Wisely said, Patrick:

I was reminded of this the other day. I was asked to sing at an adult day care center... a place where adults who are still healthy enough to live on their own, or with family but would end up sitting in the house every day with nothing to do. It's a wonderful program for people whose minds are still alert, giving them a chance for fellowship and group activities.

I had never played at the place before, and no one was there yet to introduce me, so I was just warming up on guitar. The program is held at a Jewis Home For the Aged, but is open to everyone, and I knew that some friends of mine sing gospel there. So, I was warming up, playing The Old Rugged Cross when a couple of women started singing. I joined them, and almost everyone else joined in, too. After that, I sang In The Garden, and everyone sang along. I had intended to do a program of folk music, but as long as people were enjoying the gospel, I stayed with that for a couple more songs. And then I asked if they minded if I played a song I'd written (Living On The River.) One of the men said, very enthusiastically), "Mister, you can sing anything you want. I could listen to you all day!" They didn't know categories from canteloupe. They just were enjoying live music.

The next time I go, I'll throw in Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, perhaps another blues, maybe Up A Lazy River and old popular music, some folk, some gospel and maybe even a little rockabilly. The thing about breaking music into smaller styles is that it excludes many more people than it includes.

Besides, I find it borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring.

Jerry