A Day In the Life

I think it's safe to say that music plays a big part in most peoples' lives. I know it does in mine. For me, music has the ability to soothe, motivate, inspire, degrade, entertain, lull, and get my toes tapping. Music has provided the soundtrack to my life.

As a child, my older brother introduced me to musical artists such as Cat Stevens, Boston, Gerry Rafferty, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Eagles, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Kansas. As a teen, I branched out on my own and delved into the music of The Cars, AC/DC, Van Halen, Prince, Wham!, Madonna, Run DMC, Whodini, and a whole host of other 80s bands and artists.

Mingled in all of this, my dad introduced me to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and John Phillip Souza. With my mom, I listened to artists like Kenny Loggins, Elvis, Dan Fogelberg, and Linda Ronstadt.

As a young adult, I discovered music by U2 and have been hooked ever since. Achtung Baby, The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, and nearly every album they've done has gotten a lot of play time on my cassette players, CD players, iPod, and iTunes.

Lately, thanks in part to the TV show American Idol, I've rediscovered the music of John, Paul, George and Ringo...aka, The Beatles. Help, Long and Winding Road, The Ballad of John and Yoko, Get Back, A Day In The Life, Here Comes The Sun...great stuff!

As I've rediscovered The Beatles' music, it has become apparent how heavily those four men have influenced musical artists over the past 40 years. Even my boys in U2 have been heavily influenced by the boys from Liverpool.

I am confident The Beatles' music will outlive the men who comprised the band.

So, who are some of your favorite musicians, bands and albums?