I’d lose my mind without music. I grew up listening to the radio, spinning LP’s on the turntable, and of many topics discussed with friends, music was a priority. New album releases were a thing, and often compared to previous works.

I still play LP’s on the turntable.

When I was 16 I took up guitar. My aunt and uncle got me a beat up Fender Mustang. I had been learning on my aunt’s acoustic and progressing rapidly. I didn’t have an amp yet, but aunty did, so I used her amp when she wasn’t busy with it. Music sort of runs in the family. I have heard my grandpa was very musical, and my aunt had a country/bluegrass band for years.

I can remember sitting through their practices, taking it all all in, and loving every minute of it.

I’ve been to several mainstream act concerts. I also go to local/regional bars/clubs and check out the music scene. I know, and am known, by a lot of local musicians. Heck, Fri night I’m driving over 2 hours to see a band play at a chilli cook off.

I’ve been in cover bands for decades. I’m in a band now. Only this time we are doing original material. It’s been a lifelong passion, music. I would be a lost soul without it. Music encompasses my being, to the point where it just oozes out of me. I can’t stop it any more than I could stop a runaway train running 60 mph.

I have a music room! A P.A., a few amps, 6 guitars, microphones, recording devices, an electric drum kit (which belongs to my bassist,) cables, adapters, tuners, even the room itself has been deadened, to reduce echo, which drastically, and negatively, affects recordings.

I even have another 2000 watt PA in my shop*, that I turn on when I’m out there doing stuff, which is often. I run an old crappy receiver/radio through it, or plug my phone into it. My phone has 300 songs on it. I have my own personal radio station, for when I’m sick of the radio station.

I am a lot of things, but can safely say, to a great degree, I am music.

* My drummer had a P.A. head that did not work, and some old P.A. speakers he didn’t need or have room for. I was the lucky recipient. I fixed the P.A. head. I now have the capability to destroy the neighborhood! But with great power comes great responsibility. Nor do I care for visits from the county coppers.

Just about everyone these days are moving to independently powered P.A. speakers. Pretty much making the old P.A. gear obsolete. So you can pick that stuff up at bargain prices… Sometimes it’s even being given away.