Your next American Idol?
My grandfather was the first person to teach me anything about music. Before that, all I listened to was whatever was on my mom’s car stereo, the television or whatever we played in elementary music class. Basically, crap.
My grandpa, though, taught me about music in a very general way. There were no genres, no styles and no labels. There was just good music and great music.
He would ritualistically pour himself a scotch – with one ice cube – and make me a Shirley Temple, put on a record and talk to me about my day. He would always stop the conversation when a good song came on and we would just sit and listen. Sometimes the record was Credence Clearwater Revival, some days it was Mozart and some days it was The Beatles.
I learned about music from all over the world during those conversations; Louisiana creole music, classical Spanish flamenco guitar, jazz and a thousand other styles and voices. It was as common for me to hear Carlos Montoya as it was to hear Fleetwood Mack or Herb Alpert. Or Les Paul. Or Django Reinhardt.
From these early lessons, I grew to love obscure and under-appreciated music. I became a Music Snob.
Continue reading ‘Music Helps The World Go ‘Round, Even In A Recession’
