I've always liked PBS. Some of my favorite shows are on PBS such
as “Keeping Up Appearances” and “Idaho Reports.”
I was watching a PBS show on Barbra Streisand recently. Though I
abhor her politics, I love her voice.
I recorded that PBS Barbra Streisand performance. Often I record
PBS shows so I can enjoy them later. Some of my favorite performances on PBS
are when Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, and Barbara
Streisand perform.
Part of the reasons that I would record those shows was to talk
to my stepfather Karl Brown, my mom Faye Dunham Brown, and Carolyn Helland
Root, a wonderful friend of mine. I would call them and say “Hey! You should
watch PBS tonight because one of our favorite artists will perform. After that, I will call you to discuss the
show.
However, the problem is they are gone now. Sometimes, I get excited
about a PBS show, and then I realize they are gone. But I still record
those shows out of memories of them. Old habits die hard.
I also hope some times that my wife and my son will watch shows
with me. But they are not really interested especially my son. He has no
concept of eclectic music and shows.
I have also realized that my taste in music stems from four
people.
Karl Brown was my stepfather. He instilled a love of Frank
Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald etc. He encouraged me to read as well. When I was a
kid he would buy two copies of the same book. Then we would read it together,
and he would discuss the book with me. He would ask questions to make sure
that I understood the books. In that way, I would research so much to make sure
that I understood the books so I could discuss them with Karl. It was a
great incentive for me to research so many books!
Carolyn Helland was like a second mother to me. She would encourage
me to read a lot. We would go to Lucky Peak. Carolyn would ask us to lay her
blanket on the sand near a big woman. And she would laugh saying “I will look
good in comparison.” Then she would play
her portable radio and read books. Her son (who is like my little brother) and
I would play in the water. She loved Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Neil Diamond,
Johnny Nash, Simon and Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, etc. Even now,
when I think about Lucky Peak in the summer, I can hear Carolyn laughing,
playing her radio and singing along with Neil Diamond’s "Sweet
Caroline."
My next musical influence was my mother, Faye Dunham Brown. I
didn't really like a lot of her music because she loved country, but she would
sing around the house a lot and she was a wonderful singer. I have wonderful
memories of mom's singing along to the radio. Patsy Cline, Jody Miller singing “Queen
of the House,” Buck Owens, Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, etc. Mom laughed that Tammy
Wynette’s biggest two hits were “DIVORCE” and “Stand by Your Man.”
I have a distinct memory of Mom dancing with one of my brothers. The song was “8 Days a Week” from the Beatles. She had a white blouse and
black Capri pants. She was probably 35 at that point. She was laughing.
When she died, her funeral music was HER recording of “Danny Boy”
and “Ava Maria.”
That takes me to my fourth musical influence: my brother Dirk
Dunham. He loved and still loves the Beatles. It is fitting that a memory of Mom
dancing with my brother Steve with a Beatles’ song.
My first memory of a song was “I Want to Hold Your Hand” from
the Beatles. I was probably three years old.
Throughout the 60s, the soundtrack of my life was my brother
Dirk and the Beatles. Watching Ed Sullivan in 1964 and later in the late 60s
performing “Hey Jude.” Dirk is with me. When my parents were divorced, we lived
in a small rental with Mom. That was the winter of “Abby Road.” I would walk
home after school, and I would play “Abbey Road” making sure that I did not
scratch the record. Later, John Lennon was a major influence for me musically
because of my brother Dirk.
The first album I purchased was Tree Dog Night’s “It Ain’t Easy.”
It cost $3.99 at Grand Central in Boise. It was Christmas and Dirk took me to
the store. I was 10. Of course, Dirk took the album later, and I never got it
back!
Certainly I have branched out in my musical tastes. I love Pink
Floyd, Elton John, R&B, hip-hop, some opera, and classic rock.
But when I think of those four people, I cannot imagine what my
musical tastes would have been without them.
It's amazing that music has been a huge part of my life. In
happy times and in sad times, my musical influences helped me to cope in so
many ways.
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