I’m continuing my shows featuring songs from a certain number of decades ago by featuring songs from 1976 - 50 years ago - this Wednesday. 1976 was an interesting year. Going through the year I see all kinds of events that shaped where we are today. The Eagles released their first greatest hits that would go on to be the best-selling album of all time. The Cray-1 became the first commercially available supercomputer. Patty Hearst was found guilty of armed robbery. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” won big at the Oscars. Apple Computer was formed in California. President Gerald Ford defeated Ronald Reagan in presidential primaries. The US celebrated the bicentennial. I remember the bicentennial especially because my school class flew on specially-painted patriotic jets to Washington, DC, to tour the capitol that spring. Viking 1 and Viking 2 landed on Mars. Bruce Jenner (who will later be Caitlyn Jenner) won at the Olympics. The Big Thompson River in northern Colorado flooded and destroyed more than 400 cars and houses. I heard Chuck Pyle’s song about this just a few years later when I met and befriended Chuck. His guitar style would influence my music for over 30 years. Stevie Wonder released “Songs in the Key of Life”, one of my favorite albums that year. Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the presidential election, switching the country back to Democratic rule. I remember this year especially because I was the art person for our school newspaper, and I got to design a crazy collage of patriotic images that were printed on our mimeograph printer in patriotic colors. I was pretty proud of that. I also got my first good guitar that Christmas that would launch my dreams of being a musician. I had played soprano and baritone ukulele before that for a couple years after taking piano lessons in grade school and also playing the clarinet. It’s fair to say that the country was feeling some of the same angst over money and race then although it was much more tame than where we are today. For the most part I was a happy kid just learning to function in the world and with my friends. How about you? What things do you remember that had an effect on you that year - assuming you were born by then.
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What have I been up to?
Last week was a tough one for me. I was fighting laryngitis, and I was lucky to have my voice actually improve over the week with some care like drinking hot water with honey and lemon and gargling with salt water. At the start of the week I thought I would have to call off several gigs and seriously consider retiring before the month was out. I’m still toying with retiring, but at least I made it through the week and am mostly back to normal. I’m continuing the vocal care though.
Last week I had 14 senior facilities. I did a lot of patriotic songs for Memorial Day, and folks were mostly forgiving of me for having a rough voice. I love these folks.
My Wednesday online show was playing songs about mountains. It was a really fine show with lots of songs that took me right up among the peaks. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Saturday I played a special concert in Jess Price Park in Westcliffe, Colorado, that went really well. The weather was perfect, and the park has a very nice stage with good acoustics. I had several folks I know come to listen. Special shout out to Ed and Diana who drove up from Pueblo to hear me.
My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some great songs shared. Even though it was a holiday weekend I had a good number of people out to support each other and enjoy the music.
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What am I up to this week?
I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’m sure I’ll be playing summer songs and looking forward to all the joys that summer brings. A couple of my places will probably want to start doing outdoor shows. Being in the outdoors is so good for everyone.
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs from 1976 as I wrote above. There are so many great songs from that year. At first I thought there would be a lot of dance disco-type songs, but I was amazed how many other songs I knew from that year. I’ve listed 66 so far. It should be a lot of fun. Come on out if you’d like to reminisce and hear some songs from that year.
Saturday 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show of Philmont songs for Philmont alumni to celebrate the start of another season at the scout ranch. This is what they call “Scatter” when the staff goes out to the backcountry to set up for the summer. It’s an exciting time for the staff and for us old alumni who remember our time there fondly. If you’re Philmont alumni and would like to relive some of those times you are welcome to join me at my Tom Munch Philmont Songs Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370/ or on my website
tommunch.com/online-concerts.
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I’m sure we’ll have some memorable moments with the fine folks who come to see me. I’d love to have your requests too if you’d like to come out.
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That’s it for this week. I hope you have a good Memorial Day, and I hope you’re healthy and happy.
Best,
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of 1976 songs
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, May 27, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing an online concert of Philmont songs
Where: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370
When: Saturday, May 30, 7-9 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, May 31, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
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