I've always enjoyed music. From as far back as I can recall, there was music in my life. I was raised in a family where music was a part of our daily routine. The family piano may have been the catalyst which fueled the passion in my siblings, and myself, and helped to embed a lifelong appreciation for any harmonious collection of notes and lyrics.
I vividly remember many of my childhood years —from the mid 60s to the early 70s— stumbling through song after song on my trumpet. The venue most commonly was my father's television repair shop, and it usually included my background accompaniment; a state-of-the-art high fidelity stereo record player, a Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass album, and of course, my father.
Dad enjoyed my feeble attempt at mimicking Mr. Alpert, and there is little doubt in my mind that I felt as though I was the next best thing to him. But that was then, and as time marches on, all good things come to an end. I sold my trumpet the year that I graduated from high school.
My interest in this writing is more about pleasing myself, than the reader. Selfish, but so it is. I seem to have a strong and necessary desire to put my thoughts on paper. Music, although always an important part of my life, has now evolved into something more. As quickly as an uncontrollable disease can take over and consume a human body, music, without warning, has perforated my human shell, and like a fiery molten lava, traveled through my internal passageways, arriving neatly into every single cell —and in tune.
It wasn't until August of 2011 that I was reunited with that simple piece of brass plumbing, commonly referred to as a trumpet. Interestingly enough, I still had a passion for that particular brass instrument —although not my personal horn from the 70s.
Enough said about trumpets, brass and the 70s. Let's talk about how this music thing, this disease I have acquired, has affected my inner self.
I'll make a simple statement that may explain what I feel today, regarding my involvement in the music and entertainment business. Taking the chance that this may seem strange to you, I'll relate this new found career to my past career of 30 years; law enforcement.
Here is my simple statement —To fully understand something, you have to live it.
Although retired from the badge for seven years, there is still a love for the police profession along with a protective instinct that manifests itself within the deepest corridor of my prefrontal cortex. Simply stated, if you are of the type who tends to ridicule, second guess, dis or badmouth the police, you are not a friend of mine. Ask any of those whom have posted negative police comments on any of my social networking forums and you'll find that they were once friends of mine. Key words "were once", relatives included. Consider also, my wife's profession as a kindergarten teacher. Often is the time that she hears of how "fun" her job must be, totally discounting the fact that she spends hundreds of hours with a small tribe of five year old "cute" children. Cute children that she has the responsibility of teaching to read, write, solve math problems, prepare for passing mandated state testing, teach basic computer skills, ad infinitum. Kindergarten isn't what it once was folks. It's oh so easy to do a job, when you don't have that job. Back to music.
Until I started playing and performing, I was simply a spectator. I had a love for music and as Patti (Mrs. Xavier) frequently states, when talking about my music, "he always had (has) music playing of one genre or another." But again, I was only a spectator. I didn't realize what music truly was about. Certainly over the years, I had songs I liked, artists I liked and those that didn't interest me. But now, I look and listen with a keen ear. An ear I have always had, but the skills of which, I hadn't honed. Until now.
Spending a typical day for me includes not only playing and practicing my brass contraption of a musical instrument, but also listening intently and analyzing song after song. Listening to a variety of artists, song writers and singers, and often times mimicking their voice —or trying desperately to mimic— by way of my horn. As a young boy may dissect any small creature, I dissect each song, often times note by note. My horn is my voice.
I have learned to love music in a totally different way than ever before. I listen intently with these same two ears, but in a different manner, and for different reasons. I analyze songs, piece by piece. So much work, and so much effort has been put forth by so many singers and musicians that at times it just seems unbelievable to me. All of this studying, practicing and effort on my part has enabled me to view the world of music on a different level, a different playing field. I know instantly, when listening to a song now, if it would make for a good instrumental (horn) song for me. I usually can tell the difficulty level of that song long before attempting to make it my own.
I'm thrilled, as you the reader have probably surmised, at my newest of ambitions. The world of music consumes me...always. Nary a moment goes by when I am not feeling a song deep in my soul or in that prefrontal cortex I mentioned previously.
Should I have pursued a career in music back in the 70s rather than that as a uniformed officer? My answer is, "probably not." I enjoyed a really good career and totally enjoyed my accomplishments over that span of years serving and protecting. The money and benefits made for a comfortable living too. Today, I enjoy reflecting on those times now and then, in between songs that I perform for those willing to listen to me.
