Music Life and Times

It was around 1960 when Steve Lacy, a saxophonist in Thelonious Monk’s band at the time, wrote down a series of items, pieces of advice that Thelonious Monk had conveyed to him while touring in 1960 and 1961. Long before there was an internet, Lacy’s handwritten list went viral. And while it provides insights into Monk’s philosophies about performing, many of those pieces of advice can metaphorically apply to life outside of music. In this episode, we tackle the first 11 items on the list; in our next episode, we will address the rest of the list.

Ronnie Frugé learned t play guitar as a 10-year-old on a Sears Silvertone acoustic in a town called Iowa (pronounced I-o-way) outside the city of Lake Charles in Southwest Louisiana where, now in his 70s, he has returned to live and perform. His first influences were Cajun songs; his first band featured him on guitar and a friend on accordion. From South Louisiana his music took him to Austin, Texas, then the Colorado mountains, then to Nashville where he spent 11 years working his way up and through the swarm of guitar players all seeking stardom, and only some like, Ronnie, able even to gig regularly. No matter the town or the venue, wherever he played, the one constant was an enthusiasm and energy that got people on their feet dancing. His story is that of many: a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter who might not have achieved celebrity but is grateful for a career that has enabled him to make a living playing his music for the people.

Typically people who want to play music want to play the kind of music they like most. And learning to play involves studying and absorbing how the musicians we admire most play. But maturing as a performer means finding your own voice; that is, beyond imitating, learning to express your music in your own unique way.

Consistent with our recurring theme of how music has a positive impact on our lives, we talk about how music teaches those who learn to play to express themselves better, not just through music but in other ways, including in their careers outside music and their social interactions.

Lisa Campbell Albert sings and teaches others to do the same. For more than 30 years she has been singing and playing keyboard, leading her and her husband’s blues band, Uncle Albert, performing in and around St. Louis as well as nationally and internationally, including regular annual appearances in Germany. She has also channeled her knowledge from her academic studies as well as her professional experience into a career as an educator, currently as a professor at the Webster University Conservatory Theatre. Her book on singing, co-authored with fellow professor Bill Lynch, is titled The Moment Before the Music Begins. In our podcast, she talks about her work coaching all types of singers and, most importantly, that each must find their own voice. It was the turning point of her career, she notes: “I’m going to sound like Lisa” and her audiences would have to “take me as I am.” Now nearing 60 and still “singin’ the blues,” she reflects on the key life lessons being a musician has taught her, that “Every time I take a new step I find a different part of me that lets me exhale,” and that music has allowed her to find herself as “a person who’s authentic and happy.”

This extended episode of Music Life & Times pays tribute to Sam Yi, “the guiding light of jazz in Atlanta,” who ran the Churchill Grounds jazz club in Midtown for two decades. Sam passed away on February 3. “His steadfast promotion of jazz music helped artists maintain a sense of belonging and provided listeners with a spot to hear the latest talent, among shifting venues and interest,” noted the ArtsATL website upon his passing. The podcast features comments from friends and musicians, just a handful of the many whose lives he blessed. Podcast participants include trumpeter and educator Gordon Vernick, saxophonist David Sanchéz, and Sam’s longtime close friend John Hammond. Their memories of a loyal friend and supporter and stellar human being are here to enjoy.