The Music Man

Here lately, I've been feeling incomplete. No, not in that "You complete me" sort of way. For as long as I can remember, music was a part of my life. As a child, I always played around on keyboards, hammering out melodies from such classics as "Push It" by Salt N Pepa, "Axel F" from the Beverly Hills Cop movies, and the "Main Titles" from Beetlejuice.

The best thing my biological father ever did for me was push me into music. I don't know if he saw potential in me or what. He was a big musician. Not anyone famous though. He grew up playing trombone, but I never had any memories of listening to him play. He was big into bluegrass, and picked around on a banjo. When I was a little older, he dated a woman who owned a violin. Naturally, he introduced me to the style of fiddle. I never told him how much I enjoyed it. I wanted to, but it was too late. He and his girlfriend split. I never played fiddle again.

Fifth grade rolled around and the school sent out invitations to join beginner band. It couldn't have come at a better time for me. I was enjoying music class: learning about notes, scales, and (heaven forbid) the recorder. The problem I was facing was which instrument should I play.

About this time, I was really into this movie called Better Off Dead. It starred John Cusack as pretty much a loser who was out to win his ex-girlfriend back by skiing the K-12. He ends up falling for a French exchange student. Yes, it was very 1985. Who knew for the next decade or so, my rocky love life would mirror this movie, minus the skiing and falling for a French exchange student. I digress. :) There is a scene in the movie where his best friend tells him he should take up the saxophone again. "Chicks dig the sax." He does and plays for the exchange student later on. So voila, there was the answer to choosing my instrument.

My uncle happened to have a few different saxophones, and we purchased an alto from him. I played that saxophone for a decade. I kept up playing through middle school; through marching, concert, and jazz band in high school; even in college (where I had the most fun) through again marching and concert bands. In college, I branched off a bit, and played tenor and baritone saxes. Even after I left college, I played in a blues/rock band near Jackson called the Smoking Jackets. We played a few gigs here and there, including Memphis and Nashville. Soon after, I quit the band, and sold the sax to my cousin so he could start playing.

Do I miss the saxophone or music in general? I miss the music and performing. I've tried my hand at visual art, theater acting, and writing, but none can compare to music. With this, I have decided to buy a new instrument or two. Try something new.
And to be clear, I am not doing this to meet women. I am doing this for me. I am doing this to feel complete.