Summary

The author shares their eclectic musical journey, starting from their early years to their current tastes, showcasing a variety of genres and artists.

Abstract

The author, a self-proclaimed "crotchety, old curmudgeonly country boy," was challenged by two writers to share insights on music. Despite their initial reluctance, the author delves into their diverse musical tastes, starting from their childhood memories of listening to pop tunes like "Red Rubber Ball" by Cyrkle. As a teenager, the author developed a passion for rhythm and drumming, leading them to form a band called "The Band With No Name," inspired by Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida." The author's musical journey continued with a love for country music, citing Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" as a favorite. The author's eclectic tastes also include soul music, with Brooks Benton and Elvis Presley being notable influences. The author concludes by sharing their love for classical music, particularly Beethoven's Sixth Symphony — Pastoral.

Bullet points

The author was challenged to share insights on music by two writers.
The author's early musical influences include pop tunes like "Red Rubber Ball" by Cyrkle.
As a teenager, the author developed a passion for rhythm and drumming, forming a band called "The Band With No Name."
The band was inspired by Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."
The author's musical tastes evolved to include country music, with Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" being a favorite.
The author's eclectic tastes also include soul music, with Brooks Benton and Elvis Presley being notable influences.
The author concludes by sharing their love for classical music, particularly Beethoven's Sixth Symphony — Pastoral.

Writing Prompt

What Gets Me There Musically

When You’re Double Tagged You Just Have To Sing It

Image by Anja🤗#helpinghands #solidarity#stays healthy🙏 on Pixabay

Well, it happened. I got double-teamed by a pair of writers here on ILLUMINATION on a challenge. Timothy and Sherry? Have you both no sense of shame by challenging me to provide insights on music? I’m a d*mned crotchety, old curmudgeonly country boy. What the h*ll do I know about good music?

Well, since both of you won’t seem to take no for an answer here we go. But I warn you in advance, my “insight” may not be what you expected from the likes of me.

Like most folks, my musical tastes are eclectic. And by eclectic, I mean all over the map. I suppose my story like all others should start at my humble beginnings.

So, how about I kick this off during my early years when mail was delivered by pterodactyls and T-Rex was the schoolyard bully?

I remember summer days when I wasn’t hauling hay or plucking chickens (it was a thing back then) I would curl up on a couch with a good book listening to the pop tunes of the day. One of my favorite songs back then was Red Rubber Ball by Cyrkle.

Recorded and released in 1966 Red Rubber Ball hit number two on the US Billboard top 100. I didn’t know it at the time, but the song was co-written by the same musician who gave us hits like Me And Julio Down By The School Yard and Kodachrome.

Yeap, none other than Paul Simon.

While living as a pubescent teenage boy and life and I struggled to see who’d win, I graduated from pop to rock. Somehow, I’d managed to acquire a taste for rhythm, and drumming seemed to feed that passion pretty well.

Of course, I wanted to be a drummer for a rock band and make it big. I even spent some of my hard-earned hay hauling money on a drum kit and some buddies and I formed a band.

Its name? The Band With No Name. We thought that was pretty darned clever.

Jim was the lead guitar. Ricky on the keyboards, Joel the frontman, Bob the bassist and me on drums. All of us ready for stardom.

And back then what song highlighted the keyboardist and the drummer best?

Iron Butterfly’s In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Named the 24th greatest hard rock song of all time on VH1, the keyboardist Doug Ingle and drummer Ron Bushy literally blew everyone away with this hit.

Interestingly enough, I learned the entire drum solo and our little band performed it the one and only time for homecoming entertainment at our school.

Needless to say we weren’t asked for a return engagement.

It must have been because of Ricky on the keyboards ’cause in my opinion, I nailed that friggin drum solo.

But like sand slipping through the hourglass, my highschool failures and triumphs fell behind me and I slipped into a more comfortable zone with a plethora of country stars such as Ferrin Young, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe, and many more. To this day my most favorite of songs was Merle Haggard’s Mama Tried.

Not to say my country music roots aren’t still there, mixed with a whole lot of pop, and rock-n-roll. But I also love me a little soul crooning Brooks Benton and — nobody does it like the King — Elvis Presley as well.

So, when I tell you all my musical tastes are eclectic this array of different genres and artists should pretty much spell it out, right?

Oh, wait. I forgot my other eclectic side. Classical music.

Okay, well I’ve prattled on a bit so I’ll leave you with my number one favorite classical piece written by Beethoven. Sixth Symphony — Pastoral. Listening to it always brings tears of delight and wonderful sensations of joy.

Thanks So Much For Reading And For Listening

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