Music in the Background

             So, unlike many of my friends, including my husband…. I’ve never been much of a music person.  Just didn’t grow up that way.  We had one radio in the house when growing up, and typically the only thing listened to was WLW for Reds baseball games.  There was a record player in the living room, but I honestly have no memory of it ever being used.  My sole source of music was at church, and to be honest, even though I participated in the church choir, I couldn’t carry a tune if my life depended on it.  To the extent that at one time I had a choir director point to me and ask me not to sing, just mouth the words.  That’s how bad I was!!!

            I am hard pressed to explain the gist of this writing but I think I can.  I have mentioned in the past that I take classes at the Univ. of Cincinnati’s OLLI program.  A curriculum for folks over the age of 50 who just like to learn.  I’ve been involved for several years now, taking classes, teaching classes, etc.  Recently in one of my classes a classmate recommended a class called ‘Roc Doc’.  He explained it a little, but I didn’t really get it!  When I registered for this current quarter, I was looking for a second class to take on Tuesdays, as it is a bit of a drive for me to get there, and I really don’t like to make that drive for one class.  So, I signed up for Roc Doc and now…. what a pleasant surprise!

            The first class was last Tuesday, April 22.  The moderator explained that we would be looking behind the scenes of the music industry.  Didn’t really get at first what that meant, but quickly figured it out.  He showed a 1 hour 41- minute film called “The Wrecking Crew” (you can find it on You Tube) that told the story of ‘session musicians’.  Never heard that term before, but quickly learned what it meant.  These were the musicians who played the music in recording studios for many, many, many of the big named 1950, 60 & 70’s bands/individuals, that we grew up with.  Don’t know if you remember, but I do, when then the big story came out about The Monkees, not playing their own music, it was ‘session musicians’ who did.  For someone who has no knowledge about these bands/individuals, it was really an interesting movie and I learned a lot about an industry I had no knowledge of.

            Today’s class was about ‘backup singers’.  This time it was a 1hr 31-minute movie called ’20 Feet from Stardom’ (also can be found on You Tube).  Again, a very interesting movie with a lot of fascinating history. 

            Our moderator has told us over the 8-week course we will look at behind the scenes of Motown and Muscle Shoals and others. 

            Really glad I signed up for this class.