I started learning to play the piano when I was ten years old. I studied for three years with a wonderful lady in my neighborhood. I began taking again my second semester of college. My third year of college I transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington where I studied with Dr. David Stokan. I lived with my grandparents that school year and didn't have to work. I practiced at least two hours every weekday, and up to three hours many of those days. That was a breakthrough year for me. I finally felt that I had command of the keyboard - that I could make it do what I wanted. I studied piano for a total of ten semesters.
When I was almost thirteen, a man in my church approached my parents about paying for organ lessons for me. He had bought a Hammond organ for the church, but the lady who played for years had moved on, and the organ had sat silent for months, maybe years - I don't remember for sure. He knew that I was progressing in my piano lessons, and he thought that I should be the one to bring organ music back to our church. We took him up on his offer. I took lessons for about two years. I became church organist when I was in the eighth grade, and I played until I left my home town at the end of my first year in college. I also took a semester of organ from Linton Powell at the end of my college career. I was later organist at First Baptist Church in Athens for a year and a half while I was teaching school there.
I sang a solo in public for the first time when I was eighteen. I took voice lessons for a total of nine or ten semesters at the undergraduate and graduate levels. I'm a high baritone, and I sing tenor in choirs.
I bought a thirty-dollar Harmony guitar from a catalog when I was in high school. I got my brother's old books from the few guitar lessons he took, and I learned some chords. I later bought a Sigma (Martin's cheaper brand), and I still play occasionally.
I took the required two semesters of conducting for my undergraduate degree, but I didn't really learn to conduct until I got to graduate school. I had two semesters of conducting classes there, one with David Keith, and the other with Robert Burton. We also had weekly sessions with very capable tutors.
I've never had any formal composition classes other than what I did in music theory, counterpoint, and orchestration classes. Those were my favorite classes in school. I have written a few short piano pieces, several arrangements for choir, voice, and piano, and some original introits and prayer responses for choir. I'd like to eventually have some of my music published.
Several years ago, I built a zither and a wooden "huzi" drum for use in my elementary music classes. I learned enough about playing recorder to be able to teach it to sixth graders. I also got pretty good on the autoharp - I could play the solo from "Just When I Needed You Most" (yes, that was an autoharp).
Like many people my age, I once had a large LP collection. Over the years, I moved several times, and most of my vinyl is either worn out, lost or lies languishing in crates in the closet. I started building an 8-track, then a cassette tape collection (I didn't buy many, thank goodness), and now I've begun to buy some of the recordings I had on vinyl. Like most people now, I buy CDs or digital downloads. Here's what I'm currently listening to:
Bonnie Raitt
The Best of Bonnie Raitt
The last few years, I've bought several things on impulse because I was vaguely familiar with a song or two by a singer. I was pleasantly surprised by several songs on this CD. My favorite is one I had never heard before: "I Can't Make You Love Me."
Chicago
The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning
I saw Chicago twice in concert in the early 70s. Their performances then were energetic and all business. They didn't talk much - just played the music and played it well. This is a double CD set released by Rhino. It has a good sampling of Chicago's music through the years. I enjoyed the first CD more, probably because I didn't listen to them too much after 1975 or so. There's nothing new here, just some good old tunes.
Rob Thomas
Something to Be
I first became aware of Rob Thomas listening to his collaboration with Santana on the Supernatural CD. Then I realized he was the singer of Unwell, which I liked. I saw him perform on the American Songwriter's Awards the summer of 2004, where he received a special award for new songwriters. I realized then that his is a special and precocious talent. His first solo CD has some surprises.
Don McLean
Legendary Songs of Don McLean
I remember the first time I heard American Pie. I was home sick from school, and they played it about a dozen times that day. I later enjoyed Vincent, Crying, and others that are on this CD. Watching Don McLean perform on the old In Concert series inspired me to buy a guitar and learn to play.
James Taylor
Best of James Taylor
JT has been a favorite for a long time. I saw him in concert in 1972, and his laid-back approach and quiet sense of humor works as well now as it did then. This is a nice collection.
October Road
Fourth of July
Jamie Cullum
Twentysomething
His performance on the American Songwriter's Awards the summer of 2004 was energetic and irreverent. It got my attention, and I've become a fan.
John Denver
The Best of John Denver Live
John has been much maligned, but I think he was a solid songwriter and a great entertainer. He loved and respected his audience, and his positive outlook and passion for his causes is something many would do well to emulate. I miss him a lot.
Santana
Best of Santana, Vol. I
I saw Santana in 1972 on the Texas Tech campus while I was in high school. Weather Report was their warmup group, and since most of us had never heard of them at that time, the crowd was getting pretty restless by the time Santana finally came on. The wait was well-rewarded. What a beautiful storm of sound and color! Carlos was in fine form, as was his huge band. This CD brings it back.
Shaman
Some of us old fogies have criticized Santana for his current approach to making records. I don't care for all the tracks on this CD (Macy Gray's in particular), but I think he's doing a good thing. He's keeping his music fresh, he's introducing his sound to new audiences, and he's stretching us old-timers. As Rick Nelson once sang, "If memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck."
The Beatles
Revolver
Rubber Soul
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles
Let It Be
In my home town, the Beatles were the worst thing that had ever happened. Old folks couldn't believe all the carrying on and screaming at their concerts...and THAT HAIR! HORRORS WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO? I was in third grade and didn't see their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, because we went to Training Union and Sunday night services. So I could only agree that they must be a Bad Influence, which was confirmed a couple of years later when John said they were more popular than Jesus. Well, that just topped it. I was a confirmed Beatle-hater...until eighth grade, when a local college student by the name of George Gagliardi spoke to our English classes about the poetry of the Beatles and sang their songs, and I really heard them for the first time. I immediately went out and bought the 45 of Nowhere Man, and I began collecting their LPs: Sergeant Pepper's had just been released, then I bought the White Album and Abbey Road and then it all ended with Let It Be. I've recently bought these CDs, and I'm amazed at how well the music holds up.