Music is a universal language. It brings people together in mysterious ways. Linda and I watched the documentary on Ed Sullivan the other night. It was excellent! In our youth, we gathered around the television on Sunday nights, knowing we would be entertained and introduced to new musicians and bands that would soon take the world by storm.

Elvis Presley, Smoky Robinson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Ike and Tina Turner, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Supremes, and many, many more launched their careers on the Ed Sullivan Show at a time when desegregation and social unrest were changing the world as we knew it. Music brought us together, and still does.

We are fortunate to have so many talented local musicians in the Scenic 98 Coastal area, and we love seeing them live in venues large and small. When we can't see a live act in person, we often watch music videos at home on YouTube. We look for new documentaries on our favorite artists, such as Tom Petty, Queen, and, recently, Billy Joel. You learn so much about their lives, what drove them to stardom, and how much we miss them when they are gone.

On a recent flight, we watched entertaining movies about Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin. It made the trip fly by. There is always music playing at our house because Linda has a fantastic playlist. We have friends who are musicians, and we love to hear them play. Neither of us can carry a tune in a bucket, but we know good music when we hear it. We plan a lot of our travel around bands and festivals. Red Rocks is on my bucket list.

This Friday at The Book Cellar at Page and Palette in Fairhope, my friends from Birmingham, The ‘Hams, (Laine Poole, Jim Harmon, Otey Hutchinson, Lee Hurley) are coming to entertain. Lee Hurley, Jim Harmon, and John Otey Hutchinson are best friends and have been playing music together since college. In their late 20s, they decided it would be a good idea to leave their paying jobs and start the Milton, Edward, Otey band (their middle names). It was an adventure they will never forget. Nor will their wives.

Lee and Jim ended up starting a music magazine called The Leak, featuring up-and-coming artists you’d never heard of (but now you have). Each issue came with a CD featuring 12 to 14 song “samplers” along with a short one-page bio of each artist. They were a bit ahead of their time, and technology advanced so that the concept was short-lived, but very cool nonetheless. These entrepreneurs never wavered and have been entertaining with side gigs ever since. Otey went on to start the legendary local hangout called Otey’s Tavern in Mountain Brook. 

That’s not unusual, of course. So many of our favorite local musicians play for the love of making music. Most are not in it for the money, but they draw a crowd to local establishments, and the tips are appreciated. There is a lot of mixing and matching of musicians, instruments, and the set list they cover. Some do write and record new music, and a few get discovered, especially when a song goes viral. The Red Clay Strays, who opened for the Rolling Stones and are playing at Red Rocks in September, come to mind.

Bands’ names can change several times over the years, but the love for music and each other’s passion to create and entertain has never ceased (A nod to Willie Nelson). The ‘Hams played at my son’s after-rehearsal party. A couple of years ago, they performed at our friend’s 50th birthday party in Point Clear, and just a few months ago, they played at my former mother-in-law's celebration of life (video). 

All this is to say, thanks to all the musicians in our lives, wherever they may be, who bring joy and happiness to us all. This brings me to a question I’d like to pose to everyone reading this.

Fair warning, it’s a difficult question, so take your time considering your answer. 

What if you found yourself stranded on a desert island, all by yourself, and could only have one band or lead singer’s music to listen to, possibly for the rest of your life? Who would it be? We will give you this… If your lead singer played with other bands along the way, as many do, you can bring that music along with you, too. We are just having fun with this, so don’t let your decision make you ill. Thank goodness this isn’t Sophie’s Choice (well, it kinda is), but still, you can only take one band with you to the island. 

The physical therapist I’m seeing at Refine Rehab in Daphne rattled off five quick answers. He’s 25 years old, and several of his choices were from when my kids were young, many moons ago. Music has longevity and a way of besting Father Time. I gave him some time to think about his answer. The last time we discussed it, he had switched some of his top five, but his final choice was the first one he mentioned. In my opinion, it’s a solid choice.

Who is your pick? The one that will last you a lifetime, or at least until you get rescued. No need to hurry, but please give us your name, age, and band/singer choice in the survey. We will pick a winner to receive an original Scenic 98 Coastal hat after Labor Day. Share this with friends. Let them get in on the fun, but you must be a subscriber to win.

In the meantime, find a nice, cool, cozy spot to ponder. Better yet, hit one of the local establishments to listen to some great local music. Your answer may just be in their set list. And don’t forget to tip your bartender. Maybe we will see you there!