Lessons from the mouth of a Rolling Stone

Part 4

By John Miller

3.  When opportunity presents, do not hesitate.  Just do it.

Just-do-it is a cliché these days.  But isn't the reality that we often over analyze opportunity when it knocks and force ourselves into inaction. Think about it, in Darryl's life, he was a super talented Young 20-something-year-old playing in some pretty good local acts, when Miles Davis called. Darryl didn't hesitate to take up the challenge. He believed in his ability as an excellent jazz bass player.  He remembered the lesson of not being prepared previously, but with the opportunity with Miles, he was supremely confident because he already knew the catalog of music. At his own expense, he packed up his stuff in his parent’s basement, and took a flight to New York to face his destiny head on. Miles Davis is my favorite jazz player. Darryl and I first connected because I said to Darryl that I had only heard Miles Davis play live once, at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, after a huge downpour, but that I had been absolutely sure that I was in the presence of greatness.  That night in Philadelphia in the 90s, Darryl had said to me that every time he performed on stage with Miles Davis, he, too, felt that he was in the presence of greatness. Think of how awestruck this young man must've been too have had a one on one, one shot audition with one of the greatest players on the planet. But he didn't hesitate and because of that, and his skill, he succeeded and changed his life forever. I would venture further that he's changed many many lives who have had the opportunity to appreciate his amazing musicianship all over the world.