~Safe Living~
-The Chief
http://bornagainbrass.com/
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Firearms - The Great Debate
A year has gone by since my last "On the Road" tale and that is hard for me to comprehend. My excuse, however flimsy -- simply stated -- is that I am a fairly busy individual. The purchase of a new home coupled with my newest profession as a music maker are a couple of the excuses that I'll throw out there as a diversion to the fact that I am just a lazy man.
All of that said, I would like to fill this space now with my thoughts on firearms and all of the current media revolving around guns, unnecessary deaths in the United States, and the like. If ever there was any one topic that could cause so much hot and aggressive debate, I think that guns, and the 2nd amendment are that topic.
My report here is just one of many hundreds of thousands written jibber-jabber on the topic. For that reason, I'll pardon you if you choose to log-out now and move onto something of much more interest. You probably won't like what I have to spew out to you anyway, but here goes...
We, as a people...are stupid. Yes - people are stupid, and not only are we stupid, we're very gullible. See something in print whether on the internet, or in the local paper and "presto" it's gospel. " I saw it in the paper, it must be true". I heard it on the news, it can't be wrong". News flash! People are stupid! Even reporters.
I'll admit right up front that I have conflicting thoughts regarding certain bits and pieces of the "firearm hype" but that mostly revolves around the assault rifle topic. I for one, do not own an assault rifle or any weapon for that matter which could constitute a small army were I to show up fully loaded and ready to rock and roll. But this is not about assault rifles --it's about guns in general. Guns, and the way they are portrayed by us.
I still have in my possession a small semi-automatic handgun that I carried on-duty for many years. A gun which has the capability of killing a living being at any given time. A gun which has never killed a living being and hopefully never will.
I possess a cell phone --an iPhone-- which is capable of killing a living being. A device which has never killed a living being and hopefully never will. I possess a Jeep vehicle too, which has that same capability. Okay, you get my drift. A comparison of sorts, which most people --even stupid people-- are aware of. But there is a reason I have headed in this direction with my story.
Whenever there is a firearm incident involving a large number of people, or a death, or a serious injury in this great nation of ours --faster than the ink can dry or the news anchor can sip another taste of his coffee-- the anti-gun people are out in droves screaming for stricter legislation. "Ban all guns. Guns kill people. The second amendment was written when guns were necessary, not for today". All good comments except for one simple point. They are stupid. Did you just log-out? No? Cool, follow along with me here, it gets better.
I would like now to explain why those comments filter into my head as "stupid comments" by a "stupid people," yes, we Americans.
Jane Doe yesterday was driving her new mustang on the interstate and while enjoying the amazing countryside, decided to text her friend Pat to let her know she was thinking of her. Within seconds --and before finishing her text-- disaster struck as she veered into an oncoming car. Have you ever seen what a head-on collision between two vehicles looks like when they are both traveling at approximately seventy miles per hour? That's a 140 mile per hour impact, and I have.
How sad that Jane Doe died on the scene. Much more sad is the fact that John Smith, his wife and their three young children perished in the blaze that followed the horrific crash. The coroner says that they were dead before they burned beyond recognition.
Six people dead instantly. The weapon? A cell phone. It was crazy how fast the news spread and the anti-cellphone people surfaced. "Ban all cellphones. Cellphones kill people." The President of the United States finally was fed up enough with all of the senseless cellphone deaths, that he put together a committee to help and regulate cellphone possession.
Ironically, within two days of the above referenced incident, another terrifying crash took place on that very stretch of highway. This time the scene involved Jim Jones. Jim was a good guy and he really was trying to deal with his drinking habit in a responsible manner. Times were tough for him though, and he decided to have "one for the road" right before he left Lucky's. He too, took out an innocent family on the highway that day. The weapon? A 2006 Chevrolet Pick-up. This incident killed a family of four. He survived with superficial injuries. His incident also made the evening news, and once again, within hours, the anti-vehicle people were up in arms. "Ban all vehicles. Vehicles kill people."
The incidents mentioned above along with the recent senseless killings of a school-room full of children all have one thing in common. A person committed the act. A gun, a cellphone and a vehicle were simply the tools used to carry out the task.
The difference however, is how we American people view this issue. Stupid people. Many of us, and perhaps you, would have this to say about the three incidents in a manner such as this:
A man killed a group of children with a gun. Something has to be done about guns.
A woman killed a family of 5, plus herself with a cellphone. Something has to be done about people texting and driving.
A drunk killed a family of 4. He should go to jail for life.
As soon as the term "firearm, weapon, gun, rifle, pistol, handgun etc" is mentioned in any crisis, there is a call for gun legislation.
