Hi Tom,
I'm really glad you're enjoying the topic.
As I'm only 2 years older at 66 I found it a bit strange that you should say this:
Musicianthomas posted:
I am a 70's child, and of course my parents dated and married listening to the 50's.
I definitely see myself as a 60's child even though I went to more concerts in the 70's.
My parents ran an electrical store in Lancashire/England until the autumn of '62 when we moved to the country. In those days they sold basically everything from cookers/washing machines to TV's/record players and even records.
My mother played piano until she married and although my father didn't play any instrument whatsoever he had a good tenor voice and would often join in when he heard songs he knew.
The 60's in England were a real eye-opener as far as music went. Cliff Richard, The Shadows, The Beatles, The Stones Cream and lots of others made it to world fame and influenced the following musical generations. I was aware of all this music which is why I see myself as a 60's child.
Through my parents I also learned to enjoy Big Band music such as Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman etc. This was before the days of discos, and dances in those days were always to live music. My parents told me that they used to go dancing regularly. This was quit often to Big Bands which included such greats as Count Basie etc.
I too loved and learned guitar through James Taylor, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, The Eagles, etc. But here's the thing I'm most grateful of all for:
My shows of the 60's thru the 80's music crosses all generations and is enjoyed by everyone no matter their age. The popularity of the show makes it easy to book venues. Just last week a 9 year old came and asked me for an Eagles song. This era of music has me seeing folks singing the words along with me all the time. It's familiar and loved by so very many.
I see things about the same as what you're writing here, although I find that the 80's didn't offer me as much as the 60's and 70's. I enjoyed a fair amount of the music in the 80's but I found the previous 3 decades more interesting from my point of view. It is however refreshing that tastes do differ.
"Just last week a 9 year old came and asked me for an Eagles song." shows that the next generation is aware of music which was made more than 30 years before this child was born.
I think this is going to seriously affect the performing musician say 10 years from now.
You may well be right here, but I have a feeling that the "oldie but goldie" era will still be there for many years to come. The music is still aired regularly, and with Internet radio you have a great choice in music stations playing oldies.
The way music is fed through the mainstream is just totally different now and it's going to be difficult to put together a show playlist in the future because the masses of people will not be familiar with the artists. Of course this only applies to cover musicians. The great artists of yesteryear are either now dead, dying soon, or too old now to keep producing. Many of the touring are having to give it up now.
I still haven't lost the hope that good music will still be made in the future. It is however becoming harder to find. I can't see the computer based music (techno) of today being as popular in 50 years time as the 60's still are today.
I enjoy being able to be a part of keeping it all alive as much as I possibly can. And the rewards and satisfaction still embrace me and my shows every week. I am truly blessed.
Yes, I feel the same.
Again, thanks for sharing this with us all. Tom
To be able to read such a post as yours Tom tells me that it was a good decision to start this topic. You're more than welcome.
Tony