May 14, 2001 03:29 AM
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I don't see myself as a person who lives in the past--after all, if I were living in the past, I wouldn't be connected to the Internet.
However, I love to take sentimental journeys in my mind as I wind along the backroads of Central Indiana, and being surrounded by the beautiful music on Gold 104.5 (WGLD 104.5 FM broadcast out of Indianapolis) certainly transports me there in-style.
When this wonderful Oldies Station does their station identification, they often give a cute quote of some kind about what GOLD 104.5 is all about. One of the things they say is that there's a memory in every song. And that's so true! At least one memory in every song--if not for me, for somebody else, but, more often than not, for me, too!
The Hollies sing HE AIN'T HEAVY--HE'S MY BROTHER, and I'm carried back to the little chapel in the student center at Indiana Central College (Note of explanation here: I mentioned in my profile that I graduated from Indiana Central University. However, when I began there in 1971, it was called Indiana Central College. Since 1986, it has been called University of Indianapolis. Hope this clears up any confusion before it begins).
Anyway, I'm carried back to when what was called a deposition team (students who form groups to sing Christian music--and secular music with a Christlike message--at different places and functions, generally, also giving personal witness while on stage) was performing for our midweek service.
This musical group--made up of Vicki Beeson, Vicki Vertrees, Bruce Haddix, and Gil Hubbard--called themselves Each And All.
I remember that Gil sang that Hollies number solo. Not only did he have a beautiful voice, but there was so much feeling in his face when he sang it. It was during his solo that I began to fall in love with this wonderful man!
Sadly for me, he was interested in another woman at the time--who, sadly for him, turned out not to be as interested in him as he was in her.
But all's well that ends well! Gil--now a United Methodist Minister in Southern Indiana and the father of a son and daughter--has been married to a wonderful, loving woman for many years. Jane's dad (the late Russell Youngblood) used to be the minister at our church, and I couldn't think of a better woman (yes, CERTAINLY better than myself) for Gil to have ended up with!
Each time I hear that song, though, I'm carried back to an intimate, little chapel and can picture Gil there at the front of it singing his solo back in the fall of 1971.
OUR DAY WILL COME by Ruby and the Romantics takes me back to the end of a summer vacation through Canada and the Eastern US back in 1963. On our last night out before going home, we stop in at this cozy roadside restaurant. I remember that I had a grilled cheese sandwich (which was--and still is--a favorite ''main course'' of mine), and there was this couple in there who seemed so much in love. They went over to the jukebox and selected this song and then looked at each other so romantically the entire time it was playing. The blend of just being at this restaurant with my family on the last leg of our vacation, the song, the couple in love, the comfort food, and the coziness of the time and place stamped its memory on my heart with permanent ink.
I could give you more examples than this, but this is my first contribution here, and I'm trying to get used to the length restrictions and don't want to go over.
So I will sign off for now and invite you to visit the GOLD 104.5 website:
https://gold1045.com
You'll find all sorts of activities there to keep you busy, and I believe you'll find it to be friendly and useful, even if you don't live in Central Indiana. Don't ask me to explain it, but there's even a way to listen to this great station from clear on the other side of the globe by using your computer and Internet connection.
One more thing--not only do you get to hear those songs from way back in the Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies but you can also learn their history, find out what some of the writers and recording artists are up to now, and call in requesting a favorite song, either for your own listening pleasure or to dedicate to the one you love!
