Music has the ability to entertain, excite, elate, and elevate.  It also has the ability to give relief and hope, as witnessed by:

the Concert for Bangladesh, held at Madison Square Garden in 1971, the first ever tribute concert of such magnitude, organized by former Beatle George Harrison and Indian sitar master Ravi Shankar

Live Aid, a concert for Ethiopian Famine Relief, organized by Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats, held/simulcast in RFK Stadium, Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium, London in 1985

and 12-12-12, The Concert for (Hurricane) Sandy Relief, held at Madison Square Garden in 2012

Further, it has the ability to console, comfort, and heal, as evidenced by the various tributes after 9-11, including “America: A Tribute To Heroes”

As I have mentioned in “About Me”, quoting Albert Einstein, “I often think in music.  I live my daydreams in music.  I see my life in terms of music.”  So it’s no surprise that when my dad unexpectedly passed away at the age of 49 in 1986, when I was 19 years old, while studying abroad in Spain while in college, I turned to music for solace, comfort, and healing.  I listened to songs on my cassette Walkman in my downtime in Europe while traveling around with a close friend of mine, seeing the beauty and wonders of Italy, France, and England while coping with the emotions of such great loss.

Many years later, when my grandfather “Poppy”, my dad’s dad, passed away in his 90’s, now armed with digital technology and the ability to burn CDs, I made a tribute disc for my dad, and presented it to relatives as a memory not only of my dad, but of my grandparents, as I had uploaded old reel-to-reel audio clips of them talking and singing onto my computer.  I still listen to this playlist with some regularity to remind myself of all the great times spent with my dad, keeping him close in mind and heart.  Today, on what would be his 85th birthday, I thought I’d share that playlist, and the CD liner notes I had made for my family, with some old photos of him.  I hope you don’t mind the indulgence.

I have made a few more such “tribute” compliation CDs for parents of former patients who passed away, in hopes of their finding some healing and peace through music.  For those of you who have endured such heartfelt loss, I strongly encourage you to consider this medium as a means of therapy, a journey to heal and find hope, and to keep love close at heart.

While this playlist is about my dad, much of it could be about any dad, or anyone you hold near and dear to your heart and soul.

Since that time, as I continue to explore my word playlist themes, I decided to make a “John/Johnny” playlist as a tribue to my dad, John Storo.  I think you’ll find this a fun playlist.

I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew.  Rediscover the passion of music in your life.

Live in the moment

Enjoy the moment

Love the moment

Listen to the MUSIC!