Music    Index

Part of my compulsive creativity stems from insomnia.  Unfortunately - or fortunately - depending on how you look at it, it's been a problem since early childhood.   I won't take sleeping pills; that's one step down a slippery slope.

Instead, I do relaxation, meditation, breathing exercises, on bad nights try to keep from mulling over the problems of the previous day, and often recap memories, create stories, recipes or poems, plan paintings, gardens or carpentry projects, do computer programming or whatever comes to mind.  

Last night after less than three hours sleep, I woke up suddenly, and a couple of hours later got up for a cup of ginger tea and a computer game or three while listening to music.  I was listening to Aaron Neville, including his piece entitled "A Change is Gonna Come".   Going back to bed for a couple more insomniac hours, I composed a poem, Freedom, inspired by Neville's song.

Neville states:  "When I was a kid I would rock on my Grandmother’s lap and listen with her to the old spiritual stations on the radio.  The music of people like Brother Joe Mays and the Dixie Hummingbirds, Mahalia  Jackson, Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, and Five Blind Boys are some of the earliest songs I can remember singing along to.  I’ve waited a long time for a chance to record some of those songs myself.”  

Aaron Neville was born in 1941 in New Orleans, raised in a poor housing complex, the the notorious Calliope Projects, raised with his three brothers, all talented in their own right.    Art works the keyboards, Charles is a saxophone artist and Cyril does both percussion and vocals.   They have worked together as the Neville Brothers as well as singly with other artists.    

Aaron began recording in his early 20's, but it was 1967 before he gained first national recognition with his album and its title song, "Tell It Like It Is".  He profited very little, though, and fame was fleeting.  He worked menial jobs for almost another decade to support his family, although he never stopped singing.    

From the low point of his career in the '70's, struggling for acceptance, he finally began to produce winners, earning Grammys and other awards.  

His ethereal voice shimmers and ripples as it cascades over the notes of blues, spirituals, country and a diverse collection of song poems.  There's something for everyone.  He out-sings Leonard Cohen on "Bird on a Wire" (and that takes some doing!).   He truly sings from the heart.  

What does Aaron Neville think about his fame?  "Success to me is being together as brothers and still looking out for each other. We lived together as kids, and now we're taking care of each other as men".   And the talented Neville family is passing on the torch; some of their children are now recording and show promise.   

As for influence, listen closely to the past two years' new popular music, and you'll often hear shades and hints of Aaron Neville!