It began with a bucket, a coffee table and a mirror. My folks, among other things, were barbershop 4-part harmony singers. Barbershop was always on the coffin sized stereo and turntable cabinet. One day, dad took me to his chorus practice. Practice always concluded with four singers standing in a circle, plastic buckets on their heads to hear each other (Aren’t we glad the Bee Gees just cupped hands to ear?). Dad’s guys grabbed me to stand with them and sing lead. I was petrified but I survived…barely. But that was the beginning of my intimacy with music.

I discovered the value of a coffee table and the huge mirror above our mantle not long after that. I remember the specific day. It was Monday, February 10, 1964. Yep, the day after The Beatles US debut on Ed Sullivan. As usual, I was home alone after school. I found KRLA on the stereo, grabbed my trusty, never out of tune air guitar, and sang to the audience of one in the mirror. I sounded just like Paul. The crowd went wild...