Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 31, 2025
A LIFETIME OF MUSIC SHAPING and HELPING US GROW UP
Music of my growing up years came to me through the social injustice, national protests, marches and all led by the televised forever images, sounds, and words of Pete Seeger, Odetta, Peter, Paul, & Mary, and Joan Baez. The home and car radio were always on. Both 45 Singles and LP albums brought music deep into our common souls.
Woodstock, 1969, continues to strength my spirit even today. Kids, like me walked for miles, slept on the ground, food here and there when available. All getting along, space for all, and in the rain, mud, and chaos my generation listened and was changed by the music of a lifetime. Today National Guard troops are armed and walking our streets. In 1970 the National Guard were “protecting” Kent State as students, like me, protesting the Vietnam War. Four Kent State students died from National Guard guns, with nine students injured. Again, music tells the story, “4 Dead in Ohio,” Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young.
What is important are not my music memories but yours. What music, individuals or groups grew you up, guided and even protected you in the hard times? How did music weave with the events and happenings of your own younger days? Are these sounds still with you today?
There are songs and singers who shaped me, grew me up.
- There is a Change A-Coming -Sam Cooke 1963
- Blowing In the Wind – Bob Dylan
- Abraham, Martin, & John – Moms Mabry
- This Land is Your Land – Woody Guthrie & Pete Seeger
- With God on Our Side – Joan Baez
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Peace Train – Cat Stephens
- Give Peace a Chance – John Lennon
- The Promised Land – Willie Nelson
- Forever Young – Pete Seeger
- Add your music for common appreciation
Roy, my young self singing in my VW Bug!
The songs I recall during that period, while wearing the Navy uniform, were:
Fortunate Son – CCR
For What It’s Worth Buffalo Springfield
I Feel Like I’m Fix’n to Die – Fish
Blow’n in the Wind – Dylan
There were more but these are top-of-mind for me
All good ones.
Fortunate So often mentioned but not one I recall…..will find and listen.
Fish a favorite since Woodstock.
thank you dear friend for moving me, us, forward.
Great songs in the past. I don’t know the current music scene. Are there artists writing and singing protest songs today? We need them!
Pete, Bob, and Joan are no more.
Mumford & Sons music is uobeat and out there loud and clear (what protests?)
Trumpee crushes any and all disagreements so no on protests
Raise a finger and you be crushed, shamed, never born.
Trumpee is not a SL reader. I welcome hin.
I grew up in the 50s before the hippy era. My genre was folk music. The Weavers including Pete Seeger, the Kingston Trio, Brothers Four, Joan Baez, Burl Ives erc.
Younhave named the good ones, We trusted each singer, and trusted our young selves too.
Then Nixon,,,,holes and gaps in our trust.
We still trust but in smaller parts and perhaps not long term.
& we had fun with The Kingston Trio.
Magical times……heroes all.
Thank you Roy for this reflection on music that made the difference as we grew up. My initial memories went to Saturday and Sunday evenings in the late 50’s and 60’s. We watched lots of music programs: Ed Sullivan, Hootenanny hosted by Art Linkletter, Lawerence Welk, Sunny and Cher, Sing Along with Mitch and the Smothers’ Brothers.
As a teenager I loved Johnny Mathis, the Beatles, John Denver, Jazz, Gospel and spiritual music. I do think music influenced me in many good ways.
You mentioned all the good ones. each of these shows highlighted performers and sounds of the times.
Good Comment and helpfil to all SL readers.
I grew up in Phillie, so we were one of the capitals of Motown along with Detroit. I still love that music: Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Jackson Five, Little Richard, Dionne Warwick, Sly and the Family Stone, on and on and on. We had Dick Clark and American Bandstand downtown. And the Appollo Theater where the black singers and groups from Harlem premiered to the white folks. Love it to this day.
not only love it but also trusted the singers and their music to teach, to guide, to point us in right direction.
We still trust but in small groups….and not a forever pledge.
i trust you abd you we two,,,,,so, that is good