December 1980

I was going to start off saying that anyone of "a certain age" will know what this post is about just by the title. As I thought about it, I couldn't quite put my finger on what that age would be - deciding, finally, that just about anyone who is going to read this will know; no matter the age.

Introduction

As I sit to write this it is just past midnight on 15 December - yesterday marked 40 years since the vigil held outside the Dakota on 14 December 1980, just six (6) days after John Lennon was assassinated as he returned home from the recording studio. I was there that cold December day, standing on the corner of 72nd Street & Central Park West staring at the entryway to the courtyard where he was gunned down. I have seen estimates from between 150,000 and 500,000 people were there - between the Dakota, Strawberry Fields across the street and Central Park.

December 8

That Monday was just like any other day in 1980 - I went to work, went home, ate dinner and, watched some television before going to bed. It was some time around midnight that my father woke me up, telling me that my girlfriend was on the phone. I couldn't imagine what she was calling about so late. She told me that John Lennon had been murdered earlier that evening. It was like I was gut punched; I was at a loss of words but I think I managed to say something like, "What a bummer." I then said I had to get some sleep because I had to work in the morning. John had been shot at 10:50 PM and pronounced dead at 11:15 PM. Howard Cosell interrupted the Monday Night Football broadcast to announce his death. In 1974, John had visited the Monday Night Football broadcast booth, chatting with Cosell.

When I got up on the morning of 9 December the events of the night before hit me like a ton of bricks. It just didn't seem real - on my way to work I bought every newspaper I could get my hands on. I read articles in every one of them, hoping to read that it was some elaborate hoax. He had just released Double Fantasy, his first album in five (5) years and was talking about touring. I couldn't wait to see him perform! Every damned newspaper confirmed what I already knew - John Lennon was dead at age 40....

I felt the need to be with others who were having the same feelings I was; I wanted to be at the Dakota but I had just started my job in February and couldn't take time off. When it was announced there would be a vigil on 14 December there was no question about whether or not I would be there.

December 14 - The Vigil

The details of the day elude me but the feeling will never go away - 40 years later they are as fresh as ever. My girlfriend and I got there early - taking the train to Penn Station and then subway to 72nd Street. If I remember correctly, the subway station is right under the Dakota. There was a small crowd so we were able to work our way to the corner of the building and stand right up against the barriers at the end of the street. Every radio station was playing John Lennon or The Beatles and telling stories. I knew I was right where I had to be.

It didn't take long before the entire area was filled with people - some holding signs, some with radios and everyone coexisting peacefully despite being pressed together like sardines. It was very cold but, honestly, I didn't feel it at all.

Yoko had asked that, at 2:00 PM, everyone participate in a 10 minute silent vigil to remember John. Right on cue, at 2:00 PM all of the radios fell dead silent and not a single person said a word. The only sounds were distant rumbling of traffic and three or four of NYPD uniform officers laughing as they stood guard at the entry way to the building. It was during that 10 minutes of silence that it began to snow. It was almost as though someone flipped a switch and when the 10 minutes were over, so was the snow. It was eerie and I still get chills thinking about it.

We hung around for a while after the vigil was over and then headed back to the subway, emotionally drained but surprisingly at peace. I think being with so many others was very therapeutic. It is a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life, and yet, I sure as hell wish it never had to have been held at all.

The Years Since

I have been back to the Dakota a few times in the years since - mainly on my way to visit Strawberry Fields in Central Park. I have some photos that I took during one of the trips but they have been packed away - some day I will get them out and scan them for another post. Every year I say that I am going to visit again but just never have.

This past October John would have turned 80 years old and there were quite a few specials on television and radio. Paul McCartney did a few special shows with Alec Baldwin and another with Sean Lennon. Tributes came from every corner of the music industry. His music is just as important now as it was when he was making it.

When I sat down to write this I opened YouTube and found the album, Imagine. The title track is my favorite song - bar none. It is such a simple, yet powerful song. The song was released 49 years ago and we still haven't gotten the message. It is now almost 1:30 AM and I have switched to Mind Games - Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple) is playing. If I had to pick favorite solo albums, it might just be Imagine and Mind Games with Double Fantasy close behind. It's tough though - Double Fantasy has some terrific tracks (well, John's tracks anyway) and you can tell he is happy. I think that is what makes his death that much more difficult; he was always fighting some inner demons but he finally seemed to work things out and start loving life.

