The past few minutes I’ve been listening to music trying to get inspired to blog. I know I shouldn’t need inspiration, but music kind of does that. It puts me in the mood to do all kinds of things.
I think music inspires people to do more than listen. It can bring people together — just look at what artists are doing to raise money for those in Haiti. It can send a message, about humanity, politics or love.

There is never a time that we are not without it. Recently while covering a story of fans watching the Superbowl the crowd was talking about the band playing during halftime and one of the young women (she was probably around 22) did know who the act The Who was or what they sang.

OK, now I know that I’m not that old, but really for the woman not to know who one of rock’s most iconic bands. I mean they are part of the British invasion that was spearheaded by The Beatles and includes Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Clash.

If you don’t know these bands then honestly I feel for you. I might not have any musical ability to play an instrument, but the one thing I learned early was the appreciation for song and the artists who play them. I never realized growing up how much influence my mother’s musical taste had on me. She listened to country, early rock and blues. Other than Elvis Presley and The Beatles I didn’t think who she listened to had an influence in music. It wasn’t until I visited Memphis and toured the Rock and Soul Museum I realized just how important Ace Cannon and others like him were to music.

Before my 16-year-old son started playing an instrument (now he plays five) the one thing I instilled in him was to appreciate music in all forms. So to hear someone older than him say they don’t know who sings Baba O’Reiley or Pinball Wizard to me their parents really did them a disservice. What do you think?