Last Saturday night, I had the privilege of attending a local concert at the Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art here on the SC coast. The featured performers were Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. If you don't recognize those names, think 5th Dimension--Up, Up and Away, Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, Wedding Bell Blues, One Less Bell to Answer, You Don't Have to Be a Star, Workin' on a Groovy Thing...on and on. This husband and wife team are amazing. With Marilyn at age 70 and Billy at age 75, their voices are crystal clear, they exude joy and love as they perform, and they seem to enjoy every moment of entertaining the crowd. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and with an audience of baby boomers, everyone sang along with them. At our table, we chatted about what we were doing when these songs were popular. I remember being in my junior year of high school when Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in was a hit, and I pretty much wore out that album on my record player.

Music can generate memories that are long forgotten and possibly bring a sweet smile to your face. Kudos to Marilyn and Billy for a lifetime of actively participating in doing what they love to do!

Great story, MaryAnne,

I agree, music can generate memories. Hearing old songs can also dredge up long forgotten memories and experiences. And some people who can no longer communicate via speech can still communicate via song...

Which is why it is so effective as a therapy for people who are ill or have memory difficulties.

It's just plain amazing the power of music... and we all began by just thinking music was just plain fun!

Anne

PS I well remember The 5th Dimension and would love to hear them live. How lucky for you!

IMHO music soothes the soul.

Here's more on the power of music. This is a video that's almost a year old, but i just saw it for the first time today.

It's a clip of a fantastic performance by Heart performing "Stairway to Heaven" in front of the three remaining members of Led Zeppelin.

Talk about the potential for stress -- the ladies are singing THEIR song!! Regardless, Nancy and Ann Wilson are just awesome! As proof, watch and you'll see Robert Plant cry...

Heart plays "Stairway to Heaven."

I saw this on the original telecast. I had tears in my eyes, too!

No words can express feelings. (Stairway to Heaven) Awesome.

Did you watch the Grammys? What was your favorite moment?

Sorry, I recorded the Grammys, but haven't watched it. At this point, I probably won't make time for it. What did you like, Donna?

Talk about music generating memories: I just started watching the Beatles Special on CBS - the one that was billed as a Grammy Salute.

I haven't gotten too far into it, but I'm enjoying listening again to the songs, and seeing the various contemporary performers handle these old songs -- including Maroon 5, John Legend and Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Imagine Dragons, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Pharrell Williams.

I hear the show ends with Paul and Ringo taking the stage. Can't wait.

I wasn't the most huge Beatles fan, though I do confess that I and three of my friends lip synced to "I Want to Hold Your Hand" during a grade school talent show shortly after the Fab Four played on the Ed Sullivan Show. I portrayed Ringo.

We styled our hair into "mop tops," wore baby blue sweatshirts that had "the four lads" heads screen printed onto them in black outline, and black stirrup pants, as I recall.

To top it off, we enlisted our younger brothers to sit in the front row of the school auditorium so they could throw jelly beans at us. Somehow, we had heard that the Beatles liked jelly beans...

Watching the tribute show, I am again reminded how the Beatles changed music. Those early songs were so simple. As were most of the songs played on the radio in the early 60s. But as time went on, and their interests and skills evolved, so did their music.

Here's a link to see highlights of the CBS tribute show in case you missed it.

A song can change your State of Mind in an instant. I just love Country from the '80s & '90s. From the North, but find Country Music to be straight from the heart.

Country has always been my favorite music; have listened to it my entire life. And I still love it.