--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eventually as a teenager, I was pulled up…" description: "\"Eventually as a teenager, I was pulled up on stage by James Brown's saxophone player, Maceo Parker, during one of his concerts and scatted on his stage..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/wendy-starland-17966_bass_eventually-as-a-teenager-i-was-pulled-up_2172358.jpg" --- # Eventually as a teenager, I was pulled up on stage by… ![“Eventually as a teenager, I was pulled up on stage by James Brown's saxophone player, Maceo Parker, during one of his concerts and scatted on his stage for 20 minutes. After I was done, Maceo's bass player got down on one knee as if he were proposing, took a string off of his bass guitar and…” quote by Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/wendy-starland-17966_bass_eventually-as-a-teenager-i-was-pulled-up_2172358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/wendy-starland-17966_bass_eventually-as-a-teenager-i-was-pulled-up_2172358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/wendy-starland-17966_bass_eventually-as-a-teenager-i-was-pulled-up_2172358.jpg) > “Eventually as a teenager, I was pulled up on stage by James Brown's saxophone player, Maceo Parker, during one of his concerts and scatted on his stage for 20 minutes. After I was done, Maceo's bass player got down on one knee as if he were proposing, took a string off of his bass guitar and coiled it up around my ring finger. He hushed the crowd and said into the microphone, "Wendy, from this day forward you are married to music. You have a gift from God. You must devote your life to using this gift or else you will deprive the world of something so special." I got the chills.” [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A legendary musician publicly declared a personal commitment to music, framing it as a divine gift and a lifelong duty. **In simple terms:** Music is a sacred calling that must be embraced fully. Key Takeaway Embrace your talent as a responsibility. Themes music calling gift commitment Mood inspired determined reflective Type motivational personal inspirational When to use this quote - Live performances - career decisions - teaching music - personal branding Key Concepts Divine purpose public affirmation artist identity Questions to Reflect On - How does public acknowledgment affect your artistic choices? - Do you feel obligated to fulfill the promise made? A Different Perspective Public declarations can create pressure and expectations that may limit personal freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) [Bass guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-guitar/) [Bass player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-player/) [Bass players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-players/) [Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brown/) [Chill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chill/) [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers/) [Gift from god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-from-god/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knees/) [Maceo Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maceo-bass-4657351/) [Maceo Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maceo-parker-4657353/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Married Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-music-1145524/) [Microphones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/microphones/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-gift-577747/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Rings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rings/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Saxophone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saxophone/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Strings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strings/) [Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager/) [This day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-day/) [Took String](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-string-4657352/) [Wendy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wendy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I have always loved the process of making the music, reading the letters from the fans who get married to my music, have children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynonna-judd/i-have-always-loved-the-process-of-making-the-music-reading-the/) [Wynonna Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynonna-judd/) > [Fashion is my lover on the side, but I am married to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/fashion-is-my-lover-on-the-side-but-i-am-married-to-music/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I've never been married. I'm married to my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-ve-never-been-married-i-m-married-to-my-music/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I've been married to music my entire life. I've been dedicated to it. I know what it takes to do it. And ever since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/i-ve-been-married-to-music-my-entire-life-i-ve-been-dedicated-to-it-i/) [Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/) > [Music has been so healing in my life, so the fact that my music could be that for someone else is the best gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/music-has-been-so-healing-in-my-life-so-the-fact-that-my-music-could/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [My music is L-O-V-E because it's a gift, and you only give something when you feel it deeply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-nomi/my-music-is-l-o-v-e-because-it-s-a-gift-and-you-only-give-something/) [Klaus Nomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-nomi/) > [Music is a gift and a burden I've had since I can remember who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/music-is-a-gift-and-a-burden-i-ve-had-since-i-can-remember-who-i-was/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [Music is a gift. I'm so honoured and so grateful to be here today. Thank you for this opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-nozuka/music-is-a-gift-i-m-so-honoured-and-so-grateful-to-be-here-today/) [Justin Nozuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-nozuka/) > [My music is a gift from God that saved my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-alsina/my-music-is-a-gift-from-god-that-saved-my-life/) [August Alsina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-alsina/) > [Music is a gift to all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/music-is-a-gift-to-all-of-us/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [My dad plays guitar in the church band, so it's like music as a service. He plays at old-people homes, so that's like music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-dacus/my-dad-plays-guitar-in-the-church-band-so-it-s-like-music-as-a/) [Lucy Dacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-dacus/) > [I think all music is a gift from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/i-think-all-music-is-a-gift-from-god/) [Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/) > [The music was as much a gift as sunshine, as rain, as any blessing