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The
"Your Life is Your Story" Blog Archives
© Tom
Gilbert
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September, 2019
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Bruce Springsteen at Seventy
September 23, 2019
Happy Birthday to The Boss! Today is Bruce Springsteen's birthday (he's
70) and every time September 23 rolls around I have to pause and
consider what an incredible artist he is and to marvel at his body of
recorded music.
But what makes Bruce the Boss probably has more to do with his live performances. He just give it all - every single time!
I have seen Springsteen with the E. Street Band in raucous rock n' roll glory.
I've seen him perform with other musicians.
And I've seen his intimate solo shows.
Springsteen is an artist. He's done more than write anthems. He's bared
his soul, told us his beliefs, dealt with his ups and downs, written an
acclaimed memoir and had a Broadway show. Now he's about to unveil a
film about his newest album. Western Stars. He's taking us deeper into his soul and he's letting his legacy play out in front of us.
Thanks, Bruce, and all your compadres. Thanks to his wife, Patti
Scialfa, who is a musical and life partner. Thanks to his children who
have helped him see what any loving parent discovers - that you love
them more than life itself. Thank you for the great performances (you
blew my mind in Oklahoma City in 1975) and for the memories coming out
of high school when songs like "Rosalita" and "Jungleland" blared out
of the radio speakers in Upstate New York.
Springsteen has admitted to us some of his struggles and lifted us up
through lyric and sound. Keep it rolling, Bossman. Seventy looks and
sounds good on you!
Here's a couple of good reads: Chicago-Sun Times on Bruce still telling stories at 70, and Rolling Stone Magazine with Seven Thoughts on Bruce Springsteen for His 70th Birthday.
Eddie Money and Ric Ocasek - Money and Cars
September 19, 2019
Money and cars - some think that goes hand in hand. Well, certainly
there are plenty of instances when nice cars involving a lot of money
come to mind. Luxury or sport models are status symbols for many. And
cars, just your average automobile, are often the second biggest
expense for people, right behind buying a home.
Another thing that goes hand in hand with my personal history are rock
music artists. Here's the tie-in with the money and cars topic.
Two music artists prominent in the 1980's passed away a couple of days
apart. Eddie Money on September 13 and Rick Ocasek of the band The Cars, on September 15.
Eddie Money was born in Brooklyn, New York. He tried his hand as a
police officer, but want he really wanted to do was play rock n' roll.
His dream came true and radio in the 1980's frequently blasted his
iconic tunes like "Baby, Hold On to Me", "Two Tickets to Paradies" and
"Take Me Home Tonight". I worked over thirty years in radio and played
these songs. I also got a chance to meet and talk with Eddie. He was
pretty down to Earth, a real blue collar kind of rocker, and not filled
with rock star head trips.
Rick Ocasek, lead singer, rhythm guitarist and writer for the band, The
Cars, was quirky. His songs were very catchy. I can't count the number
of times I played on the radio songs like "Shake It Up", "Let's Go",
"You're All I've Got Tonight" and "Just What I Needed". Good, catchy,
bouncy and clever songs.
These musicians are part of my generation. More of them are passing
away each year. The soundtrack of my life is full of music by the likes
of them. How has music impacted your life?
Money and Cars - rock on!
Labor Day Celebrates Workers
September 2, 2019
Today in the United States is Labor Day, a national holiday to honor the American labor movement.
It was many years of struggle for laborers to get collective bargaining
and better wages and working conditions. That struggle still continues.
It's nice to have a day off from work. But there is much more to Labor
Day than marking the unofficial end of summer with picnics, parades,
camping and leisure. Work is part of the human experience and just as
all humans deserve the right to dignity, we also deserve the right to
do meaningful work that rewards us fairly. Unfortunately, it is an
often complicated situation in society. Many people do not make enough
to support themselves and family. And work conditions go beyond
physical safety. We must consider the emotional and social impact of
safe and meaningful worklife.
I've had several jobs in my life and I've written about work in the article, The Five W's of Work. Consider what work is and who you work for and with, where, when and why.
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