Born in '55 to an American farm boy and a young sophisticated German girl. Mom loved music, classical, swing, and big band. She had a thing for Herb Alpert... I can't remember when it showed up, probably a Christmas gift, but one of the "kiddie" record players with a steel needle lived in the boy's room, There was a market then for "kiddie" records, seems like most of ours were Hanna-Barbera. Eventually I was instructed on the operation of Mom's Telefunken console.... My best days were staying home "sick" with my collection, The Troggs, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Beach Boys, Hermann's Hermits. Still my kind of best day, and I don't have to come up with symptoms.
Being alone with your music
I’ve always enjoyed being alone. Being alone with my favorite tunes playing adds a new layer of ‘Being here NOW’.
I remember well the first time I heard ‘In my room’ by the Beach Boys. That wonderful angst of being young and not knowing my future overwhelmed me. Those emotions we’re trained to suppress burst forward, changing me forever.
From that moment forward music became a personal thing. A private wonderful world that I had control over. It was 1966, I was 13 years old.
When we’re young, very little is under our control. Now music could set us free. It was up there with the first time, 3 years later, when I drove my car alone the first time. In preparation for the big moment, I installed my first car cassette player (by Norelco). Now I was truly free to be me.
Your stories would be much appreciated.