I was a preacher’s kid, grew up in the church. The family music collection was heavily the Gaithers on vinyl. My parents, much later, would discuss how they listened to a little Simon & Garfunkel. Mom remembers the song “Downtown” being big. In the last few weeks, I transcribed all of my parents’ love letters, and I found dad quoting “Do You Want to Know a Secret” (the Beatles) lyrics to mom. While I lived at home, though, there was nothing non-Christian in the vinyl.
In 1981, at the annual pastors’ retreat in Lake Junaluska, NC, we had a regular “borrowed” house up the hill/on the grounds of the community. There was nothing much happening, as it was full of preachers and church admins. There was a small library and a rec center, and you could pay to take out paddle boats or ride the tourist ferry around the lake. I got bored enough to look at the house’s radio/turntable that year. There were no records, but I messed with the radio for the first time (I was 11) and found a “rock” station (mostly easy listening) that was pretty frequently playing John Lennon’s “Watching the Wheels,” and the DJ mentioned it was being released after his death. I loved the song, looked forward to hearing it again, but I was lost. Who was John Lennon? Dad said he used to be in the Beatles. Who were they? He didn’t say much, just that they were a band. I was at a loss.
A short time later, hungry for more, I got 45 records of “Stars on 45” and Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration,” both of which I devoured. Soon after that, I had Rick Springfield’s “I’ve Done Everything for You.” But one of my very first memories of discovering rock was John Lennon, always my favorite Beatle (after I really knew who they were), and it was a release from after his death. I felt like I’d just missed something important.
Bill Abbott, poet, web page 