Tuning into My Roots: The Early Echoes of a Musician's Journey - Part 1
From AM Radios to Band Practices: Tracing the Melodic Path to My Musical Identity
Today, I'm taking you on a trip down memory lane, back to where it all began for me – a journey of melodies, chords, and dreams under the South Texas sky.
The Beginnings: An AM Radio and a World of Music
It all started with a clunky, rectangular transistor AM radio – my first window to the world of music. This little device, with its missing battery cover and a handle on top, was more than just a radio; it was my companion. Sitting under a giant oak tree at my childhood home, I'd lose myself in the tunes of Player, Boston, Billy Joel and local Tejano/country beats, broadcasted from stations like KPSO, KRYS, and KTSA. The UPI radio news updates would chime in every hour, but my young mind was already adrift in a sea of rhythms and melodies.
Middle School: Saxophones and Diverse Tunes
Fast forward to middle school, where my life was a mix of football, tennis, and, most importantly, band practice. My parents nudged me towards the saxophone – a decision I'm forever grateful for. Our band was an eclectic mix of genres, playing everything from 'On Broadway' to 'We Got The Beat'. This diversity in music was further amplified by my private sax lessons with a friend of my dad, where I delved into Tejano classics like 'Las Gaviotas' and 'Los Laureles'. My mom would go pick me up after band practice as I waited by the old mesquite tree by the gym.
High School: Athletics, Music, and Self-Discovery
High school saw a shift towards athletics (which I am also grateful for also helping me with my ongoing workout journey), but my affair with music never waned. I was the kid with a mountain of cassettes, glued to MTV and 'Friday Night Videos'. It was in middle school/high school that I began to dabble in piano and keyboard, teaching myself to play hits like 'Jump' and all the new wave sounds of the time. My Casio keyboard, a Christmas gift, became my new experiment lab, where I mixed and matched notes with beats to recreate my favorite tunes. I had a notebook and boombox from where I would record the top 40 on Sunday mornings to listen to and diligently write the songs and artists every week. This period helped me appreciate multiple genres from MTV, C-101 and local radio. I loved hard rock, new wave, alternative rock, pop, country and the up and coming tejano artists at the time.
Family Influence: Guitars and Traditional Tunes
Music was a family affair too. My grandfather, a maestro with the acoustic guitar, often filled our home with traditional Spanish Texas songs. My father also knew the basics on playing and singing songs from his library of “cancioneros” around with the chords for all the mariachi classics. I absorbed these sessions like a sponge, gradually picking up guitar chords and tuning my ear to recognize notes and melodies. Bands like Poison, Skidrow and Bon Jovi became my unofficial tutors as I learned to strum along with their hits and applying my music knowledge more. The first official acoustic guitar I had was a 1970s Lyle Dove “Gibson Lawsuit Guitar” that was my grandfathers. The story was that my grandmother had run across it at a garage sale when they lived in Chicago and purchased it for $20.
College and Beyond: Bands, Gigs, and The First Taste of Performance
College was where things really started to shape up. At Texas A&I University in Kingsville, jam sessions with friends and fill-ins for local bands gave me my first real taste of performance. I carried this passion to College Station, where I pursued my MBA at Texas A&M, and found new opportunities to play music, eventually forming a duo and performing at local spots like Kay's Cabaret and Third Floor Cantina. Then it was time to get to work in Houston.
Gratitude and Thanks
As I reflect on these early years I thank my parents for having music readily available and for cable TV all of which established my musical influences! There are so many people for that I came across at different times from teachers, to friends whose direct and indirect support and decisions paved the way.
Setting the Stage for the Accordion
I realize how each note, each chord, and each performance was leading me to something bigger, something that would define my musical identity – the accordion. But that's a story for another time.
Your Turn!
I'd love to hear about your early musical influences. What was your first instrument? Any fond memories of music from your school days? Share in the comments below!
Stay tuned for Part 2 in a couple of weeks, where I dive into my accordion journey, the highs and lows, and how accordion became part of the fabric of my musical persona.
Until next time, keep the music playing and remember, Every Day is A Celebration!
Love, Astro Joe Garcia