Do the Temple Work: Nathan East and Tom Keane on an A-List Music Career (Episode 28)

Work begets work.

Nomad only has to say one name: Eric Clapton. Nathan East has been the mainstay bass player for Clapton, Phil Collins and Fourplay, just to name a few. Producer Tom Keane's credits run from David Foster and Burt Bacharach to Chicago, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion.

Episode 28 of The Career Musician was never planned. Nathan hired Nomad to play guitar on a benefit gig in his hometown of San Diego. Nomad showed up at the studio Nathan and Tom share to rehearse, found the two of them hanging out, and asked if he could hit record. What you get is an A-list perspective on musicianship, motivation and the long game.

How the call came

Nomad first hung out with Nathan years earlier, around 2011 or 2012, on a private jet with David Foster heading to one of Foster's charity gigs. Nomad was there as Babyface's music director and guitar player, suddenly sharing a band with his heroes. His rule that day: keep your cool. He did. He even tried to record an interview on an early iPhone, but the jet was too loud to save it.

Then, in 2018, Nathan called him out of the blue for the San Diego gig. Nomad learned the music, brought his charts and his axe to rehearsal, and this conversation happened. Work begets work, and a cool head around your heroes years ago can turn into a phone call later. That is also why everything you do is an audition, even on a plane.

Bones first, then the meat

The table compared their generation, shedding in your room with your axe, to young players who grow up with a full production setup. The concern was that a lot of time now goes into imagery and marketing before there is any music behind it. Get the bones taken care of first, then put the meat on that bone.

They pointed to Hendrix, who wasn't worried about streaming or producing his own record. He was just playing. They also talked about young producers who stay so close to what they know that every track sounds like the last hit, and how real musicianship is what gets you out of that box.

One of the guys has been co-producing with his son, whose music had passed a million streams. That number, he said, equals maybe a few thousand dollars. The point is building a fan base slowly, fan by fan, and most people are not in it for that. They want it quick. The table was also clear that there is no shame in being where you are and killing it there.

The temple and the congregation

Nomad asked what they hope for when they wake up in the morning, with careers like theirs. The answer came back: we're doing it right now.

"I just like to come to the temple and at least spend a few hours a day in the temple doing temple work."

The table, 19:28

The idea came from a piano teacher: when you sit down at the instrument, that is your temple, and you don't bring anything else into it. When you go out and play, that is your congregation. The politics of the business never all shake out, but the creation is the part that matters.

You didn't pick this up for the money

Nomad asked how they push through when there is no invoice for the work. Their answer was that these days people pay, because they have established that. But a favor is a favor, and a commitment is a commitment.

"If you've committed to play for somebody, you play. That's what you do."

The table, 13:32

That is Reliability beats virtuosity coming from guys who have both. They also reminded Nomad that none of them got into this for the money. When you first picked up an instrument, you weren't thinking about getting paid. But once music becomes your vocation, it has to pay, because the family has to eat. That is why so many great players do it on the weekend. The table talked about amateur virtuosos, like bankers who play Rachmaninoff at a world-class level, and people with every kind of wealth who tell them they wish they could play.

Stay hungry, stay a student

One story stuck with Nomad: Elton John on the road, handing out music he loved, unsolicited. He listens to everything. A guy at that level still wakes up hungry, still a musicologist, with reverence for every style.

Nomad asked Nathan why he started making his own solo records after so many years of huge gigs.

"The only reason I did is because I got tired of people saying, when are you gonna do it?"

Nathan East, 19:06

Living the dream is still hard work. You don't sleep much. You keep a lot of balls in the air. And you do it because you love it, because looking at the check is the wrong motivation. They also stressed that you should surround yourself with the best musicians possible, because even if you're not as strong as they are, they speak the language and can help you get your vision out.

The takeaway

Nomad closed on how humble these two legends were, and how they talked to him as an equal. His words: be secure in yourself and be confident but not arrogant, because there's a big difference. Do the temple work. Keep your word on every commitment. Keep listening like a student. If you want to be ready when your call comes, start with the free Get the Gig guide, and find Nathan at nathaneast.com.

Get the gig. Keep the gig. Build the career.

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