I'm wondering how many songwriters here grew up in a musical family; parents or siblings who had an appreciation for music, especially those who had parents or siblings that actually performed music or were songwriters/musicians themselves.

My family has no ability or interest in music whatsoever. As a matter of fact to this day everyone around me could care less about music - I would have to shove anything musical I have done down their throats before they would show any interest. I don't even know any musicians/songwriters; in person that is.

What is your situation?

My Dad had pitch but no tone, my Mom had good tone but no pitch. I sing, so I guess i got a piece of each.

Dad was always singin whether anyone wanted to hear it or not.

Some music on both sides, but nobody that was a songwriter, some played in bands though.

Parents no.

Kids from oldest to youngest.

Denton (No soul, became an attorney)
Pat - Piano and very good at it. Rogers and Hammerstein all afternoon
Dallas - Vox guitar and Vox amp. Band in a garage. - coooool I thought
Martha - Piano and very good at it. Carol King and pop culture stuff.
Little Ronnie (spoilt rotten) two scoops of quik, - They're just jealous. played pots and pans, then drums. picked up guitar at 11

All the kids are still alive.

My parents tried in the face of a musical family they had produced to try to play instruments themselves (banjo and mando) but they never stuck with it.

My bro and I were the first musicians in my family.

John

Mom plays piano and classical guitar and can sing harmony to anything. Dad plays guitars, banjo, steel guitar and drums and can cary a tune, both mostly gospel and country. Little brother is a total metal head on guitar, never heard him sing. My son takes after my brother lol... I'm the only writer

My younger brother is good on guitar and bass but don't sing, my older brother (now deceased) played a bit of accordion, I play (with) guitar and sing, not well but well enough to write songs. My mother played a little bit of keyboard.

No one was musical in my family, and I was the youngest sib, however, my Mom did enjoy singing popular songs from the 40's & early 50's around the house while being a domestic home engineer like June Cleaver. I have an early memory of her singing the Sinatra song "Love and Marriage" a few times. She ususally didn't know all the words so would just sing "doot-ti-doo-ti-doo" when needed! I think the first song that I learned to sing was Patty Page's "How much is that doggie in the window," you know the one with the "waggily" tail! I enjoyed singing and couldn't get enough of the "Davey Crockett" song which came out in 1955! We vacationed in Florida that year from Ohio and remember stopping in the Smokey Mtns at a souvenir shop and my dad buying me a "coonskin cap" as I couldn't stop singing that song in the car! A few years later, The Beatles invaded the US when I was twelve--which led to wearing bangs and getting a guitar at 14. I wonder how many Baby-Boomer's lives would be without music without that British Invasion?

Little Steven, Springsteen, Billy Joel, Tom Petty,Ted Nugent, Gene Simmons, Rick Nielson, and im sure many many more became musicians because of The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. It wouldnt happen today because at that time that was probably the only thing on TV. Now, most people wouldn't even know they were on a show. Two many outlets.

I think in that way, The Beatles were lucky they started when they did.

Hi Jane,

Great topic!

It's interesting to see those that have had music in their families and those that have had to discover it for themselves.

My sister has sang in several musical theater productions, over the years..off-Broadway stuff, but not amateur. My dad was a frustrated ballroom dancer, and my mom was not musical at all, though I have saved her endearing musical warbling on MP3 and video so I can enjoy it when I miss her..

Mike

Hi everyone,

Looks like the consensus is in favor of most songwriters/musicians having at least someone in the family that is a music lover, musician, singer, etc.

Back when I was growing up it was almost a given you learned an instrument.

In 2nd grade we had a piano in our classroom and my teacher played and taught us songs - that was so fun.

I believe the classrooms today are devoid of any creative or cultural endeavors, at least that's what I hear.

Thanks all for your input - keep it coming!

Oh! piano..yes..I lived in Echo Park in Los Angeles when I was in first and second grade, and I was getting private lessons from an old lady in the same court as we lived, on this steep hill on Fairbanks Place. I remember Thompson's First Grade reader, and specifically a song called "Little Bird" that had an Alberti bass.

But we didn't own a piano and I could only practice on a little cardboard matt, which I remember doing the day JFK was shot.

So in spite of my parents lacking musical skills, they saw something in me and I will always be thankful to them for that. We were dirt poor and my mom was handicapped but sold greeting cards door-to-door to help pay for my lessons..

Mike

Oddly, my recollection of second grade music class was absolute horror. Teacher had a piano, I remember these ugly blue text books that we had. And we'd learn about the different periods of classical music. This was before I ever thought about playing an instrument. I thought honestly, my God this woman's life must be so boring, how can she enjoy this.

She had an ugly record player too, these little box things, shed play some classical piece and had a projector for writing stuff on.

Its funny, there's THAT side of music, the educational side, then there's the entertaining and creative side.

The again, I thought Kiss and The Village people were cool.

It wasn't till I heard My Generation by The Who on the radio did i say now THAT'S music. Two chords, but man that was music. Then a friend had all their records, and it was on with The Who. Then came the guitar...

Sorry I derailed.

Hi Jane:

No known musicians or song-writers in any of the many branches of my families extending into the past. I grew up in the era when Radio (with many commercials) was the primary source for hearing new songs and melodies. The stuff we called Pop music back then would most likely be classified as Easy Listening today. R&B began to surface and expanded it's reach into many genres... thanks to Chubby Checker, Elvis and so many others.

My uncle owned a radio station and I got to pull records for song requests, then re-file them at the end of the show if the DJ would allow me in the control room. A great experience.

Music in so many genres and forms has been a significant part of my life but I only began exploring writing after retirement. I only hope my journey is not at an end.

Great topic, many interesting replies.

All the best, ----Dave

Certainly good musicians in my extended family, but none really in my immediate family. Neither sister sings or plays, my mom apparently played mandolin as a child and my father never met a beat he could dance to ..bless his soul

Myself, I started actually writing poetry when I was supposed to be doing homework...then got a guitar for christmas one year because I thought I should try it and look cool.

Really learned over one winter in Banff Alberta. Worked the front dek of a hotel and every Sunday night I checked in the band...and of course leached and leached off them. Learned the basics over a fall and winter there...say 5 6 months. Gave me all the basics I needed.

WRT family...never really got any respect in the early years...probably deservedly so. But since then things have been good.