THE POWER OF MUSIC

I am sure open to people enjoying whatever pursuits that bring joy into their lives. I'm even happier that I to can pursue the things that move me. Lets take music for example. There is something for everyone and somewhere deep in my soul I don't believe one form is better than another. OK, I'm lying to a degree. Maybe I'm just so consumed by what moves me. That has changed through the years which I look at as a healthy form of growth!

I have my desert island favorites without question. Jackson Browne, Bob Marley, Willie Nelson for sure. I don't know how I could possibly limit it to just a few. I guess I'm really glad that "desert island" is pretty stupid to begin with, or I'd need a really big island to also fit Roger Miller, James Taylor, Al Green, Don Williams, Jimmy Buffett, John Prine, Stevie Wonder, just to name a few. I think it's a beautiful thing that music moves people, I mean really moves them. For me it's kind of like life's blood, I just couldn't live without it.

When I first moved to Nashville in the late 90's I still listened to some of the country music that was being played on the radio. People told me that living in this town could change you and they were right. Maybe it's me getting older but I don't think the Country Music I hear now relates to me at all. I can still do a little Alan Jackson, some George Strait, and I'll always give a .new John Anderson song a spin. Lee Ann Womack just flat out kills me.

As a person that considers himself a writer at heart but would be reluctant to make that claim in the company of the folks I'm about to talk about. Being in Nashville and having the opportunity to hear some of the worlds best writers cut their musical souls and bleed all over the paper still moves me to no end. I'm not sure most folks realize how vital and how brave and healing it is for writers to make that journey. I found guys like Kevin Welch and Bruce Robsion. Guys being true to their soul, not worrying about the money, or at least not letting it get in the way of their art. There's a line of writers like that, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, all the way up to the new poets like Davis Raines, Sam Baker, and Walt Wilkins. Once you taste that, once you experience something that real it's impossible to return to the stuff that is force fed to us on the radio.

Recently I had the good fortune to see Davis lay down some of the best written stuff this town could handle, as well as Mark Winchester put stories in song that are not meant to be consumed but savored like something you don't want to lose. I ended my week at high church watching Walt Wilkins move an entire room, lead an audience through their hopes and dreams, doubts and beliefs. It was honest, soulful, and in my humble opinion, is what music should be all about.

It's out there, the good stuff is. Let it move you again. Whether it's James Taylor, Miles Davis, or Mozart, keep it in your world, keep it pumping through your veins. It's mighty fine medicine.

And in the words of Bob Marley, "Don't worry about a thing 'cause every little thing is gonna be alright"...