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August 2009 
What music has made the biggest difference in your life?
Posted on Feb 4th, 2009
by 
figaro8895
figaro8895
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for February 04, 2009:
Music has always been important in my life.
When I was little, we listened to my parents' music... The Four Seasons, The Beatles, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones. Later on after my parent's split we listened to a bit more Fleetwood Mac, Styx, Foreigner.
I had this little plastic orange organ - a Disney organ with colored chord keys and a book - I used to play all the time.
In late elementary, I played violin, which pleased my grandfather who was a great violinist.
In middle school I began singing in things like solo performance and state competitions. On a whim, I entered a local band/vocalist competition and sang three songs acapella and won 2nd prize. I never used the gift certificate to a keyboard store. I was a huge fan of Prince and Michael Jackson. The first concert I saw (other than Neil Diamond with mom) was Prince's 1999 tour. I dated a professional breakdancer. I looked like Madonna (not on purpose, we just resemble each other and she was the big thing then.
I moved on to heavy metal when I discovered Metallica, and flashing back to that Black Sabbath Vol. 4 album I found in my parents stuff - I loved Wheels of Confusion (first song) so much I didn't listen to any other song on the album for a while. I loved Ozzy.
The college I attended had a conservatory as well.
Music became an even bigger part of my life after I left college. I started learning about reggae and Bob Marley. I read the most interesting biography (Catch a Fire) about him and was introduced to all sorts of music. And lots of Jamaicans in my hometown and annual reggaefest on the farm. This music and the magic of Bob captured my soul. This is probably the music that changed my life most. It is responsible for the birth of my daughter and the outdoor music festival scene I found myself at home in. That translated to the hippie fests with the folksy bluesy music that led to my understanding of peace and community and freedom.
A while later I was turned on to blues - old school blues. I'd been a fan of SRV and ZZ Top, as well as Zeppelin and Stones, but didn't know the roots. Dating a guitarist of a popular band (that he hooked up with after we were together a while) that played lots of blues and blues rock meant that flavored my life quite a bit for a few years. I got to sing at a couple gigs of other people.
I bought myself a 5-string bass a little over a year ago. I love playing it, although I don't much lately. There were only two songs played at my wedding: Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley and Baby, I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney. These songs were carefully chosen.
When I was little, we listened to my parents' music... The Four Seasons, The Beatles, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones. Later on after my parent's split we listened to a bit more Fleetwood Mac, Styx, Foreigner.
I had this little plastic orange organ - a Disney organ with colored chord keys and a book - I used to play all the time.
In late elementary, I played violin, which pleased my grandfather who was a great violinist.
In middle school I began singing in things like solo performance and state competitions. On a whim, I entered a local band/vocalist competition and sang three songs acapella and won 2nd prize. I never used the gift certificate to a keyboard store. I was a huge fan of Prince and Michael Jackson. The first concert I saw (other than Neil Diamond with mom) was Prince's 1999 tour. I dated a professional breakdancer. I looked like Madonna (not on purpose, we just resemble each other and she was the big thing then.
I moved on to heavy metal when I discovered Metallica, and flashing back to that Black Sabbath Vol. 4 album I found in my parents stuff - I loved Wheels of Confusion (first song) so much I didn't listen to any other song on the album for a while. I loved Ozzy.
The college I attended had a conservatory as well.
Music became an even bigger part of my life after I left college. I started learning about reggae and Bob Marley. I read the most interesting biography (Catch a Fire) about him and was introduced to all sorts of music. And lots of Jamaicans in my hometown and annual reggaefest on the farm. This music and the magic of Bob captured my soul. This is probably the music that changed my life most. It is responsible for the birth of my daughter and the outdoor music festival scene I found myself at home in. That translated to the hippie fests with the folksy bluesy music that led to my understanding of peace and community and freedom.
A while later I was turned on to blues - old school blues. I'd been a fan of SRV and ZZ Top, as well as Zeppelin and Stones, but didn't know the roots. Dating a guitarist of a popular band (that he hooked up with after we were together a while) that played lots of blues and blues rock meant that flavored my life quite a bit for a few years. I got to sing at a couple gigs of other people.
I bought myself a 5-string bass a little over a year ago. I love playing it, although I don't much lately. There were only two songs played at my wedding: Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley and Baby, I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney. These songs were carefully chosen.
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