I know of no one, if they will be truly honest, who does not possess some special musical memories that exist in their subliminal mindset. Many of these songs and tunes that occupy an area below the threshold of our consciousness go all the way back to our earliest memories as infants and toddlers. I would like to take you back, by way of your memory and imagination, to just a few of these musical memories by using a few of mine in each category as the stimulant and guide down memory lane.
Musical Memories of My Early Childhood
Usually in regards to flashbacks and journeying down memory lane, I have been able to do it without any difficulty or struggle in the area of concentration or recall. However, in this particular stage of my life as an infant or toddler, I find it quite hard to recall a musical memory other than the sound of my father whistling. He was, for as long as I can remember, a whistler who could send forth some jazzy tones. I tell people that I come from a whistling family due to the fact that my brothers and I inherited our father’s knack for whistling, which I would have gladly traded for being musically inclined to play the piano, guitar, or some other instrument. During my upbringing, I cannot remember my mother singing any songs around the house, although she would join in and sing religious and congregational songs at church along with everyone else. Besides my father’s whistling, all of the musical memories of my upbringing came from the radio, as I would occasionally hear Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, The Drifters, and quite a few other individuals and groups who were popular in those days. Perhaps one of the most unforgettable musical memories of my childhood occurred when I was in primary school. My best friend, at the time, and I were selected to be in an operetta to play the role of two robins. The roll called for us to sing a duet. My friend, who came from a musical background where his father and mother sung on their church choir, was naturally more musically inclined than I. He was ultimately given the role by himself. I will never forget the pain and disappointment I felt when I was told that he would do the role and would sing alone. Although I could not hold a note, I still remember the song. It went something like this: “Little robin red breast, wobbles in the trees. Finding happiness in every thing he sees. You should all be happy just like me today. When you hear me singing cheerio it’s May.” That was over fifty years ago and I still find myself revisiting that time and singing that song. What about you and the musical memories of your early childhood? Are you still able to revisit and enjoy them?
Romantic Musical Memories
Perhaps one of the most treasured categories of musical memories in most of our lives will fit into the category of the romantic. When I was growing up and throughout my teen years, it was very common for teenagers to use songs as a means of expressing how they felt about someone with whom they were going steady or desired to be in a relationship or courtship. Crooners like Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and of course, Barry White expressed in a song what we could never say in mere words and conversation. They were our poets and prophets who often expressed through songs what was in our hearts. Then there were the songbirds and divas like Tammy Terrell, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin who spoke through songs how many of our female counterparts were feeling, and for whatever the reason, were unable to clearly say. However, my most memorable musical memory in this category came from my favorite and most beloved group, The Temptations. Songs like “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Just My Imagination,” and “I Wish It Would Rain” are permanently etched in my mind as a reminder of a time in my life when I was on an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows. Again, I ask, “What about the musical memories that still linger in your mind as a reminder of a special time or relationship that was very important to you?” Although you are much older and perhaps wiser now, these fond memories will forever be a part of you.
Musical Memories That Are Religious in Nature
Some of the most profound and deep-rooted musical memories that many of us have are religious in nature. Growing up in New Town and attending the little Pentecostal Church on Dargan Street, I well remember the songs and music that were such an integral and important part of my upbringing. I will never forget my first pastor, Mother Katie Sanders, banging on the old, out-of-tune piano. I will forever cherish the sights and sounds of one of the church mothers playing the scrub board, while another was beating on a big, tin tub. As crude and old fashioned as it might sound now, these were some of our first instruments, along with a few old tambourines that some knew how to play. There was a song that we would sing every Sunday morning before prayer time. The words went something like this: “I need Thee oh, I need Thee. Every hour, I need Thee. Lord, help me now, my Savior. I come to Thee.” This was the sacred song that always got us started. No one dared to improvise or to change the order, regardless of how routine or boring it was. I remember and have flashbacks to this day of an elderly gentleman who would visit our church quite frequently named Mr. D. Campbell. He would almost always stand and sing this certain song entitled “Do You Think I’ll Make a Soldier” every time he came to the church. There were quite a few other hymns and spiritual songs that I will never forget that we sung back then that helped to shape my destiny.
Holidays and
Special Days
I would venture to say that more people have greater memories of songs from the holidays and special days than they have in any other category. Using myself as an example, I can remember the sounds and songs of the holidays, especially Christmas, more than any other musical memories in my life. I can remember the carols and make-believe songs that I both heard and attempted to sing. No other songs resonate in my memory like those songs, especially those sung during the holidays. I am constantly brought back to yesterday, to a simpler and easier era, when life was not as complicated as it is today. It was a time of less tension and trauma, a time of anticipation and optimism about the future. I well remember those truly good old days, when a few of my brothers and I, along with some of the boys who lived on our street, would walk the neighborhood singing songs like “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and others right after we got out of school for Christmas break. Oh, how I long for those days that I know will never return. However, as true as that might be, nothing can stop me from revisiting them through my musical memories. They are gone, but not forgotten…
