One thing I did learn over 60 plus years as a musician was how to work. And I did and still am. Nothing beats playing in live music venues and meeting people. Im just gonna list my close friends (who are really family) and mentors who taught me the “ways” 

 Levon Helm,Phoebe Snow,Al Kooper, John Sebastian, James Cotton, Joe Louis Walker, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan,Johnnie Johnson,Laura Nyro, Odetta, Lowell Fulson,Son Seals, Donald Fagen , Darlene Love, Felix Cavaliere,Barry Goldberg,Nick Gravenites,Canned Heat with Fito de la Parra, Warren Haynes and just about anyone else who passed through NYC and needed a band that could play the Blues, Soul, Real RocknRoll and  R&B Being involved with the Conan show for 30 years has only deepened my experience nd contact  with people who stepped out of my record collection and into my life and for that I am truly grateful