Without music, life is a journey through a desert. ~ Pat Conroy
I'm at home today doing one of my favorite things, listening to my music past. This is the music that has shaped my world in one way or another. There's the music of my teen years, Dr. Buzzards Original Savannah Band (you gotta love that name). I actually quoted them just yesterday, "I'll be a fool for you, Oh girl, If that will get me over"...LOL. The Isley Brothers, the summer of 1973 I played one of their albums "Live it up" until the groves were worn. (Yes, it was an album. Does anyone else miss that scratchy prelude that the needle on album had before the song started). I have a million memories like that through the years. Saturday mornings and my father playing and singing along to Al Jarreau, Michael Franks and grooving to Earl Klugh and Miles Davis. My grandmother singing along to Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey and forgive her Tom Jones. My Granfather whisteling jazz, snapping his fingers and doing his version of the Bosa Nova. My Brother introduced me to Steely Dan, The Police and Billy Joel. My mother loved the Four tops. My brother performed "Ain't no woman like the one I got" in a elementary school talent show wearing a suede fringed vest and bell bottoms and won first prize. In my twenties I still loved Jazz, it made my friends and I feel set apart from the others and special. I did listen to and love contemporary music as well. In the 80's my cousin and I danced to and closed clubs to Diana Ross's "I'm coming out", Sylvester's "Mighty Real" and Rick James' "Superfreak". What great memories and bad hairdo's. How many times can I remember calling Bob Marley a "Prophet". In the 90's as a young mother I brought all of my music memories with me. These memories helped me survive countless hours of Barney singing "I love you". Throughout my life the one constant has been my collection of music. Its like me a little old and a little new. I love that I can hear a song and be transformed back to a time, a feeling, a mood. Music makes me feel young, in love, safe, happy and sad. I have a selection on my Ipod of songs that I listen to when my heart feels broken...guaranteed to make me cry...LOL. (It's all part of the wallowing process). All of my music has become the soundtrack of my life. I look forward to carrying them into the next phase of my life and adding to what is already a great mixed tape.
