From My Perspective: Music to my ears

My musical taste is eclectic to say the least, and I have many people to thank for my wide variety of musical likes.

To start, I come from a long line of music in one sense or another. My grandparents, my parents, aunts, uncles, school, friends and, well, even myself.

When I was very young, I remember listening to "The Day the Music Died" and "Cats in the Cradle" because they played on a small radio that sat on my parent's dresser while I helped my mom make the bed.

My Uncle Jack was the producer for the Carpenters and I even have a vague recollection of being very young, maybe three or four years old being in his studio meeting Karen Carpenter. Even then, I feel like I must have been a little star-struck.

For Christmas one year, my parents (although at the time I probably thought it was Santa) got me an AM/FM radio of my own. I remember listening to it in my bedroom hoping to hear Shaun Cassidy sing Da Do Ron Ron, and singing along with it when it did.

Then there was the year I fell in love with Billy Joel's music. The 52nd Street and Glass Houses cassettes made their way into my Christmas stocking that year and I played them until they were worn out.

I remember middle school dances that always played Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven as the ending song.

My grandparents on both sides contributed to my musical evolvement. My dad's parents listened to Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong while my mom's parents listened to (and loved) Frank Sinatra. There were autographed photos of him in their house, and I always thought it was cute how much my grandmother swooned over him and my grandfather smiled.

My first official concert was to see the Everly Brothers at Universal Studios with a boyfriend in high school, but I had been to shows in Las Vegas with my grandparents long before that.

My other uncle had a band when I was really young, and at that time I went with my aunt, parents, and grandparents into small clubs to watch them play. I couldn't have been more than three or four. One of the songs they would do, and bring me up on stage for before my departure, was "Rubber Ducky." Yes, the song from Sesame Street. Is it any wonder why Ernie and Burt were my favorite characters?

I found out more about the music that my dad liked after he passed away, but it turns out he taught me well, even when I didn't know he was doing it, as we share a lot of the same musical tastes. I guess I just needed to grow up so I could appreciate it a little bit more.

I also remember taping my favorite songs off the radio onto a cassette tape so I could continue to listen to them later.

When my brother and I were younger, our family would go camping each weekend. My dad drove our wood paneled Pontiac station wagon pulling our trailer. At the time, my mom loved Barry Manilow and my dad liked the Doobie Brothers. They both liked the Beatles and we listened to the cover band, Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart Club, who performed their renditions of the Beatles classics.

In school I belonged to the choir and then band, playing the flute. I also learned to play guitar, violin, clarinet and a little on the piano.

High school brought the 80's music. I'm a firm believer you either love or hate the 80's – but I also believe that really was the last, best music before the age of boy pop bands and today's noise.

When I was in college, classical became my go-to for study music, and in my 20's I discovered country. Not today's country, but the good stuff. Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker, Patsy Cline, and the like.

Nowadays, my favs include Adele, Michael Buble, soft piano when I'm in my studio creating, Eric Church, and Nickelback. I told you it was eclectic, right?

For me, music is about the memories. What songs bring back special memories for you? Are your musical tastes as eclectic as mine, or do you have a particular genre you like to listen to?

Whether you agree with my musical tastes or not, what I do know is this... music plays an important part in most people's lives. It helps them remember, helps them forget, and everything in-between. When I hear songs at work or in the car, they stir up memories, both good and bad. I invite you to remember with the music in your life. If you let it, music to your ears can be soothing to the mind, and the soul.