Music and Family

With all the research I was putting into the music of other cultures, I thought it would be exciting to look more into my own. I decided to interview my mom to see how she felt about music growing up and how it impacted her and her life.

[Where did you grow up?

Spartanburg South Carolina

What kind of music did you grow up with?

I grew up listening to R&B of the 60s and 70s and 80s. My mama used to play the records when I was a little girl we used to sing and dance and it made us feel good.

When and where did you listen to it?

When I was cleaning up in my house, in the car on long trips and at parties, I used to go out with my friends a lot.

Was the kind of music you listened to growing up popular at the time, either in general or within your friend group?

Yes, it was R&B! Everyone knew Roger Troutman, The Jackson 5, Commodores, and Earth Wind and Fire.

Were you involved in any music groups at school or church or anywhere else?

I sang on the choir at church. And I was on the choir at school in elementary school. I loved to sing, it made me feel good. I especially liked singing in the choir we would go on trips and sing at different churches, travel to different concerts, went to Greenville, Columbia, Charlotte, it was fun.

How did you listen to music? What kind of technology did you have?

I had a record player, then from the record player I got a boombox!

Did you go to concerts? What were they like? What was the first concert you went to?

Yes! Do you really wanna know? They were very smokey... and loud. I remember my first concert was Frankie Beverly and Maze.

Have you ever met any famous-y musicians?

I’ve never met anyone. Your dad met Patti Labelle on the bus. He just happened to be on the bus as a child and she was on there. Oh and one time I was spending the night at a friends house and Peabo Bryson was over across the street at a party.

How did your parents influence what you listened to? 

We listened to the same thing. My mama would listen to Millie Jackson I want you to look her up.

Was music a priority in your family? How so?

Yea, I think it was, we used to all get together in the living room and put the broom to our mouth and sing. Every other day we would walk around pretending to be a famous singer, we’d visit our friends and be in there singing and dancing so I’d say it was. Your aunt Brenda can't clean up without music.

What is your first memory of music?

That I can remember is… I would say that my mama was having a cookout outside in the yard, and we had the cords inside and the record playing on the windowsill with the speaker outside and I remember the title “You Said a Bad Word” (she then proceeds to sing the song).

Do you still listen to the same kind of music you listened to growing up? How is it the same or different? 

Some of it yes. It’s the same, and I think it’s better than the music they play today and it’s not violent. It's soft and about love. I listen to Bruno Mars but I didn’t realize it was cursing until I took it to school and played it there. I guess it has meaning for this time the way music had meaning for my time but I don’t like it.

If you’ve done any traveling in your life, did you hear any interesting music along the way?

The only time I hear music of other cultures is when my daughter is in the car and I don’t like her music.

Do you like any type of music that might be surprising?

I used to listen to David Bowie? I know what'll really surprise you, I used to love Elvis Presley!

If you had to describe your life in one song, what would you choose?

Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson. That reminds me I have to look at myself not others.]