I have always been a fan of music. All kinds appeal to me. Many kind do not. Opera, classical, and rap are the ones that I can do without. But that is just my own personal preference. I know others love that kind of music. Me, I have always been a fan of classic rock, rock, blues and country. Over the years, as I have grown older, my taste in music has changed. I would not say drastically, but changed more since I was in high school.
When I was in high school, I was a headbanger. Yeah, I was. Surprised? The friends that know me now will be anyway. Those that I went to high school with, and read this, will not be surprised. I listened to Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, and many other heavy metal bands. I admit, I still have a fondness to Metallica, but those who listened to them at the age of 18 and 19 as I was then, still, to this day, will have a fondness for them. I mean, when I still hear, The Unforgiven, Fade to Black, or Enter Sandman, my head still wants to bob up and down uncontrollably to the beat. Hell, I still put Metallica’s Black Album in my CD player and just fade away with the rhythm of Kirk Hammett’s lead guitar riffs, Lars Ulrich’s vicious drum solo’s, and James Hetfeild’s laboring drawn out vocals. I guess metal music is still in my blood somewhat.
And classic rock is still and will always be one of my favorites. I still have to have my dose of Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, The Eagles, AC/DC, and especially Cream. There will always be something about Stairway to Heaven, Dream On, I Can’t Tell You Why, Hell’s Bells, and God only knows how many Cream songs. From White Room to Sunshine of Your Love and I Feel Free to Spoonful, the songs for Cream get me every time. That’s because one of my favorite guitarists is Eric Clapton. The soulfulness of his artistic guitar playing riff solos just run deep into my blood as I listen to him play. I could listen to Eric Clapton from now until doomsday and I will be a happy man.
When it comes to rock, well there are just way too many artists to name here that I like. Bryan Adams, Eddie Money, Steve Miller Band, and one in particular comes to mind, John Cougar Mellencamp. Songs like, Cuts like a Knife, Take Me Home Tonight, The Joker, and especially Pink Houses, are now considered classics in today’s music era, and with all respect, they should be. Now I mentioned John Cougar Mellencamp. It did not matter what name he went by, be it John Cougar or John Cougar Mellencamp or simply John Mellancamp, he is a staple in American music. I like a singer/songwriter that tells a story with his/her music, and that is just what John Cougar Mellencamp did and still does. Those that tell stories in their songs relate to me personally. And that is the feel I get from him.
Now for the blues as I have mentioned that I like. I will never understand how somebody could not have a fondness for the blues. The blues just hits one in the gut and will not let go. To this day, I remember the first blues artist and song that I heard and it just took me in and I was hooked. That artist was Riley B. King. Better know as the great, B. B. King, and the song was The Thrill is Gone. When I heard his beckoning vocals and the wail of his guitar fondly named Lucille, I closed my eyes and fell into the wonder of such lyricism and tones that just took me away to another place. But, B. B. King is not that only blues artist that I listen too. Buddy Guy is another and with his song, Damn Right I Got the Blues, one cannot help but feel like one has the blues. Then there is the one blues artist that is my most favorite. Not because he was a blues artist, but because he was more than a blues artist. He was a musician. That artist is Stevie Ray Vaughan. Just like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan played with soul and integrity that showed through in his guitar solos and vocals. He was a lover of the music; a true Texan blues man. Almost all of his albums are in my collection and I listen to them frequently. When he got killed in a freak accident, the blues era was turned upside down and the blues lost a legend. At least his music and memory will live on in all of his fans.
But let me get back to something I said at the end my rock category. As I said with John Cougar Mellencamp telling a story with is rock songs, the one category that also fits here is country, which I mentioned I listen too also. I am not a country fan just because I am a southern guy. Oh no. I listen to country because almost all of the songs in this category tell a story. Those country artists that write songs and sing them most tell a story from experience and living the life. That appeals to me. Country artists like Clint Black, Patsy Cline, Reba, Phil Vassar, George Strait, Brad Paisley, and my personal favorite, Alan Jackson, have all sang songs that deal straight from their own lives. Listening to songs such as A Better Man , I Fall to Pieces, Whoever’s in New England, American Child, Troubadour, and Letter to Me, one can feel the words and feel the story behind the words.
However, I believe there is one more storyteller/singer/songwriter/ that stands out among all of those I listed. If you are reading this, you have already read his name. That country artist is Alan Jackson. I have all of his albums and I can honestly say, that on all of them, the songs all tell a story. From his ballads to his offbeat humorous songs, all have a story behind them. One can feel the story being told and the honor of each one that pays homage to those that were and are still in his life. Take for instance his song, Small Town Southern Man where he pays homage to his father like he did in Drive (for Daddy Gene). But then, Alan Jackson has also written songs like If Jesus was a Hillbilly and I Don’t Even Know Your Name, where the humorous side comes out. Those two songs may be humorous, but they still tell a story.
