Fran, I think Donny has gotten weak since he is the semi-retirement status. He recently complained about the weight of a mic that weighs less than a pound, the Samson Q8x. A 28-pound arranger keyboard would have been a real blessing back when I was lugging a 52-pound PSR-7500 around, and hefting 100-pound speakers onto a refrigerator dolly.

As for OMB pros, they seem to be relegated to the senior circuit in my part of the world. There are still a few OMB entertainers in Baltimore's Little Italy, and most perform just on weekends. Jobs such as Don Mason enjoys are as rare as hen's teeth anymore. Seems as if Duos and trios are getting the better jobs these days, but they too are mostly limited to weekends.

All the best,

Gary