My earliest recollection of listening to music was playing “How Much is that Doggy in the Window” at the top of my lungs.  I think it was because I wanted a puppy so badly.

The biggest influence came to me watching The Ed Sullivan Show and seeing The Beatles.  I was 6 years old and I can clearly remember seeing them.  My sister was 16 at the time and never showed any interest in them at all.  I remember her records were Chubby Checker and Frankie Valli.

Growing up, the music in our house was always played by my mother. She loved Robert Goulet, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and big band music.  In middle school I listened to some pop; I did love Donny Osmond and listened toThe Jackson Five, Tommy James and the Shondels, and The Rolling Stones, but mostly Beatles. My first 45 was “I am the Walrus” with the B side “Hello Goodbye”. I was one of the first to buy “Sargent Pepper”.  I made a pact with myself that only The Beatles would play on my stereo and only pictures of them on my walls! I made a beautiful collage of them on my bulletin board.  I had a Sargent Pepper mobile hanging from my ceiling that I received from a cereal box.  A friend of mine and I used to go around the neighborhood on bulk pickup days and see what was being thrown out.  I found a box filled to the brim  with Beatles cards, what a treasure.  As I look back, I wonder if that was when John Lennon stated that they were more popular than Jesus.  Everyone was burning and throwing out everything Beatles.  It was more in the south and we lived in NY so I could be wrong. All I know is that I was a very happy  girl!

In high school my love only grew.  Now I was experiencing them individually as they had broken up. I had each of their solo albums.  My favorite was George Harrison, “All Things Must Pass”.  Wow…..I loved his spirituality and used to pray out my window using lyrics from “Living in the Material World” album.  I loved John’s honesty and Paul’s love songs and rock’n roll roots, and Ringo was just a load of fun. George is still my favorite and it figures, he ended up being quite the gardener. Just another level that I could identify with.

I do have to point out that I fell in love with another group in high school, Led Zeppelin!  Oh my God!  No one can moan like Robert Plant, what a voice, and really really hot! The music enthralled me, that lead guitar, those mystical lyrics.  When The Song Remains the Same movie came out, (I had run away and was living in Florida) and a girlfriend and I went to see it, I was so glad my boyfriend didn’t go with me. He was so hot, and his fantasy part, riding a horse and saving the beautiful maiden paired with the music was awesome.  Watching Jimmy Page slay the guitar was unbeatable, and John Bonham’s on the drums, Moby Dick!

When John got shot, I really didn’t believe it.  There had been rumors years before that Paul was dead and I never believed that either.  I got woken up that morning with a phone call saying, “he’s dead, John Lennon is dead”. It was my cousin.  I was 22 years old. As the day progressed and thats all the TV and radio talked about, it finally sunk in.  A few years later a friend and I, with our kids, went down to Strawberry Fields in Central Park to pay our respects. To this day people gather there to celebrate John and his incredible talent.  Everyone is of the same mind, singing songs and grieving together.  My children remember this and hold it as one of their best memories.

There was a concert in Central Park,(75/76) on the great lawn that John Lennon was going to perform with Harry NeiIson, Brooklyn Bridge, and Richie Valens with some others that I don’t remember. Took the train down with some friends, my mother never knew.  I wore this denim shirt that I had embroidered and sewed the entire cover of “Living in the Material World” on, and everyone wanted it!  I went to the 1st Beatlefest in 1977 at the Commodore Hotel in NYC.  I still have the ticket stud.I saw John Lennon in the hall with May Pang and was to nervous to say hi.

In 1978 I went with my then husband to see Beatlemania on Broadway.  I remember how disappointed I was.  I also remember walking down the street smoking a joint.  In the 70’s, NYC was not the tourist attraction it is now.  Very seedy, you’d never go into bathroom in Grand Central Station. That too was a scary place.

