Hi there! My daytime job is in educational tech but my passion, besides my family, is my love of music. Popular American music mostly from the 1950’s to today. Or basically, when rock and roll began. My earliest musical memories came from my parent’s stereo/furniture. Both my parents played music in our house at all times. My early tastes were formed around Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Barbara Streisand and Tom Jones. Very early on, however, I remember forming my own likes and dislikes. Elvis was a favorite of mine, all on my own. Having an older sister helped by introducing me to a different sound than the one coming from the front room stereo speakers.
Coming from my sister’s room, I first heard The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, The Doobie Brothers and Peter Frampton. Influences were coming at me fast in those days! Between the explosions happening on the family TV every night and the new musical sounds my sister was listening to, I was constantly absorbing new ideas and didn’t even realize it. Looking back on the 70’s, there were a lot of ‘firsts’. Saturday Night Live was a HUGE influence and also another place to see live popular music on TV. Of course , Ed Sullivan was still going strong when I was a kid and one could always count on Ed to bring the rock to the masses.
At some point, I forged my own path musically, away from my parents and older sister. The first album I can remember buying with my own money was “Gratitude” by Earth Wind and Fire. A double live album. Which may be why I love buying live albums to this day. I was in 7th grade and, at that time, I had not discovered the power of the electric guitar. Something happened, and I can’t remember what, that opened up a new world of possibilities. Something brought the rock group KISS to my attention. I’m still paying attention.
I don’t know how it happened but I was exposed to these scary looking, superhero-type rockers. At 12 years of age, my love of comics and music were colliding and producing something that only dreams are made of. KISS was everything a budding teenager could ever want. They were loud, outrageous and mysterious. And played guitars!! I felt the power and liked it!
Right around this time, I went to my first ever live rock concert. It was an infamous Day On The Green in Oakland CA. July 2rd, 1977. I was in between 8th grade and high school. My sister took me and a friend to see Peter Frampton (headliner) at the Oakland Coliseum. It was a big outdoor festival of music in the bright summer sun. Also playing that day were (in order of appearance) The Outlaws, Santana, Lynyrd Skynryd and Frampton. This was the original Skynryd’s last appearance in the Bay Area. Their plane crashed later that tour, killing their lead singer and 2 other bandmates. I was, still am, a huge Frampton fan . His Comes Alive album was the most popular live album EVER! I was just in awe of the whole day. Check out videos from this big day HERE and HERE
Concerts still thrill me. I still get to as many shows as I can and I have seen some unbelievable things on a concert stage over the years. I still live in the Bay Area and am happy that I am close to a historical musical hub.
