Surely there are famous people that we don't particularly have a fondness for their talent, their art or their skill but yet an appreciation for them.
Example for me would be Charlie Parker. Over the years I have listened to a bit of his work but don't really care that much for his music. But he must have been a genius in his work. I can assure one that you will not find any of his cd's around anything I have. He will not be played in one of the old car rides I often take to the country.
Current day examples for me would be say Prince or Freddy Mercury of the group Queen. My son and I sat the other night here in Franklin and heard the artist who replaced Mercury with the group Queen after Mercury's death. Without question my son had a much greater appreciation for the talent this man was sharing and with the audience on this evening than I did.
A few years back Clint Eastwood made what I thought was a very good movie on the life of Charlie Parker called "Bird." My cousin and I sat in a theater in Greenwich Village in New York City and watched the film. The film did not inspire me to run and buy any of his works, but we both came away with a greater appreciation of Bird and his talents.
One does not have to especially like what another does to appreciate and be respectful of the talent that it takes to perform that skill. Far too often one bases whether something is good or bad based on whether they like it or not. Not a good gauge.
"When Bird was 16 he looked 38. He had the oldest-looking face I ever saw," said a Kansas City jazz-club owner.
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July 19, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson