The Day The Music Died

  Music is a huge part of my life. It has been since I was a little girl. On my 8th birthday I received an acoustic guitar and Steve Millers album Book of Dreams. Our family get together consisted of my Grandpa playing the bongos, my cousins and I singing Rocky Mountain High acapella, and an occasional duet with my cousin and I on the flute and the drums. I am not saying that we gave stand up ovation performances, but the spirit and the love of the beat was there. Heck, my Aunt had a short stint as a backup singer with a famous country artist, hence, her terrific rendition of Bobby McGee.

  My parents passed their teenage and young adult albums on to me. Herman and the Hermits, The Beatles, Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, Credence, Humble Pie, etc. and etc. My Dads brother, Uncle Doug, was quite a bit younger than him, wore long hair and listened to great music. He was married at the time, and lived down the street. He and his wife would babysit us quite a bit. I remember riding around on hot summer days in his early 70’s or late 60’s model 4 door car, listening to Three Dog Night, Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Aerosmith, AC/DC, etc. and etc. I was exposed to really good music at a young age. Real talent. These musicians really played their guitars, drums, bass guitars, keyboards, and they wrote their own music. Their vocals were not mixed, unless they needed some really cool special effects. They had to be talented. They were not all naturally beautiful. They could still make it with mediocre or, lets face it, no looks at all. OK. Steven Tyler has a very strange look, but as a 15 year old girl, he was the sexiest thing out there. It was his voice and his soul. His very presence. His talent made him a true hottie. Talent. Now there is a word that is over used in the music industry today. 

  As a teenager, the up and coming bands were, Motley Crue, Guns and Roses, Iron Maiden, Ratt, Mettalica, just to name a few. At this time I had a background in really good rock and roll and could appreciate this music. I began to dabble in punk and really loved The Sex Pistols, Sonic Youth, Hole, The Butthole Surfers, The Dead Milkmen, among many others. It would take pages to give credit where it is due.  Along came Grunge. I was living in Seattle at the time of the break out and counted myself fortunate to be able to see these bands in hole in the wall clubs, up close and personal. Mother Love Bone, The Fast Backs, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains (I actually had Jerry Cantrell in my Science class at Spanaway Lake High), to name a few. I was lucky. Of course, the band I fell in love with was The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Still my favorite. I also cannot forget Janes Addiction, they are a close second.