Oxford resident Dennis Sights is closing the door on the banking chapter in his life and is ready to write the next one.
Actually, compose would be a more appropriate word.
Sights retired after a 40-year banking carreer and went back to one love from his childhood, music.
‘Since I have retired and my kids have grown I have a lot more time on my hands, and I am spending more time with music than I ever have in my life at the age of 60,? he said.
He is not just playing music, but writing and composing as well. Sights completed his very first cd in February, entitled ‘Off the Bucket List.?
Sights debut CD is comprised of nine original tracks.
‘It took me about 10 hours to record the nine songs on the cd,? Sights said. He noted he is going to be adding four songs to that CD in July.
‘Now that I know what I am doing a little bit more, when we add these four songs (to the CD), we will probably be able to do all 13 songs in nine hours.?
He described his music as adult easy-listening.
‘It’s not kids. It’s not rock-and-roll or rap or anything. It’s adult easy listening with a splash of country,? he said.
Sights said he taught himself to play the piano when he was younger so he could play in a rock-in-roll band during high school.
‘Everyone in those days had a rock-and-roll band, so that is what I wanted to do,? he said. ‘So I taught myself (how to play by) listening to all the current music at that time…got in a rock-and-roll band and played throughout high school.?
Music was pushed to the back burner after he got married, had three kids and began his banking career.
However, it wasn’t until over 30 years later, when Sights would nearly lose everything, music would become an instrumental part of his life again.
In 2006, Sights would go through a divorce and have his 27-year-old daughter Angela pass away. In 2007, he would lose his job of 34 years.
‘I always thought I could write music, but I never had gotten around to it,? Sights said.
‘It was losing our daughter that finally gave me the inspiration to see if I could sit down and write music, and of course I wanted the first song I wrote to be about her.?
Over the next eight months, Sights would compose 10 songs, but would again set them aside after taking a position at another bank.
He added writing music wasn’t as easy as some people made it out to be.
‘Some songs have taken me as little as two hours, and other songs have taken maybe a month because I was doing it part-time…some songs just come to you and they are easier and flow,? he said.
‘Now sitting around with a lot of time on my hands, I could probably write a song everyday,? he added. ‘It’s a minimum two or three hours to come up with a song, then probably about a month to really polish it and come up with the music exactly how I want it to be.?
Besides recording music, Sights is also looking to break into the entertainment industry as a entertainer.
‘If somebody is having a meeting, a banquet or a party and would like an entertainer there, that is what I am looking to do at this point,? Sights said.
He added his repertoire includes between 40-50 songs.
In addition to playing the piano or keyboard, Sights said he can also MC an event as well.
‘I have had a lot of experience with public speaking too, being active in the community and doing banking for so many years,? he said. ‘So if someone wants me to, I will MC their event, which involves telling jokes or telling stories.?
But he said his real passion lies in music.
‘I would rather play for the people. The studio was fun, but it is more fun going out and playing any size crowd, anywhere, anytime,? he said.
If interested in booking Sights or purchasing his CD, contact him at (248) 462-1270. His music can also be checked out on www.youtube.com/dennissights.