Or did music choose you?

For me it was the music chose me.
No denying that the Beatles moved me such that I said "I gotta do that".
I was 11 years old on Feb. 7th, 1964 the day they landed in New York.

Yup, I just turned 56 and I still "get" the Beatles. But I don't live in the past.

Music chose me.

I suffered 3rd degree burns on my left hand when I was very young and had to have numerous reconstructive surgeries. Pretty much 1/2 of the palm side and two of my fingers on my hand came from somewhere else on my body. I needed something work the hand to keep atrophy from setting in and to build strength in the fingers/thumb. In maybe 6th grade, I got a cheap Radio Shack bass guitar shaped like the Hofner that Sir Paul played. Took up tuba but kept blowing my eardrums out so moved to String Bass at school and guitar came naturally after that.

Mooses chewed me. Wait. What was the question again?

I'm not sure it was a choice. More like a compulsion

ORIGINAL: space_cowboy

Music chose me.

I suffered 3rd degree burns on my left hand when I was very young and had to have numerous reconstructive surgeries. Pretty much 1/2 of the palm side and two of my fingers on my hand came from somewhere else on my body. I needed something work the hand to keep atrophy from setting in and to build strength in the fingers/thumb. In maybe 6th grade, I got a cheap Radio Shack bass guitar shaped like the Hofner that Sir Paul played. Took up tuba but kept blowing my eardrums out so moved to String Bass at school and guitar came naturally after that.

I played with a drummer (Ron) in high school who at the tender age of 18 months manged to chew on a live extension cord. His lips were fused. He too had many reconstructive surguries. His mouth is not what you would call normal but by no means a gross-out.

When anyone ever says, "Does a chicken have lips?" he immediatly responds with "Does Ron?".

One of the best drummer I ever played with. Second only to Burleigh Drummond of Ambrosia and Tin Drum. I was in a band with Burleigh in 1969 (long before Ambrosia). Biggest claim to fame, except Chas Sandford (co-wrote Missing You and produced many Chicago albums and Stevie Nicks). I played with Chas in 1970-1971 along with Ron.

More like a compulsion

Maybe you need MA (Musicians Anonymous).

ORIGINAL: bapu

For me it was the music chose me.
No denying that the Beatles moved me such that I said "I gotta do that".
I was 11 years old on Feb. 7th, 1964 the day they landed in New York.

Yup, I just turned 56 and I still "get" the Beatles. But I don't live in the past.

Ditto - I'm 55 this year and it was definitely the B's that sucked me into all of this.

ORIGINAL: bapu

Or did music choose you?

At the tender age of something less than 3 or 4 we had an upright piano which I would sit and bash at for hours cause I loved the sound it made. At some point mum's mum had become ill and things went crazy for awhile and some how the piano ended up being the core of a bonefire one 5th of Nov.

Any way time moves on and for a while around 12 to 14 I play solo drummer in the local church marching band. Desperatly wanted a guitar, even started to build one at school. But it never happend mum and dad would not but me one said it was a passing fad.

Then when I was nineteen the driver of the Triumph Herald covertable I was in decided to see if we could go along on the roof when cornering at 60mph. As he flipped the car over I fell out landed on my head a fractured my skull from front to rear all but 2mm from each end.

When I left hosptial he came and saw me and said he was forming a band and wanted someone to play drums and thought I would like a go. I should point out I did not have a drum kit at this time. I soon did have.

Then some time after I got married and a child and no room for my drum kit which had to go.

Then some 6.5 years later I had no drum kit an acoustic guitar, a Les Paul I had built from a kit, a peavey amp two kids an ex-wife and no where to live.

Then I met Doreen my current partner for the last 24 plus years to whom most of the blame should pointed. Do not get me wrong she has supported me in music in more way than you can imagine.

First it was the drum machine Yamaha DD11, which Doreen purchased for me as a present then agreeing to the Amiga 500 with the Dr T's, then the first 486DX 2 PC with AWG32bit Sound card with DB60 expansion then, the first keyboard.

Over time this has now lead to the Studio, and a whole bunch of synths a number of which have been given to me by Doreen as chritsmass and Birthady presents.

And finaly last year my dad moved on to wherever we go when we can not go on in this world. The irony here is that with that Mum and Dad did end up buying me a guitar, in fact two which I am very happy with.

So did I chose music or did it choose me?

I have no idea what so ever but I sure am glad I got it and am so glad it has been with me all through the last 55 years.

PS Happy B'Day for wednesday Ed.

PS Happy B'Day for wednesday Ed.

And to you John.