--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then l learned to play guitar and l…" description: "\"Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs and my mother formed for me a publishing business, so we started publishing and managing arti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/tommy-rettig-26671_artist_then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-star_1285068.jpg" --- # Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs… ![“Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs and my mother formed for me a publishing business, so we started publishing and managing artists.” quote by Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/tommy-rettig-26671_artist_then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-star_1285068.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/tommy-rettig-26671_artist_then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-star_1285068.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/tommy-rettig-26671_artist_then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-star_1285068.jpg) > “Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs and my mother formed for me a publishing business, so we started publishing and managing artists.” [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recounts learning guitar, songwriting, and his mother establishing a publishing business, leading to artist management. **In simple terms:** Family support helped launch his music and publishing ventures. Key Takeaway Leverage family resources to pursue creative goals. Themes music entrepreneurship family support Mood motivational practical Type career entrepreneurial When to use this quote - starting a publishing venture - artist mentorship - songwriting workshops Key Concepts career development creative industries business formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance family help with independence? - What steps ensure sustainable growth? A Different Perspective Family involvement can create dependency or conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-songs/) ## Related quotes > [The great constructive energies of the child ... have hitherto been concealed beneath an accumulation of ideas concerning motherhood. We used to say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-great-constructive-energies-of-the-child-have-hitherto-been/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“One can survive every hurt and move on, except the hatred of a mother formed without reasons, that one could not elucidate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darmie-orem/one-can-survive-every-hurt-and-move-on-except-the-hatred-of-a-mother/) [Darmie Orem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darmie-orem/) > [When I became a parent and hit my thirties, I got my hands on an acoustic guitar. I started writing quiet, simple songs at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirties-i-got-my-hands-on-an/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [I was playing a singer-songwriter, so I started writing, and I started going up to different places around Los Angeles and reading poetry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inbar-lavi/i-was-playing-a-singer-songwriter-so-i-started-writing-and-i-started/) [Inbar Lavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inbar-lavi/) > [I just wanted to eat, to survive. I started singing a cappella in bars. I saved up money to get my first guitar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-clementine/i-just-wanted-to-eat-to-survive-i-started-singing-a-cappella-in-bars/) [Benjamin Clementine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-clementine/) > [I wanted to start doing more music, doing more things than just playing guitar. I started taking singing lessons and piano lessons. I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccready/i-wanted-to-start-doing-more-music-doing-more-things-than-just/) [Mike McCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccready/) > [There is nothing in the world of art like the songs mother used to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-of-art-like-the-songs-mother-used-to/) [Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/) > [I am connected to the market and now I am singing songs that my mother loves as well, it’s amazing !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mutya-buena/i-am-connected-to-the-market-and-now-i-am-singing-songs-that-my/) Mutya Buena > [I sang those old gospel songs for my mother, and she said, is that you? And I said, yes, ma'am. And she came over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-sang-those-old-gospel-songs-for-my-mother-and-she-said-is-that-you/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [When I started publishing, I got offers to write for big magazines. But I would always say, "Well, it's not that I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-i-started-publishing-i-got-offers-to-write-for-big-magazines-but/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [After I started publishing poetry I got to teach creative writing. Eventually I was promoted and even got tenure. But then I felt compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-larkin/after-i-started-publishing-poetry-i-got-to-teach-creative-writing/) [Joan Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-larkin/) > [When I was 16 I started publishing all kinds of things in school magazines. My main feedback came from my English teacher, Miss Bessie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-i-was-16-i-started-publishing-all-kinds-of-things-in-school/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [When I started publishing - my first novel came out in 1990 - there were no options for publishing science fiction in Canada. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/when-i-started-publishing-my-first-novel-came-out-in-1990-there-were/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I started publishing stories in small magazines early on, but after seven or eight or nine years you feel like you need a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-magazines-early-on-but-after/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [I started publishing my comic while I was still living with my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-started-publishing-my-comic-while-i-was-still-living-with-my-parents/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) ## More by Tommy Rettig > [So, in the last year, the whole cast sued for release from our contracts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/so-in-the-last-year-the-whole-cast-sued-for-release-from-our-contracts/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Once in a while there was some TV offer and I'd take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/once-in-a-while-there-was-some-tv-offer-and-i-d-take-it/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Yeah, dog was this man's best friend, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/yeah-dog-was-this-man-s-best-friend-for-sure/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Acid wasn't getting a whole lot of bad press at the time, and as I saw the whole bad-press thing happen, I became aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/acid-wasn-t-getting-a-whole-lot-of-bad-press-at-the-time-and-as-i-saw/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [I wanted to have a normal childhood. Normal relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-wanted-to-have-a-normal-childhood-normal-relationships/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Well, I went to school with Jan and Dean, Ryan O'Neal, some of the Beach Boys we all use to party together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/well-i-went-to-school-with-jan-and-dean-ryan-o-neal-some-of-the-beach/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [I was still thought of as a kid actor even though I was in my mid twenties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-was-still-thought-of-as-a-kid-actor-even-though-i-was-in-my-mid/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Yes, there was nothing else to do to get you high. I mean, there was, but white kids didn't hear about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/yes-there-was-nothing-else-to-do-to-get-you-high-i-mean-there-was-but/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [There's a big difference between somebody who does acid on weekends and somebody who takes downers every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/there-s-a-big-difference-between-somebody-who-does-acid-on-weekends/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [My mom was a Democrat and I was scared to death that she was gonna blow it. First I was going to hell with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/my-mom-was-a-democrat-and-i-was-scared-to-death-that-she-was-gonna/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [A lot of my friends were fooling around with drugs then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/a-lot-of-my-friends-were-fooling-around-with-drugs-then/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [It was the worst period of my life. I had all this gigantic acceptance as a kid, and all of a sudden there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/it-was-the-worst-period-of-my-life-i-had-all-this-gigantic-acceptance/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [I was totally devastated for four years in the mid '60s when l tried to buck the tide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years-in-the-mid-60s-when-l-tried/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [We each had to spend a week out at Lassie's ranch, and whoever got along best with the dog got the part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/we-each-had-to-spend-a-week-out-at-lassie-s-ranch-and-whoever-got/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [But anyway aside from alcohol and nicotine, LSD was the first drug l ever took.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/but-anyway-aside-from-alcohol-and-nicotine-lsd-was-the-first-drug-l/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) [Explore all 21 Tommy Rettig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs and my mother formed for me a publishing business, so we started publishing and managing artists.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tommy Rettig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-started-writing-songs-and-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-started-writing-songs-and-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/tommy-rettig-26671_artist_then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-star_1285068.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/tommy-rettig-26671_artist_then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-star_1285068.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/tommy-rettig-26671_artist_then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-star_1285068.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs and my mother formed for me a publishing business…” — Tommy Rettig", "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": "Tommy Rettig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Then l learned to play guitar...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-started-writing-songs-and-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-started-writing-songs-and-my/#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 } } ] } ```