It is time for my weekly music segment, so let's begin...
Once upon a time, I spent a great deal time traveling up and down I-5. While doing so, I found myself listening to a lot of country music emanating from such towns as Fresno and Bakersfield. It was during that time that I came to know about such artists as Darius Rucker, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban etc., and I did come to love country music. I suppose it was maybe due to my advancing age, but I could understand the lyrics of country music and sometimes I found the message was hilariously close to what I was feeling at the time. For instance, unexpectedly after turning 50, this little tune seemed to resonate so well
Of course, while the song caught my attention at the time, I tended to shy away from Toby Keith. He just seemed a bit too rowdy and too "rough" for my tastes, especially after listening to his legendary anthem that he sang right after 9/11.
But then one day, I learned that my fellow Oklahoman Toby Keith was a good friend of another Oklahoman Wayman Tisdale. Some of you may remember Wayman Tisdale as being a great basketball player first at the University of Oklahoma and later in the NBA, while others may know of him by his Smooth Jazz career. By reading and listening to the following one can get a pretty good feel for who Wayman Tisdale was and is
and by listening to and feeling the following one can get a glimpse of his artistry
Obviously, in his life, big Wayman brought great joy to many folks and, apparently, one of those folks was Toby Keith. I suppose what really got to me a few years ago was to learn that rough and tumble Toby had composed a tribute to his good friend Wayman. I listened to it ... and I was amazed. In this tribute there was a melding of black and white, of country and smooth jazz, and it is one of the finest tribute recordings I have ever heard. Listen to it and ponder the beauty that can come from brotherhood and love ... and why one just never knows where the next tear drop may fall.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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