Where were you when you heard of John's murder? Did you go to the Dakota? Strawberry Fields? The Vigil? I would love to hear your stories - leave them in the comments below.

I think this is a good time to wrap things up and go to bed - I have to work in the morning.

Please do me a small favor and share this post with others, for there’s a good chance that others might enjoy it, too! You will find "Shar" link at the bottom of this post. Thank you!

What Is Your Summer Music Playlist?

Summer is here!

It's official! Summer is here. I have to admit, summer is my least favorite season but “summer music” is a different story. There are some songs that just scream “SUMMER!”; like just about anything by The Beach Boys. I enjoy listening to “Surfin’ Safari” in December but might crank it up in July. I have written about music before and how it can elicit memories and long since forgotten or help us get through difficult times in our lives. This post is a little different because I think there are some songs that everyone associates with summer and brighten up your mood – I have links to those posts below. At least, that is how it is for me. There are also certain songs that are not necessarily “summer” songs but remind me of summer, if that makes any sense. When I hear the song it brings me back to significant events or memories of summers long past.

I received a portable reel-to-reel tape recorder back in 1973 or 1974 and used to carry it with me, along with a transistor radio. If a song I liked was played, I will record it. Of course, the sound quality was somewhat less than optimal but a kid had to do what a kid had to do. I remember having the tape deck when I was at my great-aunt’s house one summer, sitting in the backyard listening to the radio. It was then that I recorded the Allman Brothers singing “Ramblin’ Man”. It doesn’t matter what I am doing – when that song is played I am a kid sitting in that backyard under the warm sun.

The strongest summer memories, other than “Ramblin’ Man”, are triggered by “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty and “Hot Child in the City” by Nick Gilder. I am automatically transported back to the Summer of ’78, the year I graduated from high school. I have such fond memories of that summer and the songs were still getting a lot of airplay that fall so I also associate them with my first semester at college. It was also that summer that I saw The Beach Boys in concert at Giants Stadium. It was the very first concert held at the stadium and we were on the field. There were three other bands that day but the only other one I remember is the Steve Miller Band. If you look at the album sleeve for “Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-78” you will see an aerial view of that show!

So, those are songs that remind me of summer by this is about my “Summer Song Playlist” and here are some of the “must haves”, in no particular order.

• Surfin’ Safari – The Beach Boys
• Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
• California Girls – The Beach Boys
• Surf City – Jan & Dean
• Wipeout – The Surfaris
• Misirlou – Dick Dale and His Del-Tones
• Peter Gunn – Dick Dale and His Del-Tones
• In the Summertime – Mungo Jerry
• Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful
• Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran (also The Who)
• Live & Let Die – Paul McCartney & Wings
• Rock Lobster – The B-52’s

I’m sure I am forgetting more than a few and will remember a half dozen as soon as I publish this but I am going to leave the list at an even dozen. I would add that almost any song by The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean or Dick Dale could find a home on this list and I didn’t even go back to the 50’s where I could add at least a few more.

So, I ask you – What are your favorite summer songs? Which ones did I get right? Which ones make you question my sanity and which did I leave off? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have a great summer!

Here are the previous posts that I mentioned earliers:
The Power of Music - http://ramblewithjoe.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-power-of-music.html
Remember When the Music - http://ramblewithjoe.blogspot.com/2017/04/remember-when-music.html

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All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

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I Want It - a Dave Evans original song

War and hate have been around since the dawn of mankind, that I am sure of. I am equally sure that the birth of the "protest" song came along very early in the evolution of music. I don't know when the first protest song was written or what it was about but it has it's place in popular culture, no matter where you are in the world. When I think of the protest song my first thought goes to folk music and people like Woody Guthrie (Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)) and Pete Seeger (We Shall Overcome); I think most people would do the same. I also think of rock and roll and artists like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Ohio), Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fortunate Son), and my favorite, John Lennon (Imagine). I would add Harry Chapin (What Made America Famous) to the list somewhere between folk and rock. I am adding another name to the list - Dave Evans - and the song, I Want It. I have written about Dave, his music and even how his music has influenced my photography and writing; now I am introducing you to his "protest" song. I'm sure that if you were to ask him, he wouldn't necessarily think of himself as a singer of protest songs and he would be correct. He may not even consider I Want It to be in that category but I think it is and, since I am writing this, it is....

The following is what Dave told me about the song when he first wrote it:

"One day I was sitting in my chair thinking about all the things I wanted out of life... The more I thought about it the more I realized I really only wanted LOVE. For some reason I picked up one of my guitars and started playing a chord progression I had never played before and the song was born."

