Yes, that handsome boy in the center of the picture is me. In 1970 at the ripe old age of 15, I was made a member of a High School singing group called The Chanteurs. It was a great honor to be included in the top singing group right out of Junior High. It was the beginning of my career as a performer. To this day, I am still in touch with a few of those talented kids.Music was important to me from birth. My mother said I came straight from the womb with a love of music. Since I can't remember a time when I wasn't in love with anything musical, I would tend to agree with her. I particularly loved show tunes. Mom would play show albums and I would memorize every word and do my best to sing along. My real talent didn't manifest itself until my voice changed at age 12, but that never stopped me from singing any time I got the chance. I studied piano so I could play for myself. I was consumed with the joy that music brought to my life. I even became an actor through music. It sustained me through the tough times and still does. If I need an uplift, there is always a song for that.
When I was 19 years old I got my first professional job in the musical "Hair". I played the gay guy, Woof with a very dirty song. I had to look up the words in the dictionary. There was no stopping me after that. I was officially an actor/singer and even though I stopped singing publicly a few years ago, I still identify myself as actor/singer/voice teacher.
Music still plays a huge part in my life. It brings me joy every day and plays as the soundtrack of my life. It expresses love for me more than I ever could. It expresses so many things for me. Music is my therapist. Just felt like sharing this.
Peace and Love,
Austin/Bill
Thank you for sharing; i love learning more about the people I speak to on FB, this was lovely, and you singing a naughty sone I don't believe it!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, I did sing it even though it still makes me blush 39 years later. LOL!!!
DeleteSo glad to see a new post!
DeleteLove this! Now I have to dig out the Hair score to remember the song that Woof sung. I also grew up loving music & it's always been instrumental in my life (pun intended!). As I kid, I was also obsessed with broadway tunes. We had every album to every musical and a couple of times a year, we'd get to see a show when it traveled to San Francisco.
ReplyDeleteThe Big difference between you & I is that I Cannot sing at all! It certainly didn't stop my from belting out show tunes, but it wasn't' pleasant... :)
Nice post, Bill!
Heidi & Atticus
LOL Heidi! The LOVE of music is what it's about. We can't all be singers but we can all be great listeners. Music is such a gift!
ReplyDelete