My dad played a tune called "Lullabye" on his cornet to put me to sleep. He had been a band director and the cornet was his primary instrument, although he played any marching band instrument and played piano quite well. About 20 years ago I found a Gerard Schwartz tape of "Turn of the Century Cornet Favorites." The tune was on it and I still can't listen to it dry eyed.

When I was about four, my dad taught me to whistle. My first project was to whistle as much as I could of Carmen.

Then I became enamored of Frank Crumit's rendition of Billy Boy, which led me directly into folk music, much to my father's disgust -- but, hey, he bought the record. On the other side of the 78 was Grandfather's Clock, which I was forbidden to play because of the phrase "old man," which was considered disrespectful. Times have changed.