This Week’s Writing Prompt
Eight.
That’s how many honky–tonks are packed into just one block of Nashville, Tennessee’s iconic Honky Tonk Highway. Better known as Broadway, it’s a major thoroughfare in the downtown area of Nashville which includes Lower Broadway, an entertainment district renowned for honky–tonks and live country music.
Some honky–tonks are three and four stories tall, each story with its own band. Music pours out of every open window and door. On a recent visit to Music City, USA, Bob and I stayed just a couple of blocks off of Broadway. Even in our hotel room, we could hear the nearby music, cranking late into the night. Music is everywhere in this town.
While we were there, we dropped into a few joints to enjoy some local groups. Then, we took in more music at a show at the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry radio show.
I like music. It’s not something I seek out regularly, but when you’re in Nashville, you do as Nashvillians do. I had a great stint of two-stepping and doing the Cotton-Eyed Joe during my Urban Cowboy days in the early 1980s, and I love piano and cello, Motown and disco. Figure that one out. I honked my way through one summer of clarinet lessons, and my musical ambitions ended there.
What about you?
- How important has music been in your life?
- What kind of music are you drawn to?
- Do you currently, or did you at one time play an instrument, sing, or otherwise perform musically?
Share a memory written in scene that demonstrates the role of music at a certain point in your life. Post your responses in the comments section below.
All posts in response to our writing prompts in May will be entered into our drawing to win a free online coaching video—that’s a $20 value! Go for it!
2 Comments
Janet Evans
I love music. I play music often when I am enjoying my outdoor patio. It is usually very warm here in Florida and a cocktail on my back lanai at the end of a busy day while listening to Pandora is very good experience. My favorites are Frank Sinatra, Norah Jones and Michael Buble’…
One very memoriable experience happened when we first moved into our newly build home here in Florida. Our mutual friends from High School days sent us a housewarmings gift. The package arrived containing over 30 discs showcasing all of Sinatra’s hits. A catalogue containing recording dates, orchestra selection and tidbits was included. Many hours of pleasure were spent listening to those tunes.
Listening to music was a favorite pastime for my husband and I. Something we shared together. I miss those easy, listening days very much.
Janet Evans
May 18, 2019
Patricia
By Judi Graham
I can remember as a very young child how fond I was of music and the weekly Hit Parade. I would get so dramatic if my favorite song didn’t make it to #1 and my mother would encourage me to just “wait till next week!” The radio was the center of our entertainment
back then, and I just soaked up the music like a sponge.
As a young teen my record collection and my book collection were the two most important things to me, after church that is. On Friday night when my mother got paid we’d go to a sporting goods store, stuck away off the main shopping streets, that had
the most delightful record collection and were willing to order any record I wanted. Remember back then? They were 78’s, and then 45’s. Anyway, it didn’t take long for the sales lady to figure out that I had a knack for picking hits and she ordered accordingly.
If there was a singer or group I liked that came out with a new record, she’d get it, then tell me about it.
In any case, my record collection was the envy of all, friends and enemies. The paperboy wanted to come in and listen to some record… um, no! I had dance parties at my house and I’d take my records to the Fire House on Saturday night when we’d have a Hop.
Remember calling it a hop?
As I grew older, music became less and less important to me. My husband took all the radios out of the house. I was forbidden to listen to music. After a while I didn’t miss it any more, but when I got my divorce: BOOM! It was back.
Now, in my old age, the only music I listen to is made by the birds and most of all I enjoy the peace and quiet that allows me to communicate with my Lord. It is it’s own kind of music…