>

I want the world to survive.
I want the lovers in my life still alive
I want the world to be the place I know that it can be.
I want the wars to conclude.
We'll grant the parents of the world solitude.
We'll make the world a place of love and peace and harmony
Then you'll see

So, the only thing you have left is to listen to I Want It on BandCamp and then come back here to let me know what you think in the comments below.

For more information about Dave and his music you can read my blog post - Dave Evans: Songwriter, Performer and Friend
Check out his Facebook page - Dave Evans Solo
Follow him on Twitter - @Dave2ta
You can email him at DaveEvansSolo@gmail.com

Emotion and Memory Triggers - What Makes You Happy? Sad?

Has this ever happened to you; you're sitting in your living room watching television when you suddenly feel yourself smiling for no apparent reason. Maybe you can no longer listen to a song you always loved. It could be a smell that elicits a fond memory or even a single word. These are just a few of what I call “emotional triggers” that can make you happy, sad, mad, nostalgic, etc.…. You may not even realize it; I know it happens to me sometimes. The funny thing is that the same trigger may make you happy one time and sad the next.

For me, smell seems to be the biggest trigger and it almost always brings me back to my youth. There are times when I’m not even sure the smell actually exists and that it is just a figment of my imagination. It is almost like I am subconsciously thinking of something and then my brain conjures up the smell, triggering the memory. I’m sure a psychiatrist would love to get me on a couch and analyze that!

The smell of lavender instantly brings memories of my maternal grandmother and the smell of a baked ham will always mean Easter at her house. The smell of pipe tobacco is a strong trigger – my great-uncle, Verner, smoked a pipe, as did my uncle, George, and my father-in-law, Mike. Now that I think of it, maybe the “phantom” smell isn’t so odd – I remember speaking with my great-aunt, Inez, shortly after Verner’s death and she told me that there were times when she would turn expecting to see him because she could smell his tobacco. Tomato sauce (yes – sauce, not gravy) cooking on the stove always reminds me of my mother making sauce on Sunday.

There is a certain smell or combination of smells, that reminds me of being at my Aunt Sissy’s house on a Sunday afternoon but I just can’t describe what it is, but I can tell you that whenever I eat a black olive or see a kid putting them on their fingers I am instantly drawn into her kitchen. That clean smell you get stepping outside on a morning when the grass is covered in dew – that brings me to Inez’s house and the time I spent there in the summer growing up.

There are verbal or audible triggers, too. If I am watching any sporting event and someone complains about a call, or lack thereof, I hear the words coming out of my mother-in-law, Joyce’s mouth. She was quite a passionate fan of the New York Giants and let the officials know when they weren’t doing their jobs – especially when the Dallas Cowboys were the opponent. The word “melancholy” brings mixed emotions – my grandmother told a story one time of when she was growing up; apparently she had quite a difficult time pronouncing the word and put the emphasis on the second syllable instead of the first. She told that story more than 40 years ago and it is the first thing I think of whenever I hear or read that word. If I hear “Lassie” or even the theme song I think of my children, the kids absolutely loved the 1994 movie and there were days when it might get played three times in a row! It would be on when we were building towers out of cardboard blocks or building something with the plastic Lego-style boxes that wipes came in. There are a lot of words that elicit memories of the children growing up – far too many to even count.

I mentioned songs in the introduction and there are plenty. I wrote about The Power of Music and how certain songs trigger very specific memories. I wrote in that post about Harry Chapin’s song, Circle, and that I cannot listen to it anymore, especially the live version. There are a couple reasons – the first being that Harry closed every show with that song; it contains the line “we’ll all be together again” but we won’t. The other reason is because it makes me think of friends and family who have died and it makes me sad. The other song I wrote about is Ringo Starr’s, Photograph. I loved that song growing up but since Ringo introduced it at The Concert for George; he said that since George died the song had new meaning and, like Circle, listening to it makes me melancholy. (Note: I just smiled when I wrote that – did not intend to use melancholy….)

Songs also trigger great memories like Pete Seeger singing There Was an Old Woman or Tom Chapin singing The Cousins are Coming and Bruno. These were songs that we listened to when the kids were young. We took them to see Pete Seeger perform at a Clearwater Festival at Sandy Hook when they were maybe 3 and 5. I printed a couple pictures and put something on them about how the kids loved Pete and we gave them to one of his stage hands after the show. We tried to meet him but they wouldn’t let us in. A week or so after the show a letter showed up addressed to the kids – it was from Pete! Can’t Help Falling in Love and In My Life are special songs; I proposed to my wife dancing to the former and our first dance after we were married was to the latter. I don’t dance anymore but don’t really have an option if they are played at a wedding reception or other event….

