The reason I became a musician is that music saved my life when I was about 4 years old. It seemed I had nowhere else to turn and music was my companion, my friend and someone or something which seemed to understand me.
I can remember listening sadly to my first 45, Rhinestone Cowboy and weeping to My Way as my father left the house for good. Post-divorce remembering all of the times driving to the beach and listening to The Eagle's Life in the Fast Land and The Beatles' Help as we drove in his Porsche and I can almost see him dancing as a 70's bachelor to Abba's Dancing Queen.
Also remember listening to Jim Croce's Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown in my brother John's room with the orange rug and my grandfather's old desk. So many memories playing little brother in that room. Captain & Tinnelle's 'Love Will Keep Us Together. Springsteen's Born To Run, Jungleland and Backstreets and Billy Joel's The Stranger with Only The Good Die Young and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Also, Please Mr. Postman comes to mind.
Remember calling Michelle Valvano, a girl I had a crush on in 4th grade and playing Sometimes A Fantasy. Pretty balsy for a 10 year old.
Remember singing "Don't Cry Out Loud" with my mom on her 8 track along with Ready To Take a Chance Again," Manilow style and You Needed Me by Anne Murray.
So to complete the family tree, I remember my brother Jeff loving Air Supply's You're All Out of Love as well as playing Styx's The Best of Times and Billy Joel's My Life.
Also remember me and my brother Dan watching Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo on MTV (Music Television for the young-ins) with the best part being that guy coming out of the lima beans. Can also almost hear Dan singing One Step Beyond by Madness and I'm sure little does he know that he turned me on to George Thorogood & The Destroyers when I stole his cassette of George Thorogood Live after he went to college and vacated the basement with Bad to the Bone and Reelin' And Rockin'
This music kept me alive. It made me keep going. I guess it's still doing the same thing today.
Please share your musical memories of your family or anyone else with the #31days. Peace.