Cassi Creek: In years
past, I played a lot of Gordon Lightfoot music.
He wrote melodic lines that I could approximate for a vocal range
similar to mine. In those days, I had no
realization of how my hearing deficit had already damaged my ability to pick up
lyrics and melodies in a single hearing.
When I
stopped playing Lightfoot’s music for that of other singer-songwriters works, I
noticed that it was more difficult to add to my catalogue of music. Twenty years ago, I had to admit I could no
longer tune a guitar without an electronic tuner. After my spinal surgeries, playing guitar
became more difficult. With the apparent
onset of Parkinson’s I let pain and difficulty derail playing music again. Since VA began treating me for Parkinson’s I’ve
recovered a bit of ability. I am
recovering a little left hand dexterity and some strength. I can’t
stop the decay but I may be able to delay it a bit longer.
I doubt I
will bring much, if any, Lightfoot back into my catalogue. He remains the only major performer I’ve ever
walked out on during a performance. Gloria and I were given tickets to see him
perform in Sarasota FL. We were thrilled
to be able to attend. Unfortunately, his
first set seemed to be nothing but songs about recovering from alcoholism. It was like attending a musical AA
meeting. We both recalled him as a
tremendous talent but that talent was invisible there and then.
Many musicians and singer-songwriters succumb
to the worst aspects of touring. For
many who do, they are writing a medical history that is likely to shorten their
lives and their abilities to perform.
There are lots of musicians who are caught up in their own pattern of
slow decay. I wish them well.
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