Reading the book Jump and the Net Will Appear from singer/songwriter/producer Robin Crow—a tough guy on stage and in the studio but completely weak at the knees when face to face with those who fed his veins of inspiration. The mere mention of Jon Anderson from the group Yes and your ears will be blasted with daring adventure, vivid dreams of achievement and a constant drive to begin a journey with a master set on far reaching harmonies.
Sitting back in this tall nearly worn out radio station studio chair…I laugh. We’ve all been here; to be completely locked and loaded on scoring any opportunity that brings your path closer to the people who helped shape you. I call it wearing masks. I do what I do because I want to be just like __________. To accomplish that, I have vowed to become __________.
Sure, it’s easy to paint thoughts onto the face of a computer screen like Peter Max, admitting Casey Kasum and Wolfman Jack put my tail in this wobbling chair but then I’m forced to believe such a confession steals from KOOK’s Major Dan Miller and Kurt Anthony in Billings, Montana whose addiction to laughter in the very early morning hours while being completely connected to the community ignited a freaky kids blossoming wisdom.
While Robin Crow raced through his young adult life chasing five bars flooded with quarter and eighth notes linked to Mr. Anderson and his presentation worldly known as Yes…it was my plan to build a radio station playing everything from Hank Williams Sr. to Peter Frampton, Dolly Parton, The Bee Gees and my garage band Rest in Peace. Getting there required two of the most valuable tools introduced to corporate carpenters who craft the future: inspiration and influence.
Robin met Jon Anderson and I met Gene Simmons, which wasn’t supposed to happen—the thought of getting busted at a Rock n Roll concert brought on ample amounts of fear…what would my extremely religious neighbors Sue and Mike think if they had somehow found out I had attended a two hour show filled with fire and blood spitting men dressed up in heavy makeup and costumes that resembled a comic book hero?
Once with Simmons, all things planted, quickly passed—just as they did for the millions who witnessed Elvis and The Beatles on Ed Sullivan…an unexplained source of energy that wreaked havoc on innocence and tore up the holier than thou game plan to make it in the world without being inspired by exploding guitars, heart thumping drum solos and brilliantly designed R-n-R marketing.
It no longer mattered how funny Major Dan and Kurt Anthony were…midnight Jello jumps and radio jocks vowing to stay on the air longer than any other human didn’t seem edgy enough to poke holes in the opportunity to be something more than just another plain as day Montanan. It would be my place in history to rip the knob off success and become Gene Simmons. Not the musician but the master of marketing, accepting the chase, the energy behind chance meeting ok I can do it.
What? Tell me a single local or national leader who didn’t fall to the power of music. Prove to me that Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana haven’t planted the seeds that are currently feeding the fields of future success. Influence and inspiration through the songs we sing cracks the invisible seals of innocence.
Nick Jonas breaking away from his brothers to pull off a solo trip will do more for banking than middle school math and foreign language. His openness to achieve a higher level of play teaches the hidden to walk through the walls they’ve created and try to do something that’s totally them.
Becoming _________ made me who I am.
Marlon Brando toughened up American men by showcasing an image that said, “If you don’t like me…that’s ok…I don’t need your support to be who I am. I will not change to win a popularity contest.”
And that’s where American Idol continues to fail. It’s a weekly presentation that has left an evil scar on the continued growth of this nation—rather than stepping forward to create a difference, we’ve become an unmoving people who elect to stand on the world’s stage waiting to get approval to grow.
We won’t shake this recession until we stop dancing with the stars. Have fun while becoming ________but stop standing in front of those who judge. Stop begging to be accepted.
This is why I’ve retired from collecting more stripes on my black belt in martial arts…life is filled with enough tests…why do I need someone’s approval to succeed on a path designed around personal journeys? We spend way too much time doing what other people tell us leaving no room for that little voice that once said, “I can do it because _______ did it first.”
Major Dan and Kurt Anthony both own and operate separate competing radio stations—like McCartney, Jagger and _________ you’re never too old to Rock n Roll. The world is waiting to hear your voice, see your art, put their hands on your craft, melt away with an idea that’s beyond new and improved and the mask you elected to wear when discovering __________ is going to take you there.
Maybe its time you pop on that old 45, album, CD or video so you can replenish the soils cuddling up to your roots.
Reintroduce yourself to _______________ so you can become again. Be in love with the idea that life is about doing everything you want not what they want or you're fired.
You may not be as famous as ___________ but man it was fun being _____________ because through their influence and inspiration others now want to be you.
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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