And this leads me to that part of country music that I will write in a second part blog. The humorous side of country music is a side that most people can relate too. From the classic country artist to the modern country artist, there are country songs that fill one with laughter and even keep you thinking. But, they all still tell a story. I will save this for another blog soon to come. Until then, as was said on Hee Haw, “That’s all folks!” At least for now.
When I was in high school, I was a headbanger. Yeah, I was. Surprised? The friends that know me now will be anyway. Those that I went to high school with, and read this, will not be surprised. I listened to Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, and many other heavy metal bands. I admit, I still have a fondness to Metallica, but those who listened to them at the age of 18 and 19 as I was then, still, to this day, will have a fondness for them. I mean, when I still hear, The Unforgiven, Fade to Black, or Enter Sandman, my head still wants to bob up and down uncontrollably to the beat. Hell, I still put Metallica’s Black Album in my CD player and just fade away with the rhythm of Kirk Hammett’s lead guitar riffs, Lars Ulrich’s vicious drum solo’s, and James Hetfeild’s laboring drawn out vocals. I guess metal music is still in my blood somewhat.
And classic rock is still and will always be one of my favorites. I still have to have my dose of Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, The Eagles, AC/DC, and especially Cream. There will always be something about Stairway to Heaven, Dream On, I Can’t Tell You Why, Hell’s Bells, and God only knows how many Cream songs. From White Room to Sunshine of Your Love and I Feel Free to Spoonful, the songs for Cream get me every time. That’s because one of my favorite guitarists is Eric Clapton. The soulfulness of his artistic guitar playing riff solos just run deep into my blood as I listen to him play. I could listen to Eric Clapton from now until doomsday and I will be a happy man.
When it comes to rock, well there are just way too many artists to name here that I like. Bryan Adams, Eddie Money, Steve Miller Band, and one in particular comes to mind, John Cougar Mellencamp. Songs like, Cuts like a Knife, Take Me Home Tonight, The Joker, and especially Pink Houses, are now considered classics in today’s music era, and with all respect, they should be. Now I mentioned John Cougar Mellencamp. It did not matter what name he went by, be it John Cougar or John Cougar Mellencamp or simply John Mellancamp, he is a staple in American music. I like a singer/songwriter that tells a story with his/her music, and that is just what John Cougar Mellencamp did and still does. Those that tell stories in their songs relate to me personally. And that is the feel I get from him.
Now for the blues as I have mentioned that I like. I will never understand how somebody could not have a fondness for the blues. The blues just hits one in the gut and will not let go. To this day, I remember the first blues artist and song that I heard and it just took me in and I was hooked. That artist was Riley B. King. Better know as the great, B. B. King, and the song was The Thrill is Gone. When I heard his beckoning vocals and the wail of his guitar fondly named Lucille, I closed my eyes and fell into the wonder of such lyricism and tones that just took me away to another place. But, B. B. King is not that only blues artist that I listen too. Buddy Guy is another and with his song, Damn Right I Got the Blues, one cannot help but feel like one has the blues. Then there is the one blues artist that is my most favorite. Not because he was a blues artist, but because he was more than a blues artist. He was a musician. That artist is Stevie Ray Vaughan. Just like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan played with soul and integrity that showed through in his guitar solos and vocals. He was a lover of the music; a true Texan blues man. Almost all of his albums are in my collection and I listen to them frequently. When he got killed in a freak accident, the blues era was turned upside down and the blues lost a legend. At least his music and memory will live on in all of his fans.
But let me get back to something I said at the end my rock category. As I said with John Cougar Mellencamp telling a story with is rock songs, the one category that also fits here is country, which I mentioned I listen too also. I am not a country fan just because I am a southern guy. Oh no. I listen to country because almost all of the songs in this category tell a story. Those country artists that write songs and sing them most tell a story from experience and living the life. That appeals to me. Country artists like Clint Black, Patsy Cline, Reba, Phil Vassar, George Strait, Brad Paisley, and my personal favorite, Alan Jackson, have all sang songs that deal straight from their own lives. Listening to songs such as A Better Man , I Fall to Pieces, Whoever’s in New England, American Child, Troubadour, and Letter to Me, one can feel the words and feel the story behind the words.
However, I believe there is one more storyteller/singer/songwriter/ that stands out among all of those I listed. If you are reading this, you have already read his name. That country artist is Alan Jackson. I have all of his albums and I can honestly say, that on all of them, the songs all tell a story. From his ballads to his offbeat humorous songs, all have a story behind them. One can feel the story being told and the honor of each one that pays homage to those that were and are still in his life. Take for instance his song, Small Town Southern Man where he pays homage to his father like he did in Drive (for Daddy Gene). But then, Alan Jackson has also written songs like If Jesus was a Hillbilly and I Don’t Even Know Your Name, where the humorous side comes out. Those two songs may be humorous, but they still tell a story.
And this leads me to that part of country music that I will write in a second part blog. The humorous side of country music is a side that most people can relate too. From the classic country artist to the modern country artist, there are country songs that fill one with laughter and even keep you thinking. But, they all still tell a story. I will save this for another blog soon to come. Until then, as was said on Hee Haw, “That’s all folks!” At least for now.
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