I was not raised in a musical household. The most we got was the radio which, because it was a radio station in this area, played mostly country. I never much appreciated it, so nothing ever caught on. I never bought a single record until I was well into high school. I had tons of 45's, but they were all cast offs from my aunt who wanted to get rid of them, and I was a convenient dumping point. In high school, I joined choir and so was working with music a little more closely. Because of the usual material, however, it created in me an appreciation for show and movie music. Also, when I was in high school, the area's first modern rock station came on the air. K-92...which has since turned toward playing all the worst pop the industry has to offer. But with all this new rock music available - this was the 80s - I started hearing stuff I liked enough to start paying attention. I knew songs I liked, but didn't go as far as to learn the names of the artists. I did, however, discover Queen, and their greatest hits album was the first record I ever purchased. From high school until I married, my musical tastes were pretty lame...except for Queen. I liked a lot of the pop acts of the 80's...and Barry Manilow of all people. But the 80's also saw the advent of MTV...which gave me even greater access to the national music scene. But then I met David and was introduced to hard rock and heavy metal...which I came to love. Some of it was crap, but a great deal of it remains in my music collection today. Some Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Queensryche, WASP... From that jumping point, I became quite fond of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Guns 'n' Roses and the whole hair band thing. But the 11 years of my marriage was an exercise in oppression. I wasn't permitted to indulge in music. The reason is because I wasn't permitted to indulge in anything that would make me happy or bring me joy. Murphy hated competition, and he'd be damned if he was going to allow anything near me that got more of a positive reaction from me than he did. And so I did most of my music listening when visiting at my mother's house, or in private when I was away for work. If I tried to press and assert my liberties at home...well, it just wasn't worth it. So it became the 90s. I still had an appreciation mostly for the hair bands, but grunge had hit the scene and I added Pearl Jam to my list of favorite bands. At this time, I renewed my appreciation for show and movie music. The soundtrack for Phantom of the Opera was a staple in our home. Murphy was also heavily into the Scottish thing, so bagpipes and traditional tunes also found their way into my heart. It was in the very last years of my marriage that I also got my first taste of Celtic Rock...but more on that to come. It was also in these last years that I became fascinated with drum, and took up drum lessons at a local music store...with Murphy's constant presence and supervision, of course. And I was good, too. It was only after I left Murphy that me and music kind of exploded together. Within a year, I was working with local rock band, O-X-3 as promotions director, manager, agent, roadie, photographer...you name it. Suddenly, I was behind the scenes, becoming intimately familiar with the creation of rock music. Watching it form from a spark, going through its larval stage and eventually becoming a finished song. For two years, I was "part" of that band, learning about music from the other side...becoming acclimated to that musicians atmosphere. Not only did I love it, but became a recognized face among the local music scene and was accepted as a knowledgeable and legitimate member. At this point, I was even contacting record label executives. But that eventually came to an end when the band broke up. But within months, I had a new opportunity to exercise those muscles, as well as to delve farther into the budding genre of Celtic Rock. Until very recently at that time, my only experiences with Celtic Rock had been with a band called 7 Nations. But then I saw a band at the Radford Highland festival called Enter the Haggis. With eyes and ears now accustomed to experiencing music with a more critical, business point of view, I found this band amazing and full of potential. I contacted them and advised they come to Roanoke. They did. My sister and I hosted them during their visit and they accepted me immediately as someone with knowledge and experience and they've been coming back to Roanoke ever since, to ever increasing audiences. They've become quite successful. Since O-X-3 and Haggis, I've dabbled briefly with several other artists. Local bands Defective and Frotter, and California singer/songwriter, Phil Dutra. Most recently, an ex O-X-3 member, now with regional band Burning Bridges, has asked me to dust off my staff badge and try my hand at promotions again. But that's not all. Between the ending of O-X-3 and meeting up with Dutra, I did a short stint playing drum for a local guitarist at some open mic nights, and even did some singing...so I was able to have my time on the stage, as well as behind the scenes. My interest in music in recent years, together with my musician-honed eyes and ears, has resulted in what I feel is the most delightful tendency of all my music-related activities. It started about four years ago when I asked the question "Who the hell is this Tommy Steele guy that his very first film from 1956 was called 'The Tommy Steel Story?'" I delved deeper and discovered he was England's first mega-rock star, ten years before the British Invasion. I discovered all his music, spread it to others and started correspondence regarding writing a biography. Though this request was declined, I did publish an article about his contributions and innovations in rock music, and this was published in Blue Suede News Magazine in February of 2005. You can still get a copy from http://www.bluesuedenews.com/. Ask for back issue Winter 2004/05. But this activity started a trend of music discovery that has labeled me "The Corruptor" among my friends. I have become ground zero for musical discovery of rare, obscure and foreign music. It usually happens by me making a stray observation, checking it out, and finding a wealth of amazing music at the end of the trail. I then introduce my friends to these musical finds, and many become fans, or at least like it very much. In this manner, I was able to discover a 50-year forgotten British rock star, a French rocker singing in English and trying to make it in America from the early 90s (great stuff!), several artists from Montreal, a world-famous musical that never reached America's ears, and a Norwegian metal band that is brilliantly resurrecting the hair band tradition. But I'll address each of those in turn in future entries. Suffice it to say that, in today's American music industry where formula pop is the big money maker for most companies, I find that going outside the country, and sometimes into the past, is the best source for amazing musical discovery, and it has added a great deal of satisfying music to my collection during a time when America, in my opinion, is spotlighting sub-standard music. I'm hoping readers of my these entries will check out the artists and shows I'll be talking about, and hopefully find as much joy in them as my friends and I have. If you do…please drop back in and let me know what you thought!
