You can blow out a candle, but you can’t blow out a fire.” – Biko by Peter Gabriel
There are a few among my connections who know that music is a big part of my daily routine. It is one of the few constants in my life that has and still helps me get through the struggles of life. For me, the impact of music started back during my teenage years. I was in the midst of the Lebanese civil war in the mid-1970s. Music was my only way to escape all the violence and chaos and survive one day at a time. It ranged from classic rock, blues, jazz, metal, classical, and even Armenian music. I tend to gravitate to blues, rock, and jazz even to this day. I immerse myself in songs that deal with vulnerability, and struggles of life. Songs that are crafted using many layers and time signatures. Then, there are songs that hit me deep even with only vocals without any musical interments.
When I listen to music, it is not as background music or something that is loud noise to drown out the world. Rather, I listen with intent and focus to learn from each song and artist. What caused them to write those lyrics or arrange the music? What feelings and emotions are they trying to convey? Why did they arrange and mix the song the way they did? Every note and chord and the silence between each is placed with intent. Why did they choose to do so? This has a few advantages. First, it helps me focus completely on the song/music so clears my mind of everything else. Second, it helps me approach it with an open mind to better understand their point of view. Third, it helps me learn different aspects and styles of music and songwriting. The detail above is to provide some context of why music has been and still is, so critical part of my daily life. There have been days when I ask myself how I even made it this far. Then I immerse myself in some music and ground myself and adjust/reset.
When one looks at the history of modern music, one can trace it back to the days of blues and jazz. Every style genre of music and artist has been directly and indirectly come from blues and jazz. There are too many artists to list from over the past 50 to 60 years. However, I will list a few artists to provide some examples. Artists like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B King, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Ellis Marsalis, and Jimi Hendrix. They pioneered new genres that in turn paved the way for other artists. Artists like, Elvis, Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, and Allman Brothers to name a few. Those are now considered pioneers in their own right. They would not have created music and genres as they did without those early influences. Modern-day bands and music are influenced by those early pioneers and the rest of the genres that branched off from them.
Suffice it to say that I would probably not have made it without those artists’ albums and songs that have helped me get through the struggles of life. I owe much gratitude and appreciation to each of them to create such wonderful music. This is one aspect of black lives that mattered and still do for generations to come.
“Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying…
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what’s going on…” – What’s Going on by Marvin Gaye
