--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Right now, my career is in three…" description: "\"Right now, my career is in three directions: as a performer, as an arranger, as an author - and I don't give any one of them true precedent, or true to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/mel-torme-23523_books_right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directio_3099702.png" --- # Right now, my career is in three directions: as a… ![“Right now, my career is in three directions: as a performer, as an arranger, as an author - and I don't give any one of them true precedent, or true top marks, as opposed to the other two.” quote by Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/mel-torme-23523_books_right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directio_3099702.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/mel-torme-23523_books_right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directio_3099702.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/mel-torme-23523_books_right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directio_3099702.png) > “Right now, my career is in three directions: as a performer, as an arranger, as an author - and I don't give any one of them true precedent, or true top marks, as opposed to the other two.” [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He balances multiple artistic roles without ranking any as superior, treating each as equally valuable. **In simple terms:** He values all his creative jobs equally. Key Takeaway Embrace all your talents without hierarchy. Themes creativity career identity balance multidisciplinary Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - musician planning - composer - author - career planning - personal branding Key Concepts artistic identity role integration self‑valuation Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture each path without neglect? A Different Perspective May spreading of roles dilute focus or mastery? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arranger-730300/) [Arranger Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arranger-author-5365998/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Career Directions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-directions-5366000/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Directions Performer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directions-performer-5365999/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) [Performer Arranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performer-arranger-5365997/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Precedent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedent/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [Even before I became a recording artist, I did other things in music. I was a teacher, I did studio work, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-secada/even-before-i-became-a-recording-artist-i-did-other-things-in-music-i/) [Jon Secada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-secada/) > [Jeff Lynne is an arranger, and I think it's probably much easier for him to go ahead and play a part himself than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/jeff-lynne-is-an-arranger-and-i-think-it-s-probably-much-easier-for/) [Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/) > [I've sort of decided that I can settle for being just the artist, arranger, writer and part-time engineer. That seems like enough to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-ve-sort-of-decided-that-i-can-settle-for-being-just-the-artist/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [But, I don't think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can't create his own Interpretation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-rich/but-i-don-t-think-any-arranger-should-ever-write-a-drum-part-for-a/) [Buddy Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-rich/) > [Almost all the producers I know and dig, like Quincy Jones or Brian Eno, are really musicians first. I'm a composer, an orchestrator, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nile-rodgers/almost-all-the-producers-i-know-and-dig-like-quincy-jones-or-brian/) [Nile Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nile-rodgers/) > [Yes, but I view Frank's music as fully composed. In other words, the arrangements can work for any idiom such as a rock band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dweezil-zappa/yes-but-i-view-frank-s-music-as-fully-composed-in-other-words-the/) [Dweezil Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dweezil-zappa/) > [I work with this wonderful five-piece band, The Tony Guerrero Quintet, along with Kate Flannery, who was Meredith the Drunk in The Office, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/i-work-with-this-wonderful-five-piece-band-the-tony-guerrero-quintet/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [Simon Hale, the British arranger, does all string and wood arrangements on my records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/simon-hale-the-british-arranger-does-all-string-and-wood-arrangements/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) > [We spent a month in LA using a pool of musicians, a string arranger called Benjamin Wright, some great backing singers, and it gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kay/we-spent-a-month-in-la-using-a-pool-of-musicians-a-string-arranger/) [Jay Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-kay/) > [Then, you know, the other more-traditional role of the producer in, like, the kind of Quincy Jones sense is kind of part arranger. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/then-you-know-the-other-more-traditional-role-of-the-producer-in-like/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [Ellington is a writer and arranger, as well as a musician and leader. He does movie sound tracks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/ellington-is-a-writer-and-arranger-as-well-as-a-musician-and-leader/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Women will ignore precedent and startle civilization with their progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/women-will-ignore-precedent-and-startle-civilization-with-their/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > ['Diversity' is a wonderfully seductive word. It stresses differences rather than commonalities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/diversity-is-a-wonderfully-seductive-word-it-stresses-differences/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) ## More by Mel Torme > [So I'm sorry, I'm going to continue to talk to the people, because I do believe that if they get to know you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/so-i-m-sorry-i-m-going-to-continue-to-talk-to-the-people-because-i-do/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [As a singer, the biggest joy I have are the arrangements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/as-a-singer-the-biggest-joy-i-have-are-the-arrangements/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [I hadn't been a recording artist all that long when albums came on the scene, and I was one of the first singers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-hadn-t-been-a-recording-artist-all-that-long-when-albums-came-on/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Because Chicago was to radio what Hollywood was to films and Broadway was to the theatre: it was the hub of radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/because-chicago-was-to-radio-what-hollywood-was-to-films-and-broadway/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [But, in fairness to them, too, the popular song per se is really a pretty shallow medium to perform in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/but-in-fairness-to-them-too-the-popular-song-per-se-is-really-a/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [As Buddy Rich, for instance, broke into the business at the age of three, I think it was, on drums, so indeed did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/as-buddy-rich-for-instance-broke-into-the-business-at-the-age-of/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Since the advent of Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is most certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/since-the-advent-of-benny-goodman-there-have-been-too-few/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Whenever I did a good performance, my Dad and my uncles, who were rabid movie fans, took me to the movies. There began my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/whenever-i-did-a-good-performance-my-dad-and-my-uncles-who-were-rabid/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [To me, nostalgia is nothing more than a mindless plundering of the past for the commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/to-me-nostalgia-is-nothing-more-than-a-mindless-plundering-of-the/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [How many radio shows I did is lost to memory now; it's in the hundreds - maybe even close to being in the thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/how-many-radio-shows-i-did-is-lost-to-memory-now-it-s-in-the-hundreds/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [See, I never wrote arrangements for the band for Judy Garland; I did strictly special material, special lyrics, put together all of her medleys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/see-i-never-wrote-arrangements-for-the-band-for-judy-garland-i-did/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [There isn't a dearth of it, but I will confess that it's harder for me to find songs on which I'm willing to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/there-isn-t-a-dearth-of-it-but-i-will-confess-that-it-s-harder-for-me/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [I want to sing for the broadest possible audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-want-to-sing-for-the-broadest-possible-audience/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [It may sound a bit like an army barracks, but the truth of the matter is: there must be some time laid aside for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/it-may-sound-a-bit-like-an-army-barracks-but-the-truth-of-the-matter/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Talking money is crass; so I'm not going to tell you what I made last year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/talking-money-is-crass-so-i-m-not-going-to-tell-you-what-i-made-last/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) [Explore all 25 Mel Torme quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Right now, my career is in three directions: as a performer, as an arranger, as an author - and I don't give any one of them true precedent, or true top marks, as opposed to the other two.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mel Torme" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directions-as-a-performer-as-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directions-as-a-performer-as-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/mel-torme-23523_books_right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directio_3099702.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/mel-torme-23523_books_right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directio_3099702.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/mel-torme-23523_books_right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directio_3099702.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Right now, my career is in three directions: as a performer, as an arranger, as an author - and I don't give…” — Mel Torme", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mel Torme", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Right now, my career is in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directions-as-a-performer-as-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/right-now-my-career-is-in-three-directions-as-a-performer-as-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```