I was raised in a household that listened to Big Band music, until one day.....

...my eldest brother came home with a 45 RPM record, a type of record I hadn't seen before, and he put the 45 on my record player. Next sound we heard was "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog....", and I became an instant rock n roller long before my pre-teen years. And so, since the family's two demanding kids were rock n rollers and no one else cared, the radios ended up on the CORRECT stations. Mom respected this. She liked Elvis.

Nevertheless, this hub article is not about Elvis' rockin' hits but rather, it's about less known (or longer forgotten) music groups and soloists, or less often mentioned hits, along with well-known hits, artists and a few movie themes that helped to inspire me as a writer.

We know the tragic event that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper on February 3, 1959. But before that sad day, I remember drifting off to sleep at night hearing the neighbor's radio softly playing the gentle melody and words of "True Love Ways".

It's my understanding that a conversation Buddy had with his wife inspired him to write "True Love Ways". I'm glad he did!  Listen to, perhaps, a "rock n roll lullabye". 

The day the "music died"

During music class on the morning of February 4, 1959, an upper-classmate entered our room and put a "True Love Ways" 45 on the record player. There wasn't a dry eye in the classroom.

Buddy Holly was to become known as "the grandfather of the American Rock n Roll band". If there's a Rock n Roll Heaven, Buddy's been helping to build a music mansion filled with true love ways. (We miss you, Buddy.)

In 1961, "Sacred" by The Castells hit the charts and, although not a top hit, it is one of the most spiritual hits with words like "Heaven", "angels", "church bells were ringing" and "on the Sunday we met", and it's beautiful melody is rolled up in a cool cha-cha beat.

The Castells were a male quartet and one of them, Chuck Girard, is in the Christian Music field.  Little wonder.......

The Kingston Trio had been influenced by calypso and they changed popular music.

They had many great hits. Some were humorous ("MTA", regardless of "poor old Charlie"); some were sad ("Tom Dooley"); some were tributes ("Remember the Alamo"); and one tribute says it like it is, especially for writers:

"You gotta walk that lonesome valley", better known as "The Reverend Mr. Black".

The Everly Brothers also had some great hits. However, the flip side of one of their 45s has also stuck with me.

Entitled "Lightning Express", it's about a boy who was on a train, trying to get home in time to say good-bye to his mom before she passed on.

Equally important, it's about the charitable heart of a fellow passenger.

As the saying goes, ya can't tell a book by its cover, and Jimmy Dean's hit "Big Bad John" is about a man who looked like someone you wouldn't deliberately (or even accidently) mess around with, yet the man gave his life to save others.

And so, as another saying goes, "Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (St. John 15:13)....like Big, BIG John!

What can I say....everyone knows The Beatles.  Their hits got me started with the Blues Harp. And from among their great hits, "In My Life" has also stuck with me.

Two faces we will always remember are those of John Lennon and George Harrison.

It was tragic to lose them, and for me especially, losing George. He was my favorite Beatle.

And, out of 4 picks for "a favorite" Beatle and out of 365 days in a year, the day George passed on was my birthday. What are the chances of that?

There are certain voices that are "unforgettable...too". With that said, perhaps this next (long-forgotten--?) solo artist needs no introduction. But, in case he does:

The soft depths in his voice not only soothe, but also inspire deeper writing. Such experiences can be as unforgettable as...Mr. Nat King Cole........

The sound of Patti Page's beautiful voice brings vivid images of Cape Cod.

The lyrics to "Old Cape Cod", and the way Miss Page sings them, help create visual imaging using only words.

Listen to the descriptions in "Old Cape Cod"...........

The musical revival of folk tales brings attention to the way others live. For example: in the U.S., some people have to deal with bears hanging around residences, but in Africa, populations have to deal with lions and tigers.

No other song matched the worldwide awareness "outreach" better than the one recorded by a group of guys from the Sheepshead Bay/Coney Island areas of Brooklyn, NY.

I remember the day I realized I wanted to meet those guys and, in time (a long time), I was able to take the opportunity (as an editor) to meet the now-Tokens for a feature article and photo in the local paper when they were touring in MY territory.

The Tokens' sound hasn't changed, by the way.

Go West!

The West intrigued me, mainly because one of my grandfathers urged young family members not to settle down until we see the "Colorado Territory" (as he called it).

I wasn't in the Rocky Mountains very long at all when the next song hit the charts and blasted to the top, and I knew why: refer to my hub article Answer to Prayer that ocurred in Colorado where you can talk to God and listen to the casual reply.....

Although the movie was about the establishment of the State of Israel, dramatic theme songs like "Exodus" stir up deep interest in the history of the Old and New Testaments.

There's only one thing that tops Celine Dion's clear, strong voice:

standing on the upper deck------>>

Regarding the subject, my heart will go on and on (and on) so, enough already!

Let's get down with the pure subject of Rock n Roll and Rock at: Inspiring Rock n Roll/Rock hits and recording artists

Be there or be square. :D

The series Music of the world:

Inspiring Rock n Roll/Rock hits and recording artists

Mary Travers: A Tribute to A Music Legend