What is ‘music?’ The dictionary defines music as vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
Music has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I can remember singing the song Moonlight Bay with my first foster-father Goble Blake when I was just little kid. I can remember being recruited into my Catholic School Choir when I was in 6th grade, because I was told that I had a nice loud voice and believing that we “Climb Every Mountain ‘til we found our dream.
I can remember singing with my Senior High School Chorus as we reminded one another to Lean on Me when we weren’t strong enough to do it on our own. I can remember singing with the U.S. Navy’s Bluejacket Chorus in Great Lakes, Illinois, when I enlisted in 1975 and continuing to sing at every opportunity I had with my shipmates in boot camp. And, I can remember singing with the OCS chorus as we reminded our classmates that Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong.
All my life I wanted to study and write music or write about music. But, most of all, I just wanted to sing. I have been blessed with opportunities to sing the National Anthem at minor league baseball games, NASCAR events, U.S. Navy Change of Command Ceremonies as well as ceremonies honoring Submarine Veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
I enjoy all kinds of music and truly enjoy songs that express patriotism. In spite of all our country’s faults, I still get chills when I hear a great rendition of our National Anthem or God Bless America. When it comes to the song America the Beautiful, no one else rocks it like the late Ray Charles.
Today, I have been afforded the opportunity to showcase three up and coming pioneers in the self publishing music business. One young man lives two doors down from me. I actually met him in person, and the other two I’ve only met online and through emails.
Let me first introduce you to Matt Fitzgibbons. Matt is the founder of PatriotMusic.com which he started in 2005. According to his biography, Matt is an award winning songwriter, philosopher, and historian. So far, we have several things in common: songwriting, history, and philosophy. On September 13, 2016, Matt released his fourth album of inspirational and patriotic songs. I had the distinct pleasure of listening to this multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer, and businessman whom is living his dream doing the business of music.