The first was Hank Williams. In 1947 at age 11, our next door neighbor played cowboy music and I used to go to the window at the end of our upstairs hallway and listen to Hank wailing away from the neighbor's bedroom that faced our house. From then on I was hooked. I guess Hank was already becoming a popular star but I didn't know that and thought I discovered him!
Silly child.
Then next was Patsy Cline. The year was 1950. My boyfriend and I travelled with friends to a little hilltop bar in Mt. Freedom NJ because we had heard of a girl entertainer that sang cowboy songs. I knew after watching and hearing her sing in person at that little bar that she was very very special. I watched her popularity grow through the following years and played her songs constantly. Still do. I saw her in person way before she was well known.
Another was The Everly Brothers. A date with a neighbor brought us to a bar in Budd Lake NJ where this act of brothers was advertised in an enticing way. Free Show! We sat on folding chairs with the boys up front, singing and playing. A tip pot was on the wooden floor for our donation. The year was around 1951. I was 15. I knew then that they would be popular. I have no idea how I knew - but I knew!
When I first heard Barbra Streisand sing Second Hand Rose, I was playing cards in my girlfriend's living room and the TV was going in the background. The voice and that song stopped me mid-stream and grabbed my heart really hard. Ever since then, she became one of my favorites. I don't know the year but I think I heard that song before at my parent's home with Fanny Brice singing. Barbra was better! The words of that song fit me to a "T."
My parents, especially my mother, loved music of all genres - classical, jazz, pop, hymns, instrumentals, opera, Broadway, holiday, vocal, folk, and all BUT "hillbilly." My dad sang tenor in church, and groups. The lady in the neighborhood for whom I babysat had many record collections of musical compositions of fairy tales such as Peter and the Wolfe. I played them all. I loved them all.
Now to someone VERY different! I latched on to Pavarotti because of his beautiful tenor and passionate singing. It was exciting to watch him singing. I cried when he died.
I have THOUSANDS of music pieces on my old big computer. The sound resonates well in this high ceiling log cabin. I have developed a liking for blues - old time and new - and some new age recordings. I also like to listen to all piano recordings, even Liberace. Circus music is fun. Hawaiian music is soothing.
Willie monopolizes my collection. Oh MY! Knew him before he was popular too! No beard, short hair, sweet eyes, unique rhythm.
