I've been meaning to write this blog for some time now. I'm on a business trip to Cleveland, so here goes. Maybe others will be motivated to add their own stories.
I grew up in a home full of old time country music. Hank Williams Sr., Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline, George Jones and others were always playing on the record player. My mom would sing along as she did her house work and, on weekends, my dad would pick up his accordion and play along. I would often join my mom as she sang. I particularly remember singing along with Hank Williams as he crooned I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.
I picked up a guitar in the later part of the '60, wore love beads, and sang songs of protest against the Vietnam war and other injustices. Those times also brought out my love for the Beatles, The Cream, The Byrds, Ten Years After, The Who, Frank Zappa and many others. Too young to go to Woodstock (14), I followed the events daily on the radio. The culmination of the Love Generation! The unfortunate offshoot of the '60s decade, however, was the loss of so many greats to drugs. Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Presley, and others.
Life and work got in the way as grew into my twenties and, while music was still a major part of my life, it often took a back seat to career, raising a family, and other interests. Still, though, I often recalled past years and events by the songs that were popular back then. I still do that. It's funny, during the next 30 years when someone would ask me what I would like to be if I could be anything at all, I would tell them that "I'd give my right arm to be a country music singer".
One day in my mid-50s I picked up a guitar again and started to write simple country songs. I had found my soul again! Problem was, with career and other responsibilities, I was very limited in what I could do since my guitar skills were (and are) so very limited. Nonetheless, I performed my songs for friends and family, did the odd open mic, and began to take voice lessons with a professional voice coach. Then I found Wikiloops!
I joined this site and became a supporting member in January 2016. I tell you, I've had a permanent smile on my face ever since. At first, I would just devour every track I could get my hands on. There were never enough hours in the day! I'm sure I lived in my little studio for days on end. My vocal skills and music theory skills increased as I tried various genres that I would never have had the courage or resources to try on my own. I tried pop tracks, rock tracks, R&B tracks and blues tracks. Some were successful, while others are best left to other singers.
So there it is. But I really wanted to save the best for last. The most precious "gift" that Wikiloops has given me are the friendships. We share our lives, our pain, our jokes, and our love for music. We tease each other, we support each other and we understand each other. Wow! What a joy! I want to thank Dick for creating Wikiloops. But I especially want to thank all of the wonderful musicians on this site for sharing their music. You have given me confidence to develop my talents, you put a smile on my face every day, and you gave me back my love for singing. And, I didn't even have to give up my right arm;)
Andrea
I grew up in a home full of old time country music. Hank Williams Sr., Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline, George Jones and others were always playing on the record player. My mom would sing along as she did her house work and, on weekends, my dad would pick up his accordion and play along. I would often join my mom as she sang. I particularly remember singing along with Hank Williams as he crooned I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.
I picked up a guitar in the later part of the '60, wore love beads, and sang songs of protest against the Vietnam war and other injustices. Those times also brought out my love for the Beatles, The Cream, The Byrds, Ten Years After, The Who, Frank Zappa and many others. Too young to go to Woodstock (14), I followed the events daily on the radio. The culmination of the Love Generation! The unfortunate offshoot of the '60s decade, however, was the loss of so many greats to drugs. Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Presley, and others.
Life and work got in the way as grew into my twenties and, while music was still a major part of my life, it often took a back seat to career, raising a family, and other interests. Still, though, I often recalled past years and events by the songs that were popular back then. I still do that. It's funny, during the next 30 years when someone would ask me what I would like to be if I could be anything at all, I would tell them that "I'd give my right arm to be a country music singer".
One day in my mid-50s I picked up a guitar again and started to write simple country songs. I had found my soul again! Problem was, with career and other responsibilities, I was very limited in what I could do since my guitar skills were (and are) so very limited. Nonetheless, I performed my songs for friends and family, did the odd open mic, and began to take voice lessons with a professional voice coach. Then I found Wikiloops!
I joined this site and became a supporting member in January 2016. I tell you, I've had a permanent smile on my face ever since. At first, I would just devour every track I could get my hands on. There were never enough hours in the day! I'm sure I lived in my little studio for days on end. My vocal skills and music theory skills increased as I tried various genres that I would never have had the courage or resources to try on my own. I tried pop tracks, rock tracks, R&B tracks and blues tracks. Some were successful, while others are best left to other singers.
So there it is. But I really wanted to save the best for last. The most precious "gift" that Wikiloops has given me are the friendships. We share our lives, our pain, our jokes, and our love for music. We tease each other, we support each other and we understand each other. Wow! What a joy! I want to thank Dick for creating Wikiloops. But I especially want to thank all of the wonderful musicians on this site for sharing their music. You have given me confidence to develop my talents, you put a smile on my face every day, and you gave me back my love for singing. And, I didn't even have to give up my right arm;)
Andrea
Member
