1975

1975 was an interesting year. Some of my favorite music came out then, and  I was learning a lot of popular songs. It was a little past the very acoustic folk rock era, but there was still a lot of music being recorded on the kind of instruments I was playing and that I was interested in. Our local radio station, KRGI, played a little bit of everything as a lot of AM stations played back then, and so I heard a good cross-section of what was being released. My favorites were the songs I could pick up mostly by ear off the radio. I had a little portable cassette player that I would set next to the radio during the top 40 weekly countdown to capture the songs I wanted to learn. I did buy sheet music and songbooks for a few of the songs I liked that year including “Wildfire” and “Black Water”. Of course you had to pick up what the intros and outros of the songs were through the DJ patter of the day. I got to be pretty good at recognizing the little guitar riffs that people like James Taylor or John Denver would play. I liked the challenge of learning these, and I also started to write my own songs too in little notebooks I’d carry. I mainly played baritone ukulele that year. It was easier on my younger fingers, and it was tuned the same as the top 4 strings on the guitar, so the fingerings were the same. It was the next year when I’d finally get a guitar and launch into more serious playing. But 1975 was a good year for me. I was a pretty short kid until I had a growth spurt later in the year, and it was finishing up junior high school and 9th grade. I was coming into my voice and myself. The music made it all the better. 

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and I had so much fun putting on rambunctious Irish shows for all of them. The Irish tunes are just too much fun. I had a resident that had passed away at one facility who always requested the best songs, so I did a few of his favorites in his memory. You’ll be missed, Lee. 

My Wednesday online show was Irish tunes as well, and there were some great ones with a nice group of folks supporting. I love these people. 

Friday I played the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant, and I had kind of a rowdy group who wanted to hear more rock and roll than Irish music. It was fun!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some new Irish tunes too. I love this group!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 14 senior facilities this week,  and I’ll only get to do Irish tunes for a few before St. Patrick’s Day season is over. I’m sure I’ll do some 1975 songs for those who would like those. It’s such an honor to play for these folks. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 1975, and there will be some wonderful tunes. Check out online how many favorites came out that year if you have the chance. Looking through them I see so many favorites that trigger many memories. I already have 101 on my list. This will be a sweet show, and we’ll do it again next week to make sure we hit a lot of the best songs. Come on out!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know there’ll be some good ones. I’d love to take your requests too if you’d like to tune in. 

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That’s it for this week. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, so I’ll wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and I’ll shout, “Slainte!” (To your health!)

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of 1975 songs

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

When:  Wednesday, March 19, 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, March 23, 7-8:45 pm mountain time