100 Days of Gratitude - Day 45 - Music

The right music makes just about everything better.

I don't know anything about music, but I know what I like.

Most music that I really like just makes me feel good. I can't tell you the notes that are being played, and in many cases I can't even tell you the story that's being told, I can just say that I feel better when I'm listening to certain music.

I love Broadway musicals, old school rock and roll (and some new stuff), I even like some country music - mostly the very contemporary stuff, or very old country. Not a huge fan of Rap or Hip Hop, though I will admit that I've listened to a LOT of Eminem and I really like what he does. He has so much to say.

My favorite well known artists are:

• Lyle Lovett - I'm a huge Lyle Lovett fan? Last album was in 2009 (Natural Forces) and I'm hoping for some more Lyle very soon.
• Dean Martin- No one has ever been smoother than Dean Martin he's the most charismatic man ever.
• Harry Connick, Jr. - the dude's amazing.
• and Rock Classics like The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones and some stuff by The Who and The Doors - plus lots and lots of others.

I listen to personal friends a lot too - they're my favorite  to listen to. Here's a few friends you should check out (I've included links when I know them):

• Porterdavis - American Roots and Blues
• Zane Williams - Texas Country - Amazing song writer
• Rebecca Loebe - Folk
• Jason Levassauer - Singer Songwriter
• Mary Arden Collins/Arden of Eden - Rockin' voice and sweet as can be.
• Kissinger - Rock and Roll (no longer together, but I still love their rock!)

I call all of the folks above my friends - but I'd love their music even if they weren't friends.

Other lesser know artists that I really love to listen to:

• The Lacivious Biddies - Their "Get Lucky" album is one of the most played on my iPod. I love it.
• Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights - ROCK - ALL CAPS ROCK - I love these guys. We first saw them as the opening act for ZZ Top and instantly loved their sound and their Bass player's amazing pork chop sideburns and cool vibe. They're getting a lot of radio play now with their song "Gypsy Woman" and I think they're going to be huge. I don't see live music very often - at least not by artists that I don't know personally - but I've seen these guys three times in 18 months.

In addition to making me feel better, music helps me professionally as a magician, as a hypnotist and as a game show producer. It creates energy, enthusiasm, mystery and at times, tears. I have no musical ability at all. None. Even my Karaoke (see photo in Day 44) is derivative hack crap (though highly entertaining). But I still love music.

If you have friends who create music for a living - do them a favor... BUY their CD, don't ask for a free copy, actually buy it from them. Every dollar you give to support them helps to keep them making music - this is, after all, how they make their livings.