My

Musical

Journey 

– Robert Dale Klein

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I am completely smitten by music and song. They’ve been my constant and cherished travelling companions throughout my walk “on this side of the dirt.” My journey started as a little kid. I loved singing with my grandparents who took me to summer “sing-along” concerts in the local parks. My fascination with music and song really blossomed in the seventh grade, when I watched The Beatles' debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Within days after that show I had assembled my first – and thankfully only – drum kit from an assortment of my grandmother’s hat boxes (toms), metal potato chip cans (snare and cymbals), and “drumsticks” carved from wooden dowels stolen from the cage of our dead family parakeet. “Tweetie” would have been very pleased – my parents, not so much. The “drum kit” was terrible, but still much better than my playing ability.

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Fortunately for my parents, my interest in becoming the family “Ringo” was replaced by a greater passion for learning how to play guitar like John, Paul and George. With seven kids, my parents had no money to spare for music lessons, so I taught myself guitar by watching high school classmates. I next taught myself piano, discovering that I could play by ear. I also began to write songs, none good, but all from the heart. After decades of trial, error, and lots of practice, my songs have gotten better, as have my playing and singing. Nothing gives me greater joy than touching others’ hearts with a well-crafted song from my own heart. ​

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