Music and Me

Ever since I was about 3 years old I had a deep love for music.  I used to listen to everything that came on the radio, every thing that came on tv, and even songs that would come on when people would drive by.  I cant tell you the story about how I got deep into music.  My parents do not even remember, all I know is that its in my DNA.  Speaking with my father today it is a trait that goes down from generation to generation.  My dad said that his biological grandfather was a singer, and that it was a trait passed down to him.  My father plays multiple instruments, and knows music very well. 

My dad told me a story about playing in numerous bands for years and none of the bands ever took off because nobody had the same dedication and drive that he had.  My dad wanted to do other things in his lifetime, but he was very devoted to music.  From the time I was about 4 to the current stage of my life my father has provided me with a lot of stories regarding musicians and pop culture as it evolved.  He told me when I was a teenager that I needed to change the way I listened and that I did.  I changed the way that I listened to music, I quit listening to what was popular, and I began to listen to music that had a  message to me. 

I got my first guitar when I was about 8 and I really did not care much for it.  My dad would play all kinds of songs on the radio like "Afternoon Delight", 96 Tears, and numerous Rick James songs.  I was just never interested in playing like these guys.  I knew they had a love for music that I did not have.  I spent a lot of time with an older woman her name is Mrs. Baltimore.  She and her husband used to get onto me about not playing instruments with my father.  My father is a great man he always took time out to spend time with me, and tell me stories as a kid and I regret now not sitting back and listening to him.  When I was 15 years old I joined a rap group, me and a couple white dudes from suburbia.  I had a very conscious approach due to who I was interested in listening to at that time.  I listened to The Roots, Lauryn Hill, Common, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac Shakur the list goes on.  That is when I changed my approach to music, and understood where my dad was coming from.  I got a deeper appreciation of music through writing, and expressing my thoughts and that my world was dictated using a pen.  It was the coolest thing, its funny because now I now know why I love music the way I love music and educating people on the history of music.  All I have to say is be inspired music is everything you just have to learn how to play along

Julian