Music and the impressions it made on my early life
For my thirteenth birthday, I had a party at the Knights of Columbus building where all of my guests arrived and presented me birthday cards.
Selfishly, prior to the event, I asked for money from anyone who would be willing to give me gifts on my birthday.
The months leading up to my birthday, I did odd jobs around my parents' house and saved (a painful task for any teenager) every cent of my "earnings."
I had one goal in mind.
Markle's Music, located at 44 South Main Street in Linton was where, during my after school hours, I spent a majority of my time.
I became both consumed and enthralled by the sites of the freshly lacquered instruments on display and mesmerized by the high gloss that refracted light off of the instrument's surface. I was also fascinated by the stacks of amplifiers, creating in my young imagination an insurmountable mountain of potential sound.
Most days of the week, I would walk into the store and sit down on a stool and would stare at one particular item, a guitar named after an '80s artist: a black Squire Stratocaster (made by Fender guitars).
Late in the month of April, I walked up to the counter, proudly clutching over $200 in my hand (more money than I ever knew existed) and pointed swiftly towards the guitar without uttering a syllable, out of fear the spell would be broken and I would wake up from a cruel dream with no guitar and no money.
After purchasing the guitar and much to the annoyance of my parents, I practiced late into the evening hours, until my fingers retained cylinder-like creases along the ridges of my peeled finger tips.
Eventually my callouses hardened and my skill improved and with the help from local musician John Danner, I began to learn the mechanics of music.
I learned with the simple chords of G, C, and D, I was able to play many of the songs from my favorite artists.
It was shortly after I received my first guitar, I purchased "Experience Hendrix," a greatest hits compilation.
For months, I would walk around with my headphones firmly attached to my head and every sound, every slight nuance he was able to create with his guitar, captivated my attention.
Every week I returned to John Danner and boldly requested to learn most of the songs in Jimi Hendrix's songbook.
The first song I learned, and still know today, was "Purple Haze."
Unless you have played an instrument it is hard to describe the satisfaction you receive after being able to reproduce a song by your favorite artist. There is something mystical about being able to play the same chords, the same rhythms, to where you somehow feel a connection to the artist and you become are a first hand viewer as you watch the unfolding of the creative process.
As the years progressed my hair began to grow until it draped over to the cusp of my shoulders and what few strands of facial hair I was able to muster on my chin, I wore as a badge of pride.
I played in numerous bands throughout my years in high school (again probably to annoyance of my parents' ears) and I decided there was nothing more I wished to become than a professional musician.
As a career, a musician is not necessarily a lucrative choice, but even after high school, I still held this goal retaining a stubborn self assurance.
Later in life, this dream faded from my conscious, and after playing in a few more bands, I decided to encase my guitar and pursue my passion in writing.
It was the other day, when I was walking from the office to get my morning coffee, when I stopped outside of Markle's Music, and, for a moment, I glanced once more into the windows of the store front.
I thought back to my thirteen-year-old self and I saw him as he stared longingly at the black lacquered guitar in the old show room.
Even though my goals have since changed, I will always remember the pride I held as I exited the store, holding securely under my right arm, the black Squire Stratocaster.
Grant is a staff writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 19. He can also be reached via email at gkarazsia@gmail.com.
- -- Posted by tferry1075 on Tue, Sep 30, 2014, at 12:41 PM
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