AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

Do you remember back in the day listening to music when hanging out with friends?

Music was a big part of my life growing up in the 70′s and 80′s.

Despite having a low self-esteem, whenever my favorite songs came on the radio, I felt a whole lot better.

Music powerfully influenced the emotions in my body. I’d play the air guitar or think I was Charlie Watts with the sticks.

Whether it was on the street corner, in the schoolyard, in Laura Cox’s apartment, Prospect Park, or better yet, with the one you loved; the sounds put us in a good mood.

My man Donato Barrucco of 16th street between 8th and 9th avenues was the first guy from my group of friends to own a ‘boom box’.

Donato had a job at United Meat Market delivering meats. He was promoted to working behind the counter where he sliced baloney. (How come when you walked in the butcher there was always saw dust on the floor?)

We listened to everything from rock-n-roll to disco. Most of my buddies were into rock bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who and of course The Beatles.

I remember one night Donato didn’t have any ‘D’ batteries so we plugged his box into the street lamp-post courtesy of Con Edison of course.

Whenever your favorite song came on the radio or cassette, you asked Donato if you could hold the radio.

When ‘Brown Sugar’ by the Stones came on, John Cain and I went nuts. Cain was Jagger, I was Keith Richard. Know matter how many times I heard that song, I could never understand what Mick was saying; especially the beginning.

But there was nothing like sitting on the couch with that special person in your life at the time and listening to music.

One of my favorites from back in the day by Paul McCartney and Wings.

Respectfully,

Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com