My Father was my inspiration and semi-pushed my life to play music in some fashion. Whether he knows it or not, I don't know. He passed a long time ago. Not that my father was a musician. He wasn't. Rather he loved of all genre of music. My greatest recollection of Dad was as a Barbershopper. He was a tenor leaning toward the baritone side. He loved to sing.
As I was growing up during the 50's and early 60's, there was always music playing in the house. As a youngster I joined the Carol Choir at church. Migrated to the piano during grade school. Found drums during junior high. I didn't touch a guitar til after high school. Dylan had already peaked. The Beatles had disbanded and Don MacClean was just beginning a long lived journey.
In the early 60's I received a transistor
radio for Christmas. WSAI, 1320 on your AM dial was the only station that aired music that caught my attention. I would go to sleep with the transistor under my pillow, listening to Roy Orbison, The Temtations as well as the Beatles and Stones.
When FM hit the air waves, there was but one station in the Queen City that would play progressive rock. WEBN. High atop Frog Mountain, Jelly Pudding Radio became the defacto radio station for rock and roll. And not your everyday rock and roll. No sir. 'EBN played that which could not be aired on AM radio. They only played rock after Midnight on Sundays for a couple of hours. That is where I learned of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and others.
During Senior High School, I took to drums. I didn't have an idol for drums. Yet I was drawn to them. I was just intrigued by how Iron Butterfly could put together such a drum solo. Surely I could do that. I was amazed at how the drummer, Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones) could do what he was doing.
I didn't touch the guitar until after high school. The only reason the guitar was put in my hands was because of mononucleosis. I had mono. Sick as a dog. I was laid up for a few weeks. And then toxic hepatitus because I went out and got drunk with a bunch of people. Silly me!
The guitar was my Fathers; an old Silvertone acoustic. It was really a cheap guitar by todays standards. None-the-less, with nothing else to do, I started plinking on the Silvertone and soon found that I really enjoyed playing it. I've been playing guitar ever since.
When I met my wife, I was on my way to Forestry School. I met her in a parking lot. You know, the "hangout" parking lot. She was walking away from me and I whistled out about her ass swinging as good as it (
still does) did and she flipped me the bird. Love at first flip!
She bought me the Guild D25/6 that you hear me talk about and play today. The Guild has seen some rough roads but has stuck with me, just as she has, over all these years. A perfect life companion.
I play guitar because I love it. And my wife loves me. At least she tells me so!
Guitar rocks. The Mrs. rocks! Completely.
Forty years later I find myself in the basement, learning "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" for the first time. But I already have satisfaction.
Les
Cheer Down
If its not too late for me (and I'm not the oldest person to start playing, by far) it sure isn't for you. Welcome to the forum, and a long life of fulfilling your dream!
And Chuck - I only wish that I'm going to be so able with 60!
)