There are the visual triggers. My first car was a blue 1966 Chevy and whenever I see a blue car of that era I immediately think of it and Inez. The car was a gift from her; she promised it to me when she bought it, when I started to drive she would give it to me. Well, I had to wait almost two years after I started driving it but I finally got it. It was a four door, “three on the tree” and had no radio. I only had the car for a few months in 1978 when I was rear-ended at a stop sign. The car was totaled. This was just before Christmas and I was afraid of how she was going to take the news when I saw her. I don’t remember her reaction but we all got through it so it couldn’t have been too bad.

Watching the Little League World Series reminds me of my days playing Little League and then watching my son play. The same goes for the College Softball Championships – my daughter played softball and I have fond memories of watching both. If I see someone skiing I think back to the first time I ever skied – my wife and I went on a trip shortly after we started dating. I caught on fairly well and decided to go to an intermediate slope. We were taught how to snow plow in order to stop and it worked quite well. The problem is that I was going rather fast and when I tried to snow plow the tips of my skis crossed causing me to come to an abrupt stop – this is very much like applying only the front brake on a bicycle. I went tumbling head-over-heels before coming to a stop in a heap at the bottom of the hill. The goggles I was wearing had pulled away from my face long enough to get filled with snow and then go back in place. Embarrassing…

I also think of my wife whenever I see a clown or Harpo Marx. The first Halloween we were together she dressed as a clown and I had a picture of her on my desk at work. My co-workers had never met her and that was the only photo I had. She came into the office one day and when I introduced her one of them said “So, you are the clown.” I got a “look” until I showed her the photo on my desk. She was Harpo a year or two later.

I could go on for a long time, so many triggers to so many memories, but I think this is a good time to stop. What are your triggers? Let me know in the comments below.

Dave Evans: Songwriter, Performer and Friend

I met Dave at a job interview; he was looking to hire a programmer and I was looking to be hired. I had been on many interviews in my life but this one was different. We had just met but I was very comfortable and it seemed like we had known each other for a long time. I ultimately got the job and we quickly became good friends. We found that we had a common bond with music; we both play guitar and are more than casual fans of The Beatles. He is also a songwriter and a very good one at that. That was just over 10 years ago and I have had the privilege of watching his songwriting, performing and recording mature in leaps and bounds.

I mentioned earlier that we both play guitar but that is a little misleading. I played a long time ago - classical guitar mostly - and just fool around every once in a while. There have been a few times when I have gone to Dave's and we play some of his songs together but my playing isn't quite up to snuff. His playing gets better all the time. We have a long-distance writer-collaborator relationship that has been a lot of fun and rather productive. Dave will write a song - sometimes he just get a melody or chord progression he likes, sometimes just lyrics - and send a rough recording to me. I listen to it a number of times - usually 2 or 3 in a row and then come back to it a little later for a few more listens - and give him my thoughts. I almost never have a comment about the lyric but will offer some feedback about the accompaniment. He is the artist and, ultimately, it is his voice that comes through.

Dave's biggest influence is The Beatles and, in particular, John Lennon. You can feel this in his lyrics - he often writes of love or the social ills of this world. It is my opinion that his songs of love are his best work and I know they are his most personal. There is a geniuneness to his music that I feel sets him apart from a lot of other singer/songwriters out there today. He considers his style to be "classic rock" but he throws in a little bit of jazz, blues and country from time-to-time. Like most singer-songwriters the guitar is center stage for most songs but don't be surprised to hear piano, strings and horns show up from time-to-time.

Dave is currently putting the finishing touches on a few of his songs and looking forward to putting out his third album. You're going to hear a lot about Dave in the coming months - I plan on writing more about his music and specific songs. I also suspect you will be hearing about him from others, too. He is too talented not to be "out there" and it won't be long before he is. The video of "Mary's Song" is one that was done a few years ago and it has changed a little in the intervening time but it is my favorite song and I want to share it with you.

Mary's Song on YouTube

I recently interviewed Dave for this blog - you can read that interview here, Interview with Songwriter Dave Evans.

