Saturday, June 12, 2010

Answering questions; from friends and other interesting people.



Q: What it was like to live in the early forties?

A: The forties! That was last week, if I remember. I do not remember anything about it. My first memories are as a five year old, living in American Samoa, where a boy could do nothing wrong (also where my mother cringed and our Samoan houseboy and house cleaner took charge of my pitiful life and I never once received a spanking). God, I miss those days.

Q: What was it like at the Woodstock Festival and why did you go?

A: I will answer the second one first. I had two crazy cousins who I doted on and they were going and asked me along. Honestly, I had never heard about it and was going to pass until they told me Joan Baez was singing. Well, when I heard my favorite folk/protest singer was only a few dollars away I joined. The car they drove was a 1954 Chevy filled with food, beer and sleeping bags. Need I say any more?

Woodstock lasted for three days and I heard many singers and bands that I had never heard of. I remember listening to: Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Country Joe McDonald (he was a scream), Santana (I love his music (thinking back to Woodstock I realize his musical style carried on to his music of today),Canned Heat, the Grateful Dead (knocked my socks off), Creedence Clearwater Revival, CCR (one of my all time favorites), Janis Joplin (I was privileged to see and hear her sing), Sly and the Family Stone (I believe they were all stoned…great music), The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Crocker, The Band—Blood, Sweat and Tears, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young—Paul Butterfield Blues Band (from my hometown, Chicago and my all time favorite Blues Band), Sha-Na-Na and the fabulous Jimi Hendrix. I still remember the feelings I experienced when Jimi Hendrix played the Star Bangled Banner. It was awesome.

I also remember it was hot, wet, muddy, and full of laughter, beautiful women, sharing of supplies and food (except the beer) and wonderful life changing music.

Thanks for asking