ever prayed for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-moore-campbell/the-music-was-as-much-a-gift-as-sunshine-as-rain-as-any-blessing-ever/) [Bebe Moore Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-moore-campbell/) > [The ability to make music is a gift that you're born with; it's not something you can learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/the-ability-to-make-music-is-a-gift-that-you-re-born-with-it-s-not/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [I didn't get interested in music. It was a gift from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-didn-t-get-interested-in-music-it-was-a-gift-from-god/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) ## More by Wendy Starland > [In Europe, radio stations are owned by a variety of different entities, so there is less uniformity on radio programming and more opportunity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/in-europe-radio-stations-are-owned-by-a-variety-of-different-entities/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [If you want to be a songwriter and place a song with a popular artist, then it's ok to follow the trends. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/if-you-want-to-be-a-songwriter-and-place-a-song-with-a-popular-artist/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [There is a lot of incredible talent out there, however, talent alone is not enough. Being a great singer does not matter, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/there-is-a-lot-of-incredible-talent-out-there-however-talent-alone-is/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [There is no question that the US market is the hardest to break into. I believe that the reason for this primarily has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/there-is-no-question-that-the-us-market-is-the-hardest-to-break-into/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Every artist that becomes famous has a team, and needs to convince someone to believe in them enough to have others rally around them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/every-artist-that-becomes-famous-has-a-team-and-needs-to-convince/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Write great songs that sound amazing if sung and played on the piano or acoustic guitar. Always encourage sing-alongs! Be prolific! Say "Yes" to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/write-great-songs-that-sound-amazing-if-sung-and-played-on-the-piano/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Music is cyclical and as an artist and songwriter, you need to be able to predict what trend is coming next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/music-is-cyclical-and-as-an-artist-and-songwriter-you-need-to-be-able/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Everyone faces challenges from the fierce competition as well as the manipulative crooks that are rampant throughout the music business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/everyone-faces-challenges-from-the-fierce-competition-as-well-as-the/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Being in the music business requires having a very strong resolve. You must be completely committed to the craziness that will inevitably ensue when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/being-in-the-music-business-requires-having-a-very-strong-resolve-you/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [A good song can be produced in several different genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/a-good-song-can-be-produced-in-several-different-genres/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Knowing how to market yourself and your press materials is key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/knowing-how-to-market-yourself-and-your-press-materials-is-key/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Social media has been an incredible tool to connect to my fan base, and collaborate with people around the world. Some of my biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/social-media-has-been-an-incredible-tool-to-connect-to-my-fan-base/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [I first got interested in music as a toddler by my childhood babysitter, Rosetta Atkins. She taught me how to sing by imitating the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/i-first-got-interested-in-music-as-a-toddler-by-my-childhood/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [People get bored of hearing the same genre of music over and over again. Observe the current musical landscape and predict what "mood" people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/people-get-bored-of-hearing-the-same-genre-of-music-over-and-over/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [Always have clear lines of communication and be open to trying new ideas. Being open to new ideas is crucial to growing as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/always-have-clear-lines-of-communication-and-be-open-to-trying-new/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) [Explore all 36 Wendy Starland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) ## More Bass quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) [Paul Fournel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fournel/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I've always been playing with other people, and that's how I learned. I got a kit of drums I couldn't play, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-always-been-playing-with-other-people-and-that-s-how-i-learned-i/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I grew up on the pirate radio scene which started out as drum 'n' bass music. U.K. garage picked up and got bigger on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-grew-up-on-the-pirate-radio-scene-which-started-out-as-drum-n-bass/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [That's what Joe Don Rooney and I do. He plays guitar and I play bass - and there's no reason to call it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/that-s-what-joe-don-rooney-and-i-do-he-plays-guitar-and-i-play-bass/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [I've always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. I'd still be drawing the same pictures...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-ve-always-said-the-bass-just-happens-to-be-the-crayon-i-picked-out/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I live a different way today. I have a family, and they are a priority for me. These days, I no longer wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-live-a-different-way-today-i-have-a-family-and-they-are-a-priority/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) [Browse all 722 Bass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eventually as a teenager, I was pulled up on stage by James Brown's saxophone player, Maceo Parker, during one of his concerts and scatted on his stage for 20 minutes. After I was done, Maceo's bass player got down on one knee as if he were proposing, took a string off of his bass guitar and coiled it up around my ring finger. He hushed the crowd and said into the microphone, \"Wendy, from this day forward you are married to music. You have a gift from God. 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