"I heard him speak to me through the music: You've got to groove in the face of adversity. It chilled me out. By the time my mom came back to the car, I was a good kid again. I was aware that the music totally altered my outlook on life."

The Zen of Sinatra

Was juggles his day job at Blue Note with working in the studio and playing onstage. He learned how to compartmentalize things from a 1960s Frank Sinatra interview when Ol' Blue Eyes was shooting movies, recording and performing in Las Vegas.

"He said whatever you're doing, be 100% there in the moment present. Don't worry about what you might have messed up earlier in the day, don't worry about what's coming up in a couple of hours. Just be 100 % there. The zen of Frank Sinatra, I found that incredibly helpful."

Part of the Zen of Don Was involves serving as musical director for all-star special events. He helmed the Grammys' MusiCares tribute to Dylan and Willie Nelson's 90th birthday salute at the Hollywood Bowl. Last month, he oversaw Mavis Staples' 85th birthday concert, which involved a couple days of rehearsal, but then he was ready to wing it when Bonnie Raitt showed up.

In 2014, he won an Emmy for musical directing for "The Beatles: The Night That Changed America." He's been a music director for many movies including "Thelma & Louise" and "The Rainmaker," and he produced and directed the 1995 documentary "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

In 2021, the well connected bassist found himself in the studio recording with Dylan for the audiophile "Ionic Originals" series, produced by T Bone Burnett.

"We were all in a room facing each other. No headphones," Was recalled. "And [Dylan] was singing live. There was no fixing anything. There was no punching in. It was a fulfillment of a lifelong dream. I wanted to play those songs with Bob Dylan and I got to do it standing four feet away from him."

Was has a deep appreciation for legends who continue to work. He was involved with the Stones on last year's "Hackney Diamonds" album. But when Mick Jagger wanted to achieve a more modern sound, Was brought in Andrew Watt, who ended up finishing the album. He is thrilled to see the Stones touring behind the new LP.

"It's invaluable to have them out there and playing well. It brings comfort to so many people and just inspires them," Was said. "I'm 72 and I'm busier than I've ever been in my life. I feel fine. A lot of people I went to high school with, they're giving up and slowing down. You see a band of 80-year-olds out there playing well, it reminds you how much there is to enjoy in life."

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