We’ve been receiving dozens of stories from people coast to coast about the transformative power of music. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are publishing a story every day in May.
Submitted by: Eric Alper (www.thatericalper.com)
When I was 8 years old, I went to the movies with parents – they saw some Neil Simon film, I went to the other theatre to see American Hot Wax, inspired by the supremely powerful 1950s DJ Alan Freed and his contribution to the unprecedented rock and roll scene.
That movie transformed my life, a shock to the electrodes to my brain. It made me say, "THAT'S where I want to be." Sitting in the theatre watching Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry and others were all I needed to know about music. From then on, no other passions spoke to me like music. I can’t play an instrument – I still have zero musical ability - so I had to figure out a way in. I got a subscription to Billboard when I was 12, and reading about the electrifying industry and the artists – these people were my sci-fi characters to me, a world in which I wanted to be a part of, but had no idea how to get in. Fast forward a few (ahem) years, I am one of the lucky ones for sure – getting to do during the days (and nights and weekends) what I love to do – doing PR in the music industry, be around passionate music lovers, fans, music industry folks (yeah, we’re still here!) talking about the newest album, the old record recently found in the basement or bargain bin, tragedy-tainted tales, and memories of old C-30, C-60, C-90s in our pockets. But that ferocious blast of a movie, those scenes, that MUSIC – forever opened up the possibilities for me.
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