It's More Than Just Music

I love music...Period!  I can listen to any type of music, some genres longer than others, but I can listen to anything.  Country, Pop, Classical, Oldies, Rap, Rock and Roll, Head-bangin' thrasher stuff, Classic anything, Reggae, Jazz, Alternative, Blues, Big Band, it doesn't matter, I LOVE MUSIC!  I have always been musically inclined.  I took piano lessons from 3rd grade through 12th grade and played the alto clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone from 5th grade through 12th grade. When it comes to musically inclined, my children have "inherited" some of my inclinations, they simply amaze me with their musical talents because they go far beyond what I ever could have imagined and would have wanted for them.

My oldest son, Joe, taught himself how to play the drums and signed up for band in 6th grade and finally told the teacher his senior year that he didn't know how to read the music that he just played by ear!  He played all the percussion instruments and the trap set. His teacher was shocked none-the-less.   Joe also played in a band his junior and senior year of high school.  It was called The Middle Coast Band.  There were four teenagers playing music that people love to hear, you know, the songs played at weddings and other events...those songs everybody knows and wants to hear...so they starting getting booked for gigs.  Talking about one proud momma!  Joe also learned how to play many guitars, both acoustic and bass.  He learned the ukelele and the banjo and even the piano.  I'm sure there are other instruments that I have forgotten, but you get the point.  He loves The Beatles and was fascinated with George Harrison playing the sitar.  He wanted a sitar very badly after I took him to see the Liverpool Legends in Branson and Pittsburg.  I also took him to see Paul McCartney in Tulsa when he graduated from high school.   He was kind of bummed because I wouldn't run out and buy him a sitar...he nagged me, but I didn't cave...they were around $500.00!!!  One day we were driving in the bottoms and there was something in the road.  He bet me that this piece of something lying in the road was a shingle, but I could have sworn it was a block of wood...I lost the bet and had to buy him a sitar.  I wouldn't have bet a sitar had I not been 100% sure that the something lying in the road wasn't a block of wood!!  Do you know how hard it is to find a sitar in the four-state area...or the United States??!!  I had to order the stinking sitar from INDIA!!!!!  It was a very costly bet and I learned something from that experience.  I don't bet anymore...especially with Joe!

Chet, my second son taught himself how to play the drums as well.  He also learned the piano and organ and can play the guitar and bass along with the many percussion instruments.  Chet and Joe once played the Grand Piano at the Continental Hotel in Centerville, IA while guests dined in the hotel restaurant.  The Continental Hotel is a beautiful historic hotel and played host to a number of famous historical figures such as Jesse James, Al Capone, Carrie Nation, Booker T. Washington, Senator Ted Cruz, Al Gore, Joe Biden and even First Lady Michelle Obama.  The hotel is very grand and full of character.  I am so glad we stayed there...we even had to cross an old catwalk to get to our room...creepy cool!  Anyway, Chet and Joe played every song they knew and could play together or separate on that grand piano and the hotel guests and employees even clapped for them when they were finished playing!  Chet never swindled me out of any musical instruments like Joe and the sitar...but there might have been a vehicle or two...but I learned from those experiences as well!

Gracie is my other musician.  She taught herself to play the drums and the piano and organ.  She can play the cymbals and is mighty good at crashing those two big circular pieces of copper together.  She has just learned how to play the trap set and the acoustic guitar.  I have no idea where these kids got all their talent, but I could never teach myself how to play anything but maybe the harmonica!!

Then there's Hannah...she has no musical talent what-so-ever!  I think it is a lefty problem...just kidding...or maybe not!  Sorry Hannah, but you don't and the truth hurts!  Running was your niche.  Hannah did win Regionals in the 400m and her relay team broke the school record in the 4 X 800m and the girl went to Regionals and State all four years of high school so I won't give her too much static for not being musically inclined!!

Since I've always loved music, I've always been a concert-goer...and a one-time roadie!  I will have to write another blog about my roadie days because it is worthy of a story!!  You won't believe the story...it is ridiculously funny...but it wasn't at the time...I probably should write it for tomorrow so I don't leave you hanging too long.  I just hope one someone that the whole roadie story revolves around doesn't read my blog!! LOL

The first concert I ever went to was Air Supply.  I'm listening to "All Out Of Love" as I write this blog and remembering the good time I had at my very first concert.  I went with several kids from my youth group at church and this concert was probably the most moving concert I ever attended.  Here is a list of other concerts I have been to:

-George Strait X 2
-Garth Brooks
-Night Ranger
-AC/DC X 3
-Hank Williams Jr.
-John Anderson
-Def Leppard
-Molly Hatchet
-Travis Tritt
-Ronnie Milsap
-Aaron Tippin
-Restless Heart
-Cadillac Three
-Blonde Bombshell
-Steve Holy
-Porter Waggoner
-Trace Atkins
-Barney LIVE with Baby Bop and BJ (I know you're jealous)
-Reba McIntire
-Randy Travis
-Jason Aldean
-Jake Owen X 3
-Keith Urban
-Alan Jackson
-Alabama X 2
-Oak Ridge Boys
-John Michael Montgomery
-Kentucky Headhunters
-Little Liberace
-Rick Springfield X 3
-Kenny Rogers
-Eddie Rabbit
-Sawyer Brown
-Billy Dean
-Pam Tillis
-The Statler Brothers
-Dan Seals
-Ricky VanShelton
-Neal McCoy
-Collin Raye
-Terri Clark
-Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons
-Billy Ray Cyrus
-Ray Stevens
-Cinderella
-Ratt
-Blue Man Group
-Nazareth

I'm sure there some I have forgotten, but a concert-goer I was, especially before I had kids back in the 80s and early 90s!

I still have some of my concert shirts...AC/DC, Nazareth, Blue Man Group, Keith Urban, Jake Owen and Night Ranger....Going to concerts...it's more than just music.

                                                      I definitely had the BIG hair for concerts!!!