Dave has an Artist page on BandCamp where you can listen to more of his music, as well as purchase songs. His page is https://daveevanssolo.bandcamp.com and I encourage you to check it out as soon as you finish reading this post. If you are interested in publishing or recording some of his songs - his contact information is on his BandCamp page.

I would love to hear what you think of his music - check out his page, listen to some songs and come back to leave a comment below. I'm sure you will become a fan, just like me! Thanks for stopping by.

Remember When the Music

I have seen many live performances over the years in many different venues - from small halls like The Bottom Line to outdoors in Giants Stadium. I've seen upcoming, unknown bands as opening acts. I've seen superstars like Ringo Starr, The Eagles, Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen and The Who. I've enjoyed them all but aside from Ringo, it was Harry Chapin that I most enjoyed seeing. I saw him five (5) times - the last was in late 1980 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick and John Lennon was still alive. I had seen him earlier in the year at the Garden State Arts Center (now PNC Art Center) and was looking forward to a rare twice-in-a-year treat. I had a seat near the aisle, we got there early and hung out waiting for the show to begin. The time came for the show to begin but the stage was dark. It remained dark for quite some time - what was going on? It wasn't like Harry to start late. Suddenly I see someone run past me - just a blur - and jump up on the stage. Harry has arrived at last! He explained that his van broke down on Rt 18 just after he left the New Jersey Turnpike and he actually got a ride from an elderly couple who had stopped to see if he was okay. They offered to drive him to the show; in return he offered them tickets to the show. They looked at him and asked if he played "rock and roll". He smiled when he told us he wished he could have said "Yeah, I'm Bruce Springsteen." I was glad he got to the theater but really disappointed when I learned how. You see, about an hour or so earlier I drove right past where he broke down! If the timing had been better it may have been ME who drove him to the show.... It was, of course, another great Chapin show but sadly, it was the last time I saw him perform. I had tickets to see him perform at the Garden State Arts Center in July 1981 but he died on July 7th in an accident on the Long Island Expressway. I still have the ticket....

Remember When the Music - Live at The Bottom Line

You may have wondered why I mentioned earlier that John Lennon was still alive when I saw Harry last. If you listen to the recording at the top of this post it will explain everything. I, like millions of others, was crushed when I heard of John's murder and I remember playing this song, thinking about John. The song helped me. Then Harry was killed seven months later. The song brought with it a whole new meaning, as did some of his other songs. It was years before I heard this version recorded at the Bottom Line in New York City. It is difficult to listen to the introduction knowing what was to happen only months later.

I miss Harry and his shows. The banter between him and the band - especially Big John - was priceless. I'm glad for the live albums because they do a good job of conveying the experience and YouTube has been great because I can find recordings that weren't released on disk. There is a full concert video of the benefit that Harry did in October 1978 for the Bill Bradley campaign. It was only Harry - no band - but he did sing a duet with Chevy Chase! The show is priceless and I was there! Here is a link - Harry at Capitol Theatre. If you aren't familiar with Harry's music I encourage you to check it out. I'm sure you know Cat's In The Cradle and Taxi but there are so many others. Corey's Coming has got to be one of my all-time favorites, especially the live version on Legends of the Lost and Found.

I hope you Chapin fans out there enjoyed this little homage to Harry. If you have any memories to share, please do so in the comments below. If there is one thing that I learned from Harry is that no matter how bad things may be or how bad you may feel "you can ALWAYS count on the cheap seats!"

Advice to Fathers - Listen to "Cat's in the Cradle"

"My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away"

The snippet above starts the song Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. It is one of his biggest hits and it was a big influence on the father I became. If you are not familiar with the song I have a link to the YouTube video below.

The song is all about the father-son relationship and how they get so wrapped up in life they have little time for what really matters - each other. When I was growing up the circumstance was quite similar; my father worked during the day, came home for dinner and then went to a second job not coming home until after 10:00 PM. He didn't work on Friday night but worked the second job for a half day on Saturday. This meant he was home on Friday night, Saturday afternoon/evening and all day on Sunday. There was some family time but there was also time when he was busy - working in the garage (he did woodworking), working in the yard or a combination of both. I was able to help a bit but mostly I could watch if I was home. What I remember most is going to dinner at my favorite pizzeria and visiting my father’s family on Sundays. He never got to see me play sports, didn't get to chaperone class trips or see me perform in variety shows at school. As I got older I decided that I was going to do everything I could not to miss out on my children's growing up.

