Imagine a world without music

It’s almost unimaginable.

Music, whether we realize it or not, plays an important part in all our lives.

My earliest recollection of music was when I was very young and my father sang to me.

My father had an ocean of Irish ditties that he would sing while I was sitting on his lap. What I wouldn’t give to remember all of them. But I do remember one “Froggy went a courtin.”  I don’t remember why this one stuck to me.

I don’t even remember if my dad had a good singing voice, but it was magical to me.

We can be depressed, lonely, sick, but music is the tonic.

When I was old enough to go into Brantner’s pool hall in Palouse, I remember some unusual musical incidents.

There was a local yokel by the name of Shorty Zeller who would attract the bar flies by playing spoons on Saturday night. He was a nice guy who always attracted a crowd. Don’t knock spoon music.

He was sometimes accompanied by a man who would play the washboard.

We were overwhelmed when a third person would show up and play the juice harp. Oh, what I would give to hear the three of them again.

You never know when an unusual musical experience will come your way.

On my first trip to Japan, I was somewhat lonely being in such a large city as Tokyo. So I signed up for a nightclub tour in the evening.

There was a string of places we were scheduled to go to.

Our tour director told us his name was Izzy. Every time he started to tell us something, there was four Cubans who would start singing Guantanamera. They were pretty rude, but had remarkable voices, and they were really enjoying themselves. It made an enjoyable evening for everyone except Izzy.

The next night I left the Okura Hotel afoot looking for something to do and came upon a German beer place that was alive. So, even though I had no connection to anything German, I went in for a pint and some good music.

Music helped make my visit in Tokyo meaningful and enjoyable.

Music sometimes comes in strange places with alway the same result: enjoyable. 

During the 1960s and early ’70s, music changed the world and had its influence in ending the war in Vietnam.

Which I guess brings this rambling narrative to the point.

We are in the midst of something even worse than the war in Vietnam, with far more deaths.

What we need now is a modern day “folk” music revival to unite us and provide a unifying base.

We are living in a critical time in this country and seriously need a leader that will take us through it.

Hello Joe.