-my/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [In the early Seventies, I bought a dilapidated hotel in north Stoke for about £100,000 and spent the same amount again renovating it, putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/in-the-early-seventies-i-bought-a-dilapidated-hotel-in-north-stoke/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [I was an avid collector of Elvis' early stuff; for a young singer, he was an absolute inspiration. I soaked up what he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/i-was-an-avid-collector-of-elvis-early-stuff-for-a-young-singer-he/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [The people who come to Purple shows are there for the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/the-people-who-come-to-purple-shows-are-there-for-the-music/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [How could I resist? Look, I love that record and have nothing but great, great memories of my time with BLACK SABBATH . Tony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/how-could-i-resist-look-i-love-that-record-and-have-nothing-but-great/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [If you've got a wound, and it's just about to heal up, and it's got a nice scab on it, and you think in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/if-you-ve-got-a-wound-and-it-s-just-about-to-heal-up-and-it-s-got-a/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [The band's a really close-knit family. We've got fantastically good friendships and relationships that have developed after all these years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/the-band-s-a-really-close-knit-family-we-ve-got-fantastically-good/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) [Explore all 106 Ian Gillan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) ## More Dean martin quotes > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [My dad used to put me in front of the TV screen and made me watch old Jimmy Durante and Dean Martin movies. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolk/my-dad-used-to-put-me-in-front-of-the-tv-screen-and-made-me-watch-old/) [James Wolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolk/) > [Around 5th and 6th grade I thought Dean Martin was the coolest guy in the world; he was a great singer, had his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gallagher/around-5th-and-6th-grade-i-thought-dean-martin-was-the-coolest-guy-in/) [Peter Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gallagher/) > [I always watch Dean Martin's show... just to see if he falls down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stewart/i-always-watch-dean-martin-s-show-just-to-see-if-he-falls-down/) [James Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stewart/) > [“His plaque reads, DEAN MARTIN, JUNE 7, 1917-DECEMBER 25, 1995, EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deana-martin/his-plaque-reads-dean-martin-june-7-1917-december-25-1995-everybody/) [Deana Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deana-martin/) > [Frankie Randall is a consummate performer. He is an exquisite jazz pianist and wonderful singer. I had the great pleasure to work with him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lainie-kazan/frankie-randall-is-a-consummate-performer-he-is-an-exquisite-jazz/) [Lainie Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lainie-kazan/) > [I don't really write with living actors in mind. I guess I write for dead actors. I'll think of like, you know, Burt Lancaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/i-don-t-really-write-with-living-actors-in-mind-i-guess-i-write-for/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) > [When we first went to L.A., Howard Koch, who was the head of Paramount Pictures and later President of the Oscars, threw a welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-clark/when-we-first-went-to-l-a-howard-koch-who-was-the-head-of-paramount/) [Dave Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-clark/) > [I was a sober as the next guy. The only problem is the next guy was Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-was-a-sober-as-the-next-guy-the-only-problem-is-the-next-guy-was/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [“I liked old time music but what i meant by that was the period from the 1930s through the 60s, nothing before and little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-liked-old-time-music-but-what-i-meant-by-that-was-the-period-from/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [Not that I'm some rocker, but what I do in a show is probably far more aggressive than what Dean Martin or Bobby Darin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buble/not-that-i-m-some-rocker-but-what-i-do-in-a-show-is-probably-far-more/) [Michael Buble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buble/) > [In the mid-'60s, AM radio, pop radio, was just this incredible thing that played all kinds of music... You could hear Frank Sinatra right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/in-the-mid-60s-am-radio-pop-radio-was-just-this-incredible-thing-that/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [“The point is, Dean was not and is not nor will he ever be the ideal husband... he gives the minimum amount.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deana-martin/the-point-is-dean-was-not-and-is-not-nor-will-he-ever-be-the-ideal/) [Deana Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deana-martin/) > [I always been writing songs since I was, like, six. I was listening to Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Frankie Laine and people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/i-always-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-like-six-i-was-listening-to/) [Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/) > [“Dad's final will was written and signed eleven days before he died. The original will it replaced disappeared and has never been found…I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deana-martin/dad-s-final-will-was-written-and-signed-eleven-days-before-he-died/) [Deana Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deana-martin/) Browse all 69 Dean martin quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was in my formative years, I rejected Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Dean Martin. 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