Time flies and soon legends are gone. Last week the music world paused to mourn the passing of Aretha Franklin. Her body of work made such an impact that she was known as the Queen of Soul. Sadly, less than 72 hours ago my sister-in-law passed away unexpectedly, fueling – similarly – a social media outpouring of remembrances of her. (Heck, it was only two weeks ago that I wrote in memoriam following the passing of CJ Watson, a blog that is already the most read on this site in 2018.) For me this conjured up memories of the following blog that I had written after the great Al Jarreau died what is already a year-and-half ago. (See? Time flies!) Note that I have updated it to include a link to the interview referred to that was to come 48 hours later.
On the episode of “Now Hear This Entertainment” that will come out on Wednesday*, NAMM Director of Public Relations and Social Media Chalise Zolezzi says, “From our first heartbeat to our last dying breath’s rattle, we’re music.”
For seven-time Grammy winner Al Jarreau, his “last dying breath’s rattle” came yesterday. Ironically, it coincided with the same day that the 59th Grammy Awards took place.
During last night’s ceremony in Los Angeles, Adele sang a tribute to the late George Michael. Singing in the wrong key, she stopped during it and re-started because she felt it was too important to get wrong (so she wanted to make it right).
And, of course, those that have been lost in the last year (since the previous awards) are always remembered during each Grammy ceremony.
The passing of Jarreau moved me to do something I rarely do, which was to put up a post on my personal Facebook page, an action which in itself is newsworthy, not to mention my reacting on social media to an emotion.
The point is that a legacy can be left behind by music.
A statement on Al Jarreau’s website said, “His 2nd priority in life was music… His 1st priority, far ahead of the other, was healing or comforting anyone in need. Whether it was emotional pain, or physical discomfort, or any other cause of suffering, he needed to put our minds at ease and our hearts at rest. He needed to see a warm, affirming smile where there had not been one before. Song was just his tool for making that happen.”
Indeed, I immediately started playing song after song after song by Al Jarreau yesterday afternoon when I learned that he was gone. His music gave me the comfort I needed.
When you have a day when you decide you’re just going to go through the motions or when you finish a new song half-heartedly and decide that it’s “good enough,” think about the legacy you want to leave. Yes, an argument can and should be made about the type of person you were, music aside, but doesn’t the statement from Al Jarreau’s website do both? He was the type of person he was because of what his music did (and will continue to do) for people.
Write songs that people will remember for all the right reasons. Don’t chase fame and fortune. Chase being someone whose music will stand the test of time and carry through generations. Chase a legacy.
* - NOTE: the episode of NHTE that comes out this week also includes a live performance by and interview with the pop duo Citizen Shade.
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