Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would have an opportunity like the one I'm about to tell you of. You see, every once in a while, music fans are treated with experiences and moments that are truly remarkable. Whether it's your first concert, meeting one of your idols in person, identifying with a piece of art or a song, or just sharing a laugh with a friend while listening to your favorite band.
Once in a while, we are given a gift that is beyond words and immeasurable only to us and a shared few. I received a gift like this last Sunday, March 15 and I will treasure it for the rest of my life.
You see, I have been following the funk since I was way too young to even be allowed to say the word. I gravitated to my parent's stereo and albums, learning how to read by looking at the liner notes and pictures, memorizing the lyrics while being sung. I drank in every bit of soul that was in my house, the names of the albums, musicians and songs all etching their imprint in my memory.
James Brown. Aretha Franklin. Sly & The Family Stone. George Clinton. The Temptations and the entire Motown sound. I grew up with these people singing to my family, making us all dance and giving our lives a soundtrack. While the music scene and sound have changed several times over since then, the memories will remain in my soul forever.
Imagine my surprise when I got word of my historical gift. A good friend of a friend called me up late Saturday night. As usual, he had the lowdown on the throw down, and this one would top any previous backstage bonanzas!
Sly Stone, the reclusive musical mastermind behind Sly & The Family Stone, was celebrating his birthday. The music legend has more stories and fables surrounding his life and career than most can fully comprehend. He's a musical visionary, he's also known for not showing up at his events, or worse, becoming an eccentric recluse that avoids contact with anyone. Though he has been seen out on stage recently, Sly Stone is not known for doing impromptu shows and any appearance by him is still considered a rare one. My gift was watching one of these rare events as he performed for his 66th birthday party!
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