I’ve been to A Celebration for John Lennon, called Come Together, at Radio City, where famous people sang his songs.  I remember being impressed by Kevin Spacey and blown away by Shelby Lynne, (never heard of her) singing “Mother”.  I’ve been to 2 other Beatlefests in NJ.  I saw Ringo Star and his All Star Band, (great seats in the front).  When Oprah came to NY and Paul McCartney was going to be one of her guests, I spent hours on the phone trying to get tickets and eventually did get 4 tickets!  We ended up sitting in the balcony right next to 3 of his children!

My husband and I got to see Paul McCartney at Shea Stadium, ( it was Citifield then).  I was in a wheelchair and thought we had good seats, but when we went to find them, all the cameras were in front blocking the stage.  We were early and a man heard me saying I wouldn’t be able to see, so he called over an associate an told him to find the young lady a better seat!  We ended up on the center platform, (the 1st one, for wheelchairs, close to the stage!) That is the only concert I’ve been to that had raised platforms for wheelchairs. When you’re in a wheelchair and everyone stands up, you can’t see a thing.  This was one of the best times of my life!

We’ve gone to Las Vegas to see The Beatles Love by Cirque de Soleil, more great seats and another favorite time of my life!  I’ve seen a few fake Beatle bands, cheesy to say the least. We’ve seen the Fab Faux twice.  They are different as they don’t dress up like the Beatles.  They take the songs and reproduce them as authentically as the originals. I would recommend seeing them.

My favorite way to experience live music is outside on a beautiful night. There is nothing like it.

Other concerts I’ve been to:  Robert Plant, with Tom Petty opening, front row center. Robert Plant with Stevie Ray Vaughn opening.  Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.  Ozzy Osbourne, 2nd row center, 1st row ended up knocked down and my boyfriend at the time had to drag me away, I was so into the music.  I love Ozzy’ lyrics, very relatable. Steve Miller, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Scorpions. When my son was 11 or 12 we took him and two of his friends to see Metallica, with Danzig and some others.  This was outside at a county fair.  It was so hot and people were so drunk and my son and his friend wanted to go into the mosh pit, so I found it hard to enjoy the music.  I won tickets to a private concert with Heart, at The Hard Rock Cafe in NYC. Another favorite evening and one of my favorite groups! I love Ann Wilson’s voice, those ladies can rock.

I went to a preview of a broadway play titled “Lennon”, which had all different people, (men, women, black, white) portraying him.  I don’t remember if it got past the previews.  We’ve seen Van Halen, Velvet Revolver, (Slash and Scott Weiland) and Alice In Chains, another favorite, at the Nikon Jones Beach Theatre, which is outside by the ocean on a gorgeous night.

At a small local theater where we lived, I’ve seen, Gregg Allman, and Peter Frampton in the front row and Robert Cray too. Oh yeah, I also won tickets to see Elton John.

I absolutely love music and seeing my favorites live.  I have one beef about going to concerts and that is accessibility and good seats.  I have been waiting in person for tickets to go on sale only to be told I have to call to get handicapped seats.  When I’m on the phone at the beginnng of ticket sales, I’m told those seats are sold out.  Guaranteed if you went to that concert, there would be people in those seats that aren’t handicapped.  I was pleased with Ringo and his Allstars, I was able to get seats in the front.  Also, Paul McCartney, which I’ve already  mentioned.  I get so pissed off at not being able to get good seats for handicapped.  Some of the shows you can’t even get near the front.  Like I said, when everyone stands, your shit out of luck.

I have to say I’m spoiled, once you’ve sat in the front row, there is no place else to be! It doesn’t have to be front row, just great seats!

I am dying to see Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and of course The Rolling Stones.  I think I missed my last chance this year, I feel it was probably their last tour.  My son saw them twice and even my sister, (who is no rock ‘n roller!) saw them.  Her husband bought tickets.  Mine doesn’t have a clue.  I have to get any and all tickets to go anywhere.

I have to add that I also love all Motown and I’ll go anywhere to hear a blues band.  I also like Sheryl Crow, Jimi Hendricks, The Doors, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Animals, Eric Burden, Van Halen with David Lee Roth, Def Leppard, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Steve Miller, Ratt,

There it is, my background story of music

Now, just entries associated with my love of music and observations