I Got the Music In Me

Since the 6th grade that I can remember, I have always been a listener of music.  Why that time is so clear to me is that after lunch our teacher let us bring 45s, (yeah, I am old.) and play them on the record player.  Mostly what we heard were pop radio hits like "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe, "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells and "Na, Na, Hey,  Hey, Hey Goodbye" by Steam.  Saturdays meant Bandstand with Dick Clark.

The constant was the radio.  My hometown had a few really good DJs Drake Hall, David Hall and some kid named Sajak, so local radio was always interesting.  You could hear rock, pop and soul.  As I got older we saw the rise of FM radio which was free from the Top 40 rules.  Music just kept getting more diverse for my earholes.

I was also being influenced by the music that was around the house.  My parents were not big music fans, but there were some boogie woogie records and some Johnny Cash.  My dad did influence me by what he sent home from Vietnam.  He sent Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison, "Are You Experienced" by Hendrix along with some Montovani.  The Mantovani didn't take.  Every 10-11 year old needs a little Hendrix in their lives. As I got older my cousin Ron introduced me to the Ventures, and Yes. 

My wife says that I like "funky" music.  My students ask me what I listen to and I have a hard time getting them to understand that I listen to a broad range of stuff.  My iPod has music that covers generations.  Duke Ellington from the 1930s and 40s.  The incomparable Miss Peggy Lee has a place, as do Cash, and Springsteen, and others too numerous to mention.  You will also find classic southern rock, singer songwriters, rap, soul, blues, bluegrass, just to name a few.  I am always looking for something else.

I can't place a specific reason on why I like what I listen to, but one consistent factor is strong lyrics.  Since I am also a reader, this does not surprise me.  Words have power and in many cases, songs are the only way that people are able to express themselves.  I find it difficult to explain exactly all of the ways that music is important to my life.  Suffice it to say that it is something I choose not to live without.

I have to admit that I love the variety of music I can find on Satellite Radio (Yeah Steve Earle.)  ITunes gives me access to a great variety of stuff to put on my iPod.  Pandora, Soundcloud and a ton of other online sources also can feed my music needs.