Mmmmusic

I am grateful to have music in my life. My mom was the first person to turn me on to it. She sat me at the piano, shaped my fingers to help me make sense of chords, and we would play chopsticks over and over again. My step-dad, an incredible drummer, gave me a drum kit for my 10th birthday. That gift taught me the essential rock/rap beat, a cross-stick over the hi-hat and snare while the foot slams the kick on the 1 and 3. Even if I never pursued music as a career, those few musical moments introduced me to an organized and expressive way of being that would carry over into friendships and academics, improving my attitude and overall performance at school.

I am so grateful for the many, many amazing music teachers in the public schools who kept me enrolled in the power of self-expression and group participation. I am thankful for that extraordinary study of sound and the opportunity to play when the age was most appropriate for playing.

Please support arts programs in your community, especially in the schools. At the very least, it’ll give the graffiti on the overpass some depth.

I am also thankful to Rick Alvey and everyone at Mechanicsville Music for being such a generous supplier of instruments and instruction for the Richmond and Hanover County communities in Virginia. Here's a pic of Me & Rick.


I am thankful for the music of Bushwalla, and Eric Hutchinson. I am grateful for John Gonzalez, a keyboard wizard, who turned me onto the music of G. Love & Special Sauce way back in 1994. I am grateful to G. Love and his Philadelphia Special Sauce for simmering for so long and still tastin’ oh so good.

I am grateful for K’naan for sharing his life experiences, joy and wisdom with us thru his powerful music.

I look forward to seeing all of the above at the upcoming Gratitude Café Tour, kicking off in 2 weeks! All Aboard. This circus is coming to town.



More Gratitude Posts to come. What are you Grateful for?