Music Memories: The Early Years

Music Memories  is a series of blog posts that include musical memories and the role that music has played in my life. To see other posts in this series, click here.

The earliest memories of music that I have of music include record players and cassette tape players or maybe the voices of my mom and dad.

Care Bear’s records at my parents house

I remember in kindergarten singing “This Land is My Land” or was it “America the Beautiful”... (maybe both). Mrs. McDougal talked about the lyric about purple mountain majesty and showed us all a picture of the mountains that seemed to be purple. In that class we also listened to records about different personified letters of the alphabet.

I was in a singing group which was called Talent Sprouts for 8 years starting when I was 3 or 4 years old. I remember a couple of songs that we used to sing.

When I was little I remember quite a few Wee Sing cassette tapes. I also remember a few videos that my brother and I used to watch with my cousins, especially Wee Sing in Sillyville and Wee Sing The Big Rock Candy Mountain.

I also probably listened to and sang many songs from the Children’s Songbook, but I don’t have any specific stories or examples.

Music Memories: The Influence of My Dad

Music Memories is a series of blog posts that include musical memories and the role that music has played in my life. To see other posts in this series, click here.

My Dad has been a big influence in my life. Especially musical influence. My dad loves music and some of that love for music has brushed off on me.

The first concert I went to was Boston with my dad. My aunt Lana bought tickets. We had floor seats. Everyone on the floor stood up the entire concert. I was 12 or so and not very tall. I couldn’t see a lot of the concert. But I do remember a cool spaceship thing above the stage that was lowered down and it moved. I also remember an organ solo.

My dad listened to the Beatles a lot growing up. I am a big fan of the Beatles, especially Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The first album I remember owning was given to me by my father. It was Weird Al Yankovich in 3D. He gave to my brother a best of Men at Work CD. I also remember convincing my dad to buy me a collection of cartoon theme songs.

Riding in the car and listening to music with my dad is fun. He knows a lot of music and will sing along and even harmonize with many songs.

Other musicians that I claim to know about and love thanks to my father include: The Who, Billy Joel, Peter Gabriel, The Eagles, Joe Walsh, Elton John, The Cars, Pink Floyd, Wings, and many others.