Gerry Niewood discusses leaving Chuck Mangione's band.

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Gerry Niewood discusses song structure.

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Gerry Niewood discusses the decision to become a musician.

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Q: “Why is Gerry Niewood not a technician at Kodak or something? Why are you a musician?”

A: “I don't think I could do anything but music in my life. It took me until I was 22 when I graduated from college. I got a degree in industrial relations from the University of Buffalo and I thought I might try some other kind of life. You know, I applied to NYU Graduate School of Human Relations and I thought I would get into that, you know. Because I do like working with people and helping people solve their problems and just communication is a very strong important thing in my life. I couldn't possibly exist in a vacuum, you know. I need to interact with people and the best way for me is not verbally, unfortunately. It's musically, so I was just ... I just naturally gravitated toward it and the feeling of excitement and involvement that I get when I'm playing I don't get from anything else. And I said you just can't turn your back on that kind of a thing.”