1930s

I’m doing songs from the 1930s for my Wednesday show, and that has me thinking about what I know about the 1930s. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the Great Depression. People of my generation grew up with stories and reminders of what our parents had gone through in the Depression. We were taught frugality sometimes to a fault. That decade was also the development of much of the entertainment industry with great movies, plays, musicals, and music. The music was mostly jazz, popular, and hillbilly or western music. My dad grew up learning tunes in the 1930s as a teenager off the Hit Parade radio show and later playing those on the piano in the evenings in our house in addition to other songs he loved. These songs were mainly the jazz-influenced popular music of the day, and so that is what I mainly know although I’ve also learned much of the western and hillbilly (folk) music of that decade as well. Some of these songs were kind of innocent in their content and lyrics, but the melodies have stood the test of time, and even the words, though sometimes quaint, have an honesty that I really love. Those times and values led us into World War II, and so there is a sweetness and nostalgia for what strengths and weaknesses shaped the minds of the folks that progressed into the war years. It was an interesting time that is fascinating to relive through the music of that era. Most of the music is just plain good!

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What have I been up to?

I had 7 senior facilities last week, and they were all so enjoyable. It’s funny that I’m writing about songs from the 1930s because my seniors are mostly too young to want to hear these now. When I started playing these facilities back in high school they wanted to hear songs all the way back to the 1890s.

My Wednesday online show was songs about the sun and moon for the eclipse. That was a lot of fun! I wish there were more songs about eclipses. I had a very nice audience of great folks.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones including a new opening song I’ve been working on for a couple months. Of course, I’ve already rewritten it since last night, and I still don’t have a title for it. There were so many nice folks in my audience.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and they should all be very rewarding. Seeing the smiles on faces and getting the chance to share some memories makes it all worthwhile.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from the 1930s as I wrote above. I have almost a hundred songs from this decade on my list, and I’m sure I could add a bunch more. It will be a stellar evening of tunes. Come on out if you can.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and these shows have morphed into an even more freestyle evening of requests and surprises. I’d love to have you in the audience if you can make it.

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What is coming up?

I have a very cool concert coming up on May 4th at 7:00 in Pueblo at the Center for Inner Peace. This building has great acoustics, and the openness and generosity of spirit is wonderful. I’m planning to do a mix of original and album tunes so there should be a wide variety of laughter and tears. There is a suggested donation of $20 at the door. Doors open at 6:30. I’d love to see you there if you’re in the Pueblo area or want to make the trip. It’s located at 740 West 15th Street in Pueblo.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you get a chance to view the eclipse (with proper eye protection) today, and I hope to see you soon!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1930s songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 10, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 14, 7-8:45 pm mountain time