When I heard Cat's in the Cradle for the first time there was an instant connection. This was the essence of my life and the antithesis to my plans. You can say that it became my anthem. I have had a number of opportunities to work in Manhattan, very good opportunities, but I turned down most because of the lost time at home. When the kids were about 8 and 10 I had no choice but to take a contract job in Manhattan. This was during softball/baseball season and I missed every one of their weekday practices and games. It so happens that many of the weekend games got rained out during that time. Until that time I was at every practice, game and school event that I could; definitely anything after work. I will never have that time back and I was happy when the contract ended.

For me it is a quality of life issue; I could make a lot of money and miss out on life or make enough money to life comfortably and make a life worth living. I think I made the right choice. My kids are in their 20's now but they still remember the times we played together or did other activities. For me, that is worth more than money, you cannot buy memories like that.

So, my advice for you first-time fathers or fathers-yet-to-be is to listen to Cat's in the Cradle and learn the lesson being taught. The boy in the song wanted to grow up to be like his father and, to the chagrin of the father, he did!

Harry Chapin - Cat's In The Cradle

Interview with Songwriter Dave Evans

Dave is a friend of more than 10 years and, with this interview, we have come full circle. You see, we met when Dave called me in for a job interview in 2006 for a programming job he was looking to fill. It was a strange interview because it was more like a couple friends having coffee than a job interview and it turned out we became good friends. We held many of the same beliefs, professionally, which led to my being hired but it was music that we most talked about.

We are both fans of the music of the 1960’s – The Beatles, in particular – and we had many discussions during the day and at lunch. While we both lived through Beatlemania and have our memories, Dave is older than I so he has more vivid memories and from a different perspective. It is always interesting to talk to someone who remembers what it was like and when Dave talks about those days you can see the excitement is almost as fresh as it was more than 50 years ago.

Despite all of the talk of music, it was months before I discovered that Dave wrote music. If memory serves me my introduction to Dave’s music was “Mary’s Song”. I instantly connected with the song and it remains my favorite Dave Evans original. I have heard the song come from rough, fast song to a love ballad that really captivates you. I have been fortunate to experience the songwriting process through the last 10 years – sometimes I get an excited text message about song that is nothing but a new chord progression and a few minutes later I am listening to a rough recording. There are other times when the lyrics come and I get a recording of his working through the melody. I am always impressed by the end result – he has a talent that many of us would love to have – but I think what is really interesting, for me, is his enthusiasm throughout the process. His songs are his children (though he has more than a few) and he nurtures them as such, always worried if he is doing them justice or if he could have done something better. If you ask me, he has served his children well – both human and music – and they represent him well.

Personal questions

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Wow, that's a tough one because there were a few... I'd have to say the first time I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. I was with my dad and we lived on the fifth floor. As soon as the show was over I ran to the window and saw three of my friends down on the corner yelling up to me to come down and join them... I was not allowed to go out on Sundays nights at that time so I just turned around and gave my dad that sad look you give when you really want something... He seemed to realize that this was a special time and told me to go down and see my friend BUT to only stay right on the corner so he could see me from the window... It was awesome cause as soon as I got to the corner the four of us formed our Band and spent the rest of the night (1 hour) thinking of names for the band. Every car that passed from Mustang to Montego was considered... The funny thing is I don't remember what name we decided on but I'll never forget the experience... And yes, we did play a few gigs...

What are the five foods you can’t live without?

I love so many foods it's scary BUT I have to admit I'm addicted to Potato Chips... I can give up cookies, Chocolate and Ice Cream but I just can't seem to give up the Chips... I LOVE Prime Rib when I go out to eat and Veal Parmesan when in an Italian restaurant but I can do without them...
(Joe: I think potato chips are the downfall for most of us – I don’t think there is ever a bag that is “big enough”)

What’s the best advice anyone has given you and who gave it to you?

My Dad always gave me good advice. He would tell me to judge people by what they do and not by what they say and boy has that proven to be true... He would also tell me that money wasn't everything but to remember I had to pay the bills and Shoprite didn't accept Titles or job descriptions, only money.
(Joe: that’s great advice, all of it.)

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't making music?

Another good question... I love reading, playing on the computer, learning new things and meeting new people... In the summer I LOVE being on the beach. I keep my umbrella and beach chair in the car all summer so I'm ready to go at a moment’s notice... I like getting there early in the morning and staying till at least 1 or 2 in the afternoon, then I walk the boardwalk at night. It is fascinating to me all the different people and couples you see when you walk the boardwalk.

