By David KelleyGuest column

Making a recent surprise birthday visit to my dad involved spending eight hours of driving in one day. Eight hours driving to South Arkansas and back. Not bad really, as the trip involves driving through some quite beautiful country forests, some pasture land, more forests, and a lot of pine trees. A lot of pine trees. Not too bad of a trip, though, when there is Sirius Radio and the 70s on 7 Channel to bring back all those wonderful (?) memories of high school and the beginning of college.

Listening to one hit wonders and bands that have continued into this century got me doing some thinking about music in general. Hearing Neil Sedaka do Laughter in the Rain, followed by Billy Preston, followed by someone who I thought was dead (pretty much all the female disco singers), followed by ABBA (laugh if you will but their vocal harmony is superb), impressed upon me the importance, the value, the significance of music in our lives.

I associate so much of my lifes actions with songs or bands. One of my chief recollections of my senior year in high school is the fact that I had more Deep Purple tapes than anyone else. Eight track tapes to those interested in ancient history. Ah, the joy of having a song interrupted halfway through while the track changed!

As the years went by and I entered this realm called Professional Life, my musical tastes went through an evolution, just as I did. Teaching in various schools, working in a psychiatric facility and several substance abuse facilities all made an impact on my musical interests. One thing I noticed early on was the influence music had on the environment, the classroom. I began playing Classical, specifically the Baroque, for my students and I was impressed by the effect. They would listen, attend to the music, ask questions about the composer, the instruments. This lead to discussions about the history of era, the culture, other aspects. We would talk about Bach, about Handel, about Mozart, about the different styles within Classical. Amazing what playing one of Bachs Orchestral Suites can provoke.

One of my obsessions in life is Tailgating. And one of the critical aspects of Tailgating is the music. Yes, the music. At our gatherings at Arrowhead Stadium we have been serenaded with Classic Rock, with Heavy Metal, with some stuff I really cant label as I have no idea what it really is, although I have a secret hope that it is never played again. One of the best and most enjoyable discussions at a game was which was Led Zeppelins best album. Forget the politics and alleged important issues of the day, Led Zeppelins best album was debated for about an hour. Personally, I voted for their third. But we all did agree that each album had its own merits.

Music. Incredible the memories it can recall. The experiences in our lives associated with a song, a band, a particular melody.

I have this fervent desire that the entire world be presented with the playing of Air on the G String, the second part to Bachs Orchestral Suite Number 3. Just think of what it would be like, all over the world, the entire population hearing what I consider the most soothing, the most relaxing, the most comforting piece of music ever composed. For those few glorious minutes everyone stop, listen, and enjoy. Such is the power of music.

David Kelley lives in Fort Smith. He is founder, and sole member, of The Grill Party, is a Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holder and is the Official Grill Master for his regular tailgating crew at Arrowhead Stadium. He is currently working on a degree in Rhetoric/Creative Writing from UAFS. To participate as a columnist in the Times Records Community Matters series, email Executive Editor Mardi Taylor, mtaylor@swtimes.com.

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Community Matters: Music provides us with so much - Times Record