In high school, I joined choir and so was working with music a little more closely. Because of the usual material, however, it created in me an appreciation for show and movie music. Also, when I was in high school, the area's first modern rock station came on the air. K-92...which has since turned toward playing all the worst pop the industry has to offer. But with all this new rock music available - this was the 80s - I started hearing stuff I liked enough to start paying attention. I knew songs I liked, but didn't go as far as to learn the names of the artists. I did, however, discover Queen, and their greatest hits album was the first record I ever purchased. From high school until I married, my musical tastes were pretty lame...except for Queen. I liked a lot of the pop acts of the 80's...and Barry Manilow of all people. But the 80's also saw the advent of MTV...which gave me even greater access to the national music scene.
But then I met David and was introduced to hard rock and heavy metal...which I came to love. Some of it was crap, but a great deal of it remains in my music collection today. Some Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Queensryche, WASP... From that jumping point, I became quite fond of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Guns 'n' Roses and the whole hair band thing.
But the 11 years of my marriage was an exercise in oppression. I wasn't permitted to indulge in music. The reason is because I wasn't permitted to indulge in anything that would make me happy or bring me joy. Murphy hated competition, and he'd be damned if he was going to allow anything near me that got more of a positive reaction from me than he did. And so I did most of my music listening when visiting at my mother's house, or in private when I was away for work. If I tried to press and assert my liberties at home...well, it just wasn't worth it.
So it became the 90s. I still had an appreciation mostly for the hair bands, but grunge had hit the scene and I added Pearl Jam to my list of favorite bands. At this time, I renewed my appreciation for show and movie music. The soundtrack for Phantom of the Opera was a staple in our home. Murphy was also heavily into the Scottish thing, so bagpipes and traditional tunes also found their way into my heart. It was in the very last years of my marriage that I also got my first taste of Celtic Rock...but more on that to come. It was also in these last years that I became fascinated with drum, and took up drum lessons at a local music store...with Murphy's constant presence and supervision, of course. And I was good, too.
It was only after I left Murphy that me and music kind of exploded together. Within a year, I was working with local rock band, O-X-3 as promotions director, manager, agent, roadie, photographer...you name it. Suddenly, I was behind the scenes, becoming intimately familiar with the creation of rock music. Watching it form from a spark, going through its larval stage and eventually becoming a finished song. For two years, I was "part" of that band, learning about music from the other side...becoming acclimated to that musicians atmosphere. Not only did I love it, but became a recognized face among the local music scene and was accepted as a knowledgeable and legitimate member. At this point, I was even contacting record label executives.
But that eventually came to an end when the band broke up. But within months, I had a new opportunity to exercise those muscles, as well as to delve farther into the budding genre of Celtic Rock. Until very recently at that time, my only experiences with Celtic Rock had been with a band called 7 Nations. But then I saw a band at the Radford Highland festival called Enter the Haggis. With eyes and ears now accustomed to experiencing music with a more critical, business point of view, I found this band amazing and full of potential. I contacted them and advised they come to Roanoke. They did. My sister and I hosted them during their visit and they accepted me immediately as someone with knowledge and experience and they've been coming back to Roanoke ever since, to ever increasing audiences. They've become quite successful.
Since O-X-3 and Haggis, I've dabbled briefly with several other artists. Local bands Defective and Frotter, and California singer/songwriter, Phil Dutra. Most recently, an ex O-X-3 member, now with regional band Burning Bridges, has asked me to dust off my staff badge and try my hand at promotions again.
But that's not all. Between the ending of O-X-3 and meeting up with Dutra, I did a short stint playing drum for a local guitarist at some open mic nights, and even did some singing...so I was able to have my time on the stage, as well as behind the scenes.
My interest in music in recent years, together with my musician-honed eyes and ears, has resulted in what I feel is the most delightful tendency of all my music-related activities. It started about four years ago when I asked the question "Who the hell is this Tommy Steele guy that his very first film from 1956 was called 'The Tommy Steel Story?'" I delved deeper and discovered he was England's first mega-rock star, ten years before the British Invasion. I discovered all his music, spread it to others and started correspondence regarding writing a biography. Though this request was declined, I did publish an article about his contributions and innovations in rock music, and this was published in Blue Suede News Magazine in February of 2005. You can still get a copy from http://www.bluesuedenews.com/. Ask for back issue Winter 2004/05.
But this activity started a trend of music discovery that has labeled me "The Corruptor" among my friends. I have become ground zero for musical discovery of rare, obscure and foreign music. It usually happens by me making a stray observation, checking it out, and finding a wealth of amazing music at the end of the trail. I then introduce my friends to these musical finds, and many become fans, or at least like it very much. In this manner, I was able to discover a 50-year forgotten British rock star, a French rocker singing in English and trying to make it in America from the early 90s (great stuff!), several artists from Montreal, a world-famous musical that never reached America's ears, and a Norwegian metal band that is brilliantly resurrecting the hair band tradition.
But I'll address each of those in turn in future entries.
Suffice it to say that, in today's American music industry where formula pop is the big money maker for most companies, I find that going outside the country, and sometimes into the past, is the best source for amazing musical discovery, and it has added a great deal of satisfying music to my collection during a time when America, in my opinion, is spotlighting sub-standard music.
I'm hoping readers of my these entries will check out the artists and shows I'll be talking about, and hopefully find as much joy in them as my friends and I have. If you do…please drop back in and let me know what you thought!