If you could spend an hour with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Only ONE!!! Musically I guess it would be John Lennon because I always liked his music and songwriting... I would LOVE to have both John AND Paul in the same room and talk about each of their songs and what they were thinking when they wrote them... I would also love to compare my songwriting process with theirs and see if we do it the same way... History wise I would love to sit down with Abraham Lincoln and talk about what he was feeling during the Civil War and how he arrived at some of the decisions he made during those times. I would also like to ask the "Founding Fathers" how they feel about where our country is going and if it's where they thought it would be when they first formed it... I know, I cheated...
(Joe: interesting choices – not sure we are ready to hear from our “Founding Fathers”, though)

Professional questions

Why music?

I love music and can't picture my life without it. The funny thing is I always wrote words, I guess you would call them poems, with a musical idea in my head BUT I never actually put real music to them. When my late wife Mary passed away I started playing the guitar again (after stopping when I was 13), probably to take my mind off of her passing. One of the first songs I wrote was Mary's Song which I still have trouble performing live without getting emotional. Over time my music changed from sad to less sad to sometimes happy... It's been 13 years now and hopefully my music has evolved enough where it has many moods and generates many different feelings.
(Joe: I can tell you; YES, your music (and recording) has evolved many-fold over the intervening years and continues to evolve. Dave & I collaborated on a video for "Mary's Song" that you can view on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLCSDKycY10)

Can you explain your music in 10 words or less?

I can do it in one, FEELINGS... I write songs to either generate feelings or express my feelings. It is my way of saying things I have trouble saying without music. Every song I write is saying something, either explicitly or buried somewhere within it. They are not all heavy messages or statements BUT if they are not saying something I won't write them.

What is your greatest musical achievement?

Every song I write... I always considered myself a songwriter and not a performer so to me it's the song that's important, not my performance of it. I just hope I do them justice when I record them. Every song I write has something to say, I just hope I say it in a way that other people hear the message.

If you could open up for any artist, past or present, who would it be?

Obviously The Beatles but we all know that can't happen so maybe Elton John or Bob Seger. How about Tom Petty or Train...? The Eagles would be cool too. Can I throw in Elvis and Buddy Holly???

Where do you draw inspiration from when you write/play/sing songs and what’s your favorite part about the process?

I usually start off by writing about a situation I'm experiencing or feeling. Sometimes I stay with that throughout the entire song or I stray into other things to expand the experience. Other times I picture myself in a different situation and write about how I would feel being there. An example of the latter is "Life Wasted" where I was writing about a man who only cared about money and not his family. I was trying to write about how he would feel when he was older and had no family around him. I was putting myself in that situation because I have a very close relationship with my family and had to guess how I would feel. Yes, it's all about feelings for me.

Bonus question:

What are your Top 5 "Deserted Island" albums?

WOW only 5!!! OK, Bod Seger's Live Bullet, Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman, Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin II, Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and The Beatle's White Album... The reason I picked the White Album instead of Abbey Road, Revolver or Rubber Soul is because there are more songs on it... hahaha

Dave has an Artist page on BandCamp where you can listen to more of his music, as well as purchase songs. His page is https://daveevanssolo.bandcamp.com/ and I encourage you to check it out as soon as you finish reading this post.

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All photos are copyright Alexander DiMauro All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at ajdimauro@gmail.com

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The Power of Music

I love music! Whether I am listening to classic rock, classical guitar, bluegrass, jazz, folk, etc…. or playing it myself, I love music. I learned to play guitar when I was in the fourth grade and in sixth grade began playing classical guitar. I took lessons until sometime in high school when I got too busy to continue. I must admit, I got to be pretty good. I don’t play much anymore, I bought a guitar a while back when my kids wanted me to teach them and then bought a classical guitar in 2009 but usually only play when I get together with my friend, Dave. Dave writes songs and we get together every once-in-a-while and play some of his stuff - stay tuned, I will be writing about Dave in the coming weeks. I had learned a great finger-style version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and got to be competent with it a couple years back. Most of the time, though, my indulgence in music is as a spectator. My first choice would be The Beatles or maybe one of their solo efforts. I grew up listening to The Beatles and then to John, Paul, George and Ringo as solo artists. Just about every song has some memory attached to it. When I was growing up my siblings and I would spend two (2) weeks every summer in Flanders, New Jersey visiting our Great-Aunt Inez. These two weeks were always the highlight of my summer. There were some summers when we would go camping with my Great-Aunt Viola and her husband and I seem to remember my grandmother being on at least one of the trips. You see, Viola and her husband had a Winnebago that they traveled all over the country in and a few times we took a short trip with them. It is one such trip that comes to mind whenever I hear “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” One of our favorite games to play was Hangman and we were playing one afternoon at the campsite, listening to the radio. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” came on the radio while we were playing. Shortly afterward it was my turn to guess the phrase that Inez was thinking of. I failed…. When time came to unveil the answer it was “I Wanna Hole Your Han.” I told her that wasn’t right but she insisted that is what they were saying. All these years later and I can remember it almost like it was yesterday and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. That is the power of music.

