FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
by Dave Tough

Like all MEIEA folk, I love music. For me it all started when I was a child. Dad and I would make recordings on a small tape mono tape recorder. I loved asking him to play the sound of my voice back. I cherished my Cookie Monster who sang songs to me when I pulled the tattered string attached to his back. I'd sit on the floor of my bedroom and play my 45s on a little plastic record player, singing to the Xanadu theme song for hours. I also knew all the words to the theme songs of my favorite cartoons including Thundarr the Barbarian and the Gobots.

In high school my tastes veered toward heavy metal and jazz. I had long hair, but I had to cut it off for my Eagle Scout ceremony.

Nowadays, my Cookie Monster (and long hair) is long gone. I no longer watch cartoons (as often), and I go to fewer concerts than I’d like. But I still represent the 80s AND my musical past seems to inform my musical present.

Thankfully, everything goes in cycles!

To see how new composers take the "old" and make it "new" again, check out BettyJo Wolf's article on "mashup" music. Also get some great surfing tips from Kim Wanglers column and some good legal advice from Stan Soocher and Serona Elton.

I will see everyone in NYC in March!

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