Music Bloggers Search Prompts Fond Boomer Memories

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b5media is preparing to launch a music channel and is in search of music bloggers. According to this blogging job post for Music Bloggers on ProBlogger.net’s pjobboard, “This channel will cover a wide range of genres, geographical locations, bands and interests within the world of music.”

I’m excited about this but not because I would like to apply to be one of the music bloggers. I’m interested in seeing if someone will take on the history of the Blues, R&B, Soul, and Rockabilly from the mid-south and Delta regions of the USA. There is a rich, rich history of music in the Delta and mid-southern USA. It’s music that had a profound influence on so much of the music of the western world in the last half century which IS the Baby Boomers’ music era.

I’m certainly not going to pretend to know all of this history myself. I was fortunate, however, to have grown up in a major music city of the mid-southern region of the USA during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s when Rock-n-Roll and Soul were in their own infancy, elementary, and teen years. What a place and era to grow up in! During that time, though, I didn’t realize the extent of what I was privy to witnessing and experiencing during my own formative years.

My Mother was one of the many teen girls and young women from the latter 50’s that went goo-goo, gaa-gaa, and bonkers over the King of Rock, Elvis Presley. I lost count before the age of 8 or 9 of how many times my little brothers and I had to sit outside the musical note gates of Graceland Mansion while my Mother, along with Lord knows how many others, waited in hopes of catching a glimpse of the King. Um, no, we never saw him even though we lived less than five miles from the infamous mansion and could be there in a matter of minutes upon hearing news of his pending arrival.

I had the opportunity to attend one of his concerts in Memphis during the mid-70’s, but passed it up because I would’ve had to sit with my date next to my very recent ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. The King was great, but not that great in my opinion at that time in my life.

Al Green, whose music I enjoy to this day, was also from the area and connected to Stax Records. Aretha Franklin is one of my all-time favorites, too, along with Tina Turner and The Staple Singers.

The Beatles were HUGE during my childhood years. I remember my teenage neighbor’s excitement over attending one of their concerts. She and her friends were just as goo-goo, gaa-gaa, and bonkers over the Beatles as my Mother and her friends were over Elvis. I just couldn’t quite understand all that silliness at the time. What was all the hullabaloo about? Yes, they were cute and played good music, but Barbie and Ken were the rage for my age at the time.

Another fond memory of mine is when my Daddy gave me my first transistor radio which he had bought at the commissary at Millington Naval Base. I would sneak it under my pillow at night to listen to my favorite music station after lights out. Then came the Hi-fi stereo with my very own 45’s and albums. Needless to say, my first album which was by the Supremes got quite a work out spinning non-stop on my stereo. The Motown Sound had it links to the Delta region as well.

Stax Records is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. You can follow the Stax50.com blog by David Nathan, aka the British Ambassador of Soul, for interesting happenings in celebration of the history of Stax Records and Soul music and artists.

Wow, I’ve gotten carried away with all these memories and it’s past midnight! This has really sparked my interest in returning to research I did for the heck of it a couple of years ago about the history of the Blues. I’m going to have to locate the historical information I came across about Highway 61 in Mississippi and its role in the history of the Blues, R&B, and Soul music now.

Any of you have any Blues, R&B, Soul, or Rockabilly blogs or websites to share? I’d love to visit them as I’m sure others would also so leave a comment and share the links.

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