Elvis!!!! A special memory….
It’s no surprise how much I love music… I’ve been in love with music since I was a very young girl. My Dad born in 1943 (war baby cohort group) and my Mom was born in 1951 (baby boomers cohort group) so I was introduced to many different styles and eras of music. I was born as a GenX baby and lived through the 80’s but it was the 90’s (Skid Row, Bonjovi) that impacted me.
My Dad always had music playing in the car and some of my favourites included The Tennessee Waltz, Hank Williams Sr. and Jr., A LOT OF ELVIS, old country (and later on new country)… my Dad never thought he had a good voice but growing up I loved hearing his deep voice sing to a country song or an Elvis song, as I was Daddy’s Little Girl… 33 years later I still am and adore my Dad so much- he taught me about many things!
My Mom would talk about The Beatles and used to show me her albums, but I gained my respect for classical and theatre from her and it was through my Mom’s prodding that I fell in love with singing.
As a teenager I fell in love with 70’s rock and roll… Music is timeless, and I feel that it’s a window to someone’s inner soul. It can transport you back in time, reliving certain emotions (good and bad) and music can speak and communicate if you are listening….
In the winter of 2002 my Dad fell from a truck landing on his feet, shattering the ankle bone in his foot. My sister and I rushed to the hospital listening to the doctors talk about his age vs surgery and hoping the bone would fuse together to allow him to walk again! To say the least we were in SHOCK… I remember my sister and I taking my Dad home from the hospital in a cast just before Christmas, bringing him to our house to heal and take care of him. It was a bad night indeed.
As we were preparing to have Christmas at our house, I was setting up my bedroom so that my Dad could sleep in there as it was on the same level as the bathroom. I didn’t want him to get bored so as part of his Christmas present, I researched old, rare and never before videos of Elvis, as I knew Elvis was my “Dad’s” favourite artist. During hours upon hours of watching videos, listening to interviews, watching movies and looking at news articles, I went from really liking Elvis as my Dad’s favourite artist, to falling in LOVE with everything about Elvis!!! He is the perfect example of why I love music… when he sings he is transported within the song and sings with such emotion and heart that I’ve never seen another artist be able to compare; I guess that is part of the reason they call him the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis is timeless and unique and so many artists, including Lennon and McCartney (and many more) talk about how Elvis influences them along with music itself.
Since the making of that Christmas gift for my Dad in December 2002 I’ve been a HUGE Elvis fan! There was a specific performance that caught my attention, which illustrates exactly the passion and love Elvis has for music. Whenever I am in a down mood, or need to find inspiration, I remember this video and turn it on.. It also reminds me of how amazing my Father is… with time and a lot of work my Dad was able to give up the crutches and cane and start walking on his own…. he is a true hero and I am so luck that he is My Dad!
On the video it’s a live version of American Trilogy (my top fav song!), at the time lapse of 3:29 Elvis (with his back to the crowd) begins to “feel” his way back into singing and continues to bring me to tears each time I watch it (of course with a SMILE on my face!)
Special shout out today: I love you Daddy!