Meeting A Rock God...

Last year I had the opportunity of meeting  a Rock and Roll legend, a man who has contributed richly to the music world, a man who has created and produced famous songs and worked with the biggest names in the business. If you don't recognize the signature hair and sunglasses, he's Jeff Lynne, co-founder of the 1970s and 1980s supergroup Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) as well as co-founder of the iconic Traveling Wilburys.

And if that's not enough, he produced records for Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Joe Walsh and others. He was also inducted as a member of ELO into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

If you're talking about rock royalty, he's definitely in the equation. 

I don't want to include how I came to be at the same event as him. I will say it was not for a musical function, even though I would have LOVED to hear him perform live. Maybe one day. It was also not the kind of event where asking for a selfie would be appropriate. I supposed I could have asked, but that would have seemed uncouth. 

Leading up to the event, I wondered what it would be like to meet him. I've never met someone with so much experience in the industry. His was a voice I listened to over and over again back in the 1970s. I also remember their albums, those beautiful covers, the spaceship with the smaller ship docking, the Arabian boy on Discovery peering deeply into the lighted disk, the electric shock of the witches hands on Dorthy's ruby slippers on Eldorado. Just beautiful.

Before the meeting, I bought ELO's best of compilation and fell in love with the music all over again. It's amazing how much power music has in invoking memories long ago forgotten. So when I met the man and shook his hand, it wasn't a middle-aged fan speaking to him, but that young kid sitting in the living room inside the home of my youth listening to their music on our old Hi-Fi system, non-digital play-back and all.

The man was gracious. We did not speak long, just pleasantries. I spent time after trying to take pictures of him without being too "creepy" or "paparotzzi-esque." I got a few shots. When the event ended, we all went our separate ways and back to our lives. Now, when I put the CD into the player in my car (about the only place I can play CDs anymore...), I not only remember the days listening to the music as a kid, but I also remember the time I met and shook the hand of the man partially responsible for those songs and whose voice entertained millions back then and continues to do so today.

Jeff Lynne...A Voice I Seemed To Have Always Known

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Last month I was talking to a friend and the name Jeff Lynne came up. As we discussed the man and his music, I realized I had not heard his songs in quite a long time, too long. A few weeks ago a cable channel broadcast his live show at Hyde Park.

I was blown away.

At the music and at the memories that came flooding back. 

The memories I didn't expect.

I grew up in the days of vinyl records, 45s and LPs, cassette tapes and AM/FM radio. In our living room we had a turntable and a couple of really nice speakers that my dad built (speakers I still have, even though they're not hooked up...) and a radio/cassette tape deck. We didn't have a lot of records, but I remember listening to RUSH and STYX so many times I probably diminished the sound quality from the records.

And we had Electric Light Orchestra albums as well. ELO is one of those bands that changed the musical world, like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Eagles and a number of other acts. Except you don't hear a lot about ELO's impact. At least, I don't. Maybe people talk about and write about them and their importance, but I don't do a lot of music research.

I can tell you that the music was absolutely wonderful! And time has been kind to the Jeff Lynne's voice. He sounded great in the broadcast. Of course, I Googled Mr. Lynne while I listened to the music that I once loved (and loved again watching the show...). He is such an accomplished musician, producer and creative artist. He's quite amazing.

I know, being born in the mid-1960s there was a lot of music that I heard before ELO came along, but as I sat and watched and listened to the songs, it seemed I've always known those songs and that voice. Maybe I ought to download some of those albums on iTunes.

I wonder if by playing them over and over again I can diminish the sound quality...I think it's worth a shot to find out.

* Photo used without permission from: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jeff-lynne-interview-2013/