In the other situations, the blame is always put on the person. Hence my firm comments about us being a "stupid people." Facts are facts though. Think about it.
~Safe Riding
The Chief
All of that said, I would like to fill this space now with my thoughts on firearms and all of the current media revolving around guns, unnecessary deaths in the United States, and the like. If ever there was any one topic that could cause so much hot and aggressive debate, I think that guns, and the 2nd amendment are that topic.
My report here is just one of many hundreds of thousands written jibber-jabber on the topic. For that reason, I'll pardon you if you choose to log-out now and move onto something of much more interest. You probably won't like what I have to spew out to you anyway, but here goes...
We, as a people...are stupid. Yes - people are stupid, and not only are we stupid, we're very gullible. See something in print whether on the internet, or in the local paper and "presto" it's gospel. " I saw it in the paper, it must be true". I heard it on the news, it can't be wrong". News flash! People are stupid! Even reporters.
I'll admit right up front that I have conflicting thoughts regarding certain bits and pieces of the "firearm hype" but that mostly revolves around the assault rifle topic. I for one, do not own an assault rifle or any weapon for that matter which could constitute a small army were I to show up fully loaded and ready to rock and roll. But this is not about assault rifles --it's about guns in general. Guns, and the way they are portrayed by us.
I still have in my possession a small semi-automatic handgun that I carried on-duty for many years. A gun which has the capability of killing a living being at any given time. A gun which has never killed a living being and hopefully never will.
I possess a cell phone --an iPhone-- which is capable of killing a living being. A device which has never killed a living being and hopefully never will. I possess a Jeep vehicle too, which has that same capability. Okay, you get my drift. A comparison of sorts, which most people --even stupid people-- are aware of. But there is a reason I have headed in this direction with my story.
Whenever there is a firearm incident involving a large number of people, or a death, or a serious injury in this great nation of ours --faster than the ink can dry or the news anchor can sip another taste of his coffee-- the anti-gun people are out in droves screaming for stricter legislation. "Ban all guns. Guns kill people. The second amendment was written when guns were necessary, not for today". All good comments except for one simple point. They are stupid. Did you just log-out? No? Cool, follow along with me here, it gets better.
I would like now to explain why those comments filter into my head as "stupid comments" by a "stupid people," yes, we Americans.
Jane Doe yesterday was driving her new mustang on the interstate and while enjoying the amazing countryside, decided to text her friend Pat to let her know she was thinking of her. Within seconds --and before finishing her text-- disaster struck as she veered into an oncoming car. Have you ever seen what a head-on collision between two vehicles looks like when they are both traveling at approximately seventy miles per hour? That's a 140 mile per hour impact, and I have.
How sad that Jane Doe died on the scene. Much more sad is the fact that John Smith, his wife and their three young children perished in the blaze that followed the horrific crash. The coroner says that they were dead before they burned beyond recognition.
Six people dead instantly. The weapon? A cell phone. It was crazy how fast the news spread and the anti-cellphone people surfaced. "Ban all cellphones. Cellphones kill people." The President of the United States finally was fed up enough with all of the senseless cellphone deaths, that he put together a committee to help and regulate cellphone possession.
Ironically, within two days of the above referenced incident, another terrifying crash took place on that very stretch of highway. This time the scene involved Jim Jones. Jim was a good guy and he really was trying to deal with his drinking habit in a responsible manner. Times were tough for him though, and he decided to have "one for the road" right before he left Lucky's. He too, took out an innocent family on the highway that day. The weapon? A 2006 Chevrolet Pick-up. This incident killed a family of four. He survived with superficial injuries. His incident also made the evening news, and once again, within hours, the anti-vehicle people were up in arms. "Ban all vehicles. Vehicles kill people."
The incidents mentioned above along with the recent senseless killings of a school-room full of children all have one thing in common. A person committed the act. A gun, a cellphone and a vehicle were simply the tools used to carry out the task.
The difference however, is how we American people view this issue. Stupid people. Many of us, and perhaps you, would have this to say about the three incidents in a manner such as this:
A man killed a group of children with a gun. Something has to be done about guns.
A woman killed a family of 5, plus herself with a cellphone. Something has to be done about people texting and driving.
A drunk killed a family of 4. He should go to jail for life.
As soon as the term "firearm, weapon, gun, rifle, pistol, handgun etc" is mentioned in any crisis, there is a call for gun legislation.
In the other situations, the blame is always put on the person. Hence my firm comments about us being a "stupid people." Facts are facts though. Think about it.
~Safe Riding
The Chief
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