Music on Mondays

Music on Mondays

I have many passions in life. I’m better than average at those passions. Isn’t that what a passion is, something that you’re really good at, better than average? Throughout my life, though, my many passions have caused jealousy in the people around me, often forcing me to move on and leave them behind. No loss. Negative and jealous people have no part in my life.

One of my passions is music. I started playing the piano when I was two (mom was a pianist), took up the violin when I was six, and started vocal lessons as soon as I was old enough to take a shower, where all great men practice their singing — LOL.

I gave up piano when I went off to college at Texas A&M University. They didn’t have a music department, a music program, or even music classes. Just the world’s best marching band! I am the official page turner for a pianist friend of mine when he performs which his chamber music group.

I finally gave up the violin in 1993 when I left it behind in Texas as I settled in San Diego. I tried to keep voice going after 1993, singing in the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego in 1993-1994 and 1996-2001 and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus from 1994-1995. I find memorizing music to be my biggest weakness now so I think I’m finished with performing for the rest of my life.

Listening to music — all genres — has always been a part of my life, and always will be until the ol’ ears quit hearing. I have tens of thousands of digital music files, now in the cloud, that I’ve been collecting. Vinyl, 8-track, cassette, CD, digital….. What’s next?

Each Monday I’ll share a song with you — Music on Mondays from the Music Chronicles of Russel Ray — and some information or memories behind the song. Just stop by Russel Ray Photos and click on the Music on Mondays page.