Classic Rock & Roll
60's, 70's & 80's
Carroll Rowden
electric guitar, acoustic
guitar, lead and background vocals
The year was 1964. I was on by what now
had become the daily, dreary 1½ Hour bus ride home
from purgatory (school). From the seat behind me I overheard two
older girls talking.
Now girls talking in and of itself is not unusual, but their subject
of this day was.
Their voices were electrified with a sirenic excitement, which
drew this 10 year old's total attention.
"I want to hold your hand", said one girl, "please
please me", exclaimed the other.
It very well could have been right then and there that I reached
puberty.
"The Belts? No, the Beatles",.....that was their name.
"Wasn't the drummer so cute!" "I liked the one
who played guitar backwards!"
They finally agreed that they were all irresistibly attractive
and were to die for.
Recovering form the realization
that I was not the object of their excitement, I listened on.
Through further eavesdropping I discovered that a singing group
called the Beatles had appeared
on the Ed Sullivan show the night before. They played their guitars
and sang in such a way as to
drive the audience (mostly girls) into a frenzy. I had missed
the TV show but felt compelled by their
conversation to find out more about "The Beatles".
As I disembarked from the bus
that day, several thoughts ran through my mind:
#1. Get that book report done
for Miss Long's class.
#2. That Girls, with a few choice words, can sure get you excited.
#3. I'm getting me one of those damn guitars!
Time has taken me some 35 years
and two kids beyond this experience, and music has always played
a definitive roll in my life. But the thoughts I pondered that
day still are with me.
My wife (married 27 years) can still, with a few well-chosen words,
get me excited! I now own 6 or 7 guitars.
And as I concluded then, so I conclude now,
" Ta hell with the book
report"