There was a pizzeria in Little Silver that my friend, Lenny, and I would go to that had a jukebox. I remember listening to “Helen Wheels” by Wings while having a few slices of pizza. “Mind Games” brings me back to a friend’s birthday party when I was 16 years old. She had asked me to bring some records with me and “Mind Games”, the album, was one of them. We were outside listening to music, laughing and having a good time. The song was playing and I heard something like “watch this” and the next thing I know one of the girls pulls me over and plants a big kiss on my cheek as someone takes a picture. It was a year or so later that we dated for a while and are friends to this day. George Harrison’s “Crackerbox Palace” brings me back to high school and a varsity basketball game but I honestly don’t know why. I vaguely remember helping a friend, Jeff, with something and he bought me “Thirty Three & 1/3” to thank me but that might not be right. “Las Brisas” by Ringo Starr also brings me back to high school but I think of a friend, Andy. Details, once again, are a bit sketchy but I remember singing it and when I got to “yo te amo” he turned to me and said that he liked me too but not that way. Andy later became employed by WPLJ-FM in New York but sadly died of cancer while still a young man.

Of course “In My Life” is the song that my wife and I danced to at our wedding and so that brings a whole bunch of memories; after nearly 25 years we are still making memories together. Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is the song that I proposed to her to while we were dancing at my bowling banquet at The Squires Pub. She is a fan, as am I to a lesser degree, and the song just seemed like the appropriate time to ask her to marry me. I also remember having to speak with her father the next day but that is a different story. It’s funny how things work out.

There are so many more songs and memories, not all of them Beatles-related either. The songs of the Who, Eagles, Simon & Garfunkel, Turtles, Box Tops, Platters, Harry Chapin, etc… the list goes on and on and on. There are some songs that I really like but have a difficult time listening to. “Circle” by Harry Chapin is one of them. I love the song but cannot listen to it anymore. I also have a hard time listening to “Photograph” by Ringo Starr. Ringo sang it at the “Concert for George” and said that the song has taken on new meaning since George’s death and ever since it is difficult for me to listen to. Both songs induce great memories but also make me miss those with whom the memories were made. I would, however, like to have everyone sing “Circle” at my gravesite service when the time comes.

On that note I think it is time to say good-bye for now. I hope you enjoyed reading this installment of my rant-fest and hopefully it brought a smile or two to your face. If you have any song memories you would like to share, please feel free to comment below. I would love to hear from you!

Deserted Island Albums - My Top 5

I'm sure you know the scenario - suppose you are alone on a deserted island and can only have five (5) albums. You have to decide what five albums you can listen to over and over without getting tired of them. It's not as easy as you might think. I suppose you could take your Top 5 artists and just pick their "Greatest Hits" album but that is a bit of a cop-out. The task gets even more difficult if you are a fan of multiple artists; worse yet - multiple genres! I happen to like rock, jazz, folk, bluegrass and classical guitar. I like other music but these are the major genres. So, do I pick a single album from each? All from one? What decisions! I have an album (yes, vinyl) collection containing more than 575 albums and I have to pick five. The bottom line is that I have to hope I never find myself in this situation.

This is a difficult list to compile but here they are, in no particular order:

• All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
• Revolver - The Beatles
• Imagine - John Lennon
• Legends of the Lost and Found - Harry Chapin
• The Art Of Segovia - Andres Segovia

This was very difficult but I am fairly sure this would be the list if I ever revisited the thought. I had to leave off a lot of music and some of my favorite albums such as "Wings Over America" and "Venus and Mars Are Alright Tonight" by Paul McCartney, "Mind Games" by John Lennon, "Greatest*Stories*Live" by Harry Chapin and dozens others. I chose these because they contain songs that I almost have to hear on a regular basis.

What are YOUR Top 5? Make it Top 10, if you want. I would love to hear from you.

Now.... how am I supposed to play them now that they are here?