I am a restless creative who likes to dabble in many creative endeavors. My first creative love was music. I have loved music for as long as I can remember. But I was particularly fascinated by the sound of the guitar. I began pestering my parents for a guitar around age ten. On my 12th birthday, I got my first guitar. A cheap-o no-brand guitar that was quickly replaced once my parents saw I was serious about learning to play.
My first guitar. On my 12th birthday.
That fateful event began a 50-year love story that is still ongoing. Along the way, I also learned bass and keyboards. I have played in several bands over the years, at church, and at camps. I have done some studio recording, wrote and recorded a jazz album [ My Kind Of Jazz .] And I began teaching guitar (and bass) as my primary source of income after my airline job of 20 years was contracted out in 2006. I earn far less, but I am much happier. So are my knees, and back. 🙂
Me warming up in the studio in the early 80s.
I currently play in a large cover band [Peak City Sound] with multiple singers and a five-piece horn section. We have a diverse group of members from their 20s to their 70s. It is a lot of fun.
And I play in an acoustic trio [ American Garage ] that does covers and originals. We are fairly new and I just set up a TikTok band page yesterday with one original song (that I wrote.) I was clueless about TikTok until two months ago. We have done three live streams on TikTok. Last night’s live stream got 35.9K total views from all over the world. Which is mind-blowing for me.
I play for fun now. So I choose to play in bands that only do fun gigs and don’t worry too much about money.
Still at it almost 50 years later.
I am curious if any of you are musicians also?
If you play an instrument or sing, you are a musician. You don’t have to be a professional. What is your instrument(s)? Do you perform? Did you use to? Do you have a favorite musical genre?
I sing. While cleaning bathrooms or washing dishes. Took my first voice lessons a couple years ago and loved them but man is it nervewracking to sing in front of people! I wonder what happened on the road to adulthood because it wasn't a problem growing up singing with my brothers in church.
Music is wonderful and I often find myself inspired to write based on a song I hear.
Hmmmm. I am not sure that using GarageBand loops to make background music for family videos counts as “music,” and that’s about the extent of my musical capability. I am slightly (my opinion) or horribly (my ex-wife’s) tone deaf, so singing and playing instruments (8 weeks of folk guitar lessons in 6th grade) is not something I do. 😔
I grew up in a house full of music. My dad played ukelele and knew a million old songs from the 30s and 40s. We had a piano and my sister took lessons from when I was two until she went to college when I was 12. My brother sang in a boys choir until his voice changed, and later played bass and harmonica. I played drum in the school orchestra in elementary school, and I was always plunking out things on the ukelele or piano, since they were just sitting there. I picked up guitar seriously when I was 14. I spent my twenties (i.e. the 1990s) playing in two original rock bands, one with my brother, while working as a programmer during the day.
I haven't played very seriously since then, and really not much at all. Before covid, the guys from one of the old bands would get together on the day after christmas every year through the 2010s and play, but beyond that not much, but this past fall I taught myself to use Garageband and Logic Pro and I re-recorded a couple of our original songs, and got my brother to come down to Texas and record vocals for them.
Really though, I don't have time to write fiction and play music and work and spend time with my family, so I have to choose where to focus, and my creative energy is mostly going toward writing.
It is always a challenge to find time when you have multiple creative interests. Which is why I didn't really start writing until I was in my late 50s. I am in a time my life where my work hours are light and my kids are grown and out of the house. So I have plenty of free time. But even then it is becomes a choice. I spent all day yesterday on music. Which I kind of ignored when I got the writing bug.
The great thing about music is, you can always pick it back up. A couple of the guys in our cover band horn section hadn't played for years (decades?) while they chased careers. Then they got back into music and are now in a band. Music makes a fun "second act."
I loved this piece so much!!! It’s so cool to get to see how you got into music. I too am only just now following my first love by taking singing lessons and I am so completely excited about it. Maybe in ten years I’ll actually be good at it and be able to perform like you do! Thanks for sharing your story!!!!
I wish I did. I took guitar lessons, but was terrible. But I love music. I have a soft spot for Celtic folk music.
At least you tried. You can always enjoy listen. 😀
I sing. While cleaning bathrooms or washing dishes. Took my first voice lessons a couple years ago and loved them but man is it nervewracking to sing in front of people! I wonder what happened on the road to adulthood because it wasn't a problem growing up singing with my brothers in church.
Music is wonderful and I often find myself inspired to write based on a song I hear.
Imagine a world without singing. How awful! Performing for an audience can be nerve-wracking. But you get comfortable with experience.
Sing.
Sing a song.
Sing out loud.
Sing out strong! ...
Hmmmm. I am not sure that using GarageBand loops to make background music for family videos counts as “music,” and that’s about the extent of my musical capability. I am slightly (my opinion) or horribly (my ex-wife’s) tone deaf, so singing and playing instruments (8 weeks of folk guitar lessons in 6th grade) is not something I do. 😔
Using Garage Band absolutely counts as being a musician. Music is just pleasingly arranged sounds. And that is what you do in Garage Band. You rock! 🎧
I don't play, though I love music. I really enjoyed your first entry on TikTok. More please!
Thanks, Dascha. We should have some live videos pretty soon.
Nice!
I grew up in a house full of music. My dad played ukelele and knew a million old songs from the 30s and 40s. We had a piano and my sister took lessons from when I was two until she went to college when I was 12. My brother sang in a boys choir until his voice changed, and later played bass and harmonica. I played drum in the school orchestra in elementary school, and I was always plunking out things on the ukelele or piano, since they were just sitting there. I picked up guitar seriously when I was 14. I spent my twenties (i.e. the 1990s) playing in two original rock bands, one with my brother, while working as a programmer during the day.
I haven't played very seriously since then, and really not much at all. Before covid, the guys from one of the old bands would get together on the day after christmas every year through the 2010s and play, but beyond that not much, but this past fall I taught myself to use Garageband and Logic Pro and I re-recorded a couple of our original songs, and got my brother to come down to Texas and record vocals for them.
Really though, I don't have time to write fiction and play music and work and spend time with my family, so I have to choose where to focus, and my creative energy is mostly going toward writing.
It is always a challenge to find time when you have multiple creative interests. Which is why I didn't really start writing until I was in my late 50s. I am in a time my life where my work hours are light and my kids are grown and out of the house. So I have plenty of free time. But even then it is becomes a choice. I spent all day yesterday on music. Which I kind of ignored when I got the writing bug.
The great thing about music is, you can always pick it back up. A couple of the guys in our cover band horn section hadn't played for years (decades?) while they chased careers. Then they got back into music and are now in a band. Music makes a fun "second act."
I loved this piece so much!!! It’s so cool to get to see how you got into music. I too am only just now following my first love by taking singing lessons and I am so completely excited about it. Maybe in ten years I’ll actually be good at it and be able to perform like you do! Thanks for sharing your story!!!!
Thanks, Elle. I am excited that you are pursuing music. It won't take ten years. 🤣
When you are ready, let's do a TikTok Duet. I will play guitar and you can sing. 😀 🎸🎤
Haha, if only!
I am totally serious.