Wishing for an encore

David Bowie: "I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring."

The news crawl caught my eye as I was halfway out of the room. It said that David Bowie had died. I sat down and turned the sound up when the news report started. It seemed unbelievable. Ziggy Stardust dead? Suddenly I needed to listen to his songs again. To hear "Let's Dance" and "Heroes." And "Dancing in the Street" with Bowie's proud and booming shout of UK. My mind drifted back to watching the film "Labyrinth." 

"Time passes and you must move on. Half the distance takes you twice as long. So you keep on singing for the sake of the song...after the thrill is gone." Frey/ Henley

And seemingly, in a blink of an eye, there was another news crawl that Glenn Frey had died. I recalled being 19 and going to an Eagles concert. Frey's music accompanied me as my twenties became thirties, and beyond. I thought how, after all these years, I still enjoy listening to "The Long Run" and that "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks" still makes me laugh and sing along.

"Looking back, we've touched on sorrowful days...you will find peace of mind if you look way down in your heart and soul." M. White/V. White/Stepney

The first serene notes of Earth Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World" always put me in a reflective mood. Maurice White, a gifted songwriter and musician, was also a founding member of Earth Wind & Fire. We have him to thank for giving us "September" and "Shining Star."

Paul Kantner: "You can't just sit around and make protest albums all your life; eventually it comes to the point where you have to do something."

The world became quieter still when Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane) and Dan Hicks (Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks) both passed. As 2015 drew to a close, there was news that Natalie Cole and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) had also died.

                                           David Bowie - 1947-2016
                                           Glenn Frey - 1948-2016
                                           Maurice White - 1941-2016
                                           Paul Kantner - 1941-2016
                                           Dan Hicks - 1941-2016
                                           Natalie Cole - 1950-2015
                                           Scott Weiland - 1967-2015

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Rock/pop biographies and memoirs are in abundance. It's easy to learn more about the stories and people behind the songs. Check out books by or about: Paul McCartney, Ronnie Spector, Gregg Allman, John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, DeeDee Ramone, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jim Morrison, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, Karen Carpenter, Dave Stewart, Keith Richards, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Joe Perry, Janis Joplin, Chrissie Hynde, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Warren Zevon, Pattie Boyd, Rush and Earth Wind & Fire.

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