Monday, October 10, 2022 - Birth-Year Songs

This Wednesday I’m doing requests for people from the year they were born. It’s a fun idea from one of the Munch Bunch folks - Rosemarie Vest. It’s neat because it sparks memories that weren’t necessarily from each person’s memory, but from the culture at large when they were born. For me the song “Runaway” by Del Shannon came out the day before I was born, and the song “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson came out 6 days after my birth. That speaks volumes to me of the time after the birth of rock and roll but before the British Invasion when I was born. Songs were a little softer and still a bit more innocent than they would soon become. The requests I’ve gotten so far range from 1943 to 1966, and that shows you a little of what my audience demographic is. It is kind of interesting how the songs of each year hint at what was going on in the world. Popular songs influence the culture and are in turn influenced by that same culture. Obviously there were other niches in the culture in the year each of us were born that were represented by other genres than pop music. Loretta Lynn’s passing reminds us of how her music reflected the times with her bold women’s issues in country music. I really find it fascinating, and it’s even more fascinating looking at the songs each person picks as favorites from the year they were born. So Wednesday will be an exploration of all of this, and it has put me in a great frame of mind to start the week! Do you have a favorite song or songs from the year you were born? 

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What have I been up to? 

I had 6 senior facilities last week, and they were all wonderful. I say it often, but it is so fulfilling to sing for these beautiful people. 

My Wednesday online show was singing fun songs, and it was a blast. I needed a night of frivolity, and that’s exactly what we had! 

Saturday I played the Harvest Festival at the Littleton Museum in the pumpkin patch, and it was just a sweet day all around. There were so many families there to pick out a pumpkin in the patch, and I even had my sister Carol’s family come out to enjoy the day and the music. 

My Sunday online show of favorites and requests was wild too. We had so many friends and good requests that made the night fly by. I love theses Sundays! 

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What am I up to this week? 

I have 8 senior facilities to play for this week, and we’re starting to get into Halloween songs which are always fun and spooky. I love these shows! 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be the birth-year songs that I talked about above. I expect it will be a night to remember. I’m listening to music from my year right now. Come on out! 

Saturday 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show of Philmont songs for my friends from Philmont Scout Ranch where I worked for three summers in my teens. I have maintained a great relationship with so many friends from that era of my life, and we have such a good time reminiscing and sharing the songs we learned and sang together there. I have a special group on Facebook for these concerts, but I also put them on my website for those who aren’t on Facebook or aren’t part of the group. I’m really looking forward to it! 

My Sunday online show 7-8:30 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. It’s such a good time every week, and you’re always welcome to join in. 

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That’s it for this week. The fall is speeding by, and I am enjoying it even with the illness and struggles the world is in currently.  

I wish you all the best always, 

Tom 

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Details this week: 

Who:  Tom Munch  
What:  playing and singing an online concert of birth-year songs 
Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts   
When:  Wednesday, October 12, 7-8:30 pm mountain time  

Who:  Tom Munch  
What:  playing and singing an online concert of Philmont songs for Philmont folks 
Where:  Facebook Tom Munch Philmont Songs Concert Group and tommunch.com/online-concerts 
When:  Saturday, October 15, 7-9 pm mountain time 

Who:  Tom Munch  
What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 
Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts   
When:  Sunday, October 16, 7-8:30 pm mountain time

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