|
From the time I was old enough to twist the knob on the old parlor radio I was exposed to some of the best music in the world. Although raised in a home which viewed all music other than Gospel the invention of the devil, I never really believed that . What I heard coming out of those electro-magnetics was something very spiritual which actually had it's birth in the Church.
There was Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, The Lovins, and The Stanley Bros. singing "unplugged" white blues which moved my soul with just as much power as any Southern Baptist evangelist.
While these Hillbilly artists were somewhat tolerable in our home, there was another sound which caught my young ear- strictly "taboo", but purely electrifying! Lonnie Mack, Chuck Berry, James Burton, Carl Perkins & Steve Cropper had this kind of twangy soul feel which blasted through my pillow speaker right to my heart.
There were times when the sun spot activity was just right and I could go to sleep listening to Wayne Rainey and his talking harmonica on WCKY, Cincinnati "1" Ohio, and wake up in the middle of the night to "Big John" playing the blues on WLAC in Nashville. Somehow all that Hillbilly and Blues got mixed up in my head, leaving me to this day, what others might think, a little musically confused.
I would like to say that Bluegrass is my first love, but there are times I am not sure. What I am sure of, is my love with that spiritual thread which runs through all "heartfelt" music. That emotional element which cannot be contrived or cloned. It must be conceived in glorious revival bliss. I believe the same God which gave Bill Monroe the first four notes to "Rawhide", also gave Chuck Berry his introduction to "Johnny B. Goode".
No, I am not confused. It just confuses me why others can't feel what I feel. There really are only two kinds of music in the world; that which moves your soul and that which doesn't.
If you need some soul stirring, there are no better machines to get the job done. There's just something about the sound of "Twang". Whether it is played on Banjo, Electric Guitar or Dobro, that thread of musical spirit will wrap you in finger pickin' soul, if you let it.
|
|
