“I like to dream/Right between the sound machine.”

Steppenwolf- “Magic Carpet Ride”

Over the last 50 years, DJs, or Disc Jockeys, have graced our ears with their tasteful choice of music and charismatic voices. Before the digital music age, before CDs, before iPods and computers, there was ‘the DJ.’ Some of you may remember “Casey” Kasem, (who also starred as the voiceover for ‘Shaggy’ in Scooby Doo), relaying all the facts and need-to-know information about the artists and the music scene, all right there through your radio speakers. DJ’s were the connection between the music and the people. Maybe when you’re driving in your car, you hear a DJ on your favorite station (if you don’t have a favorite station yet, check out Spindale’s own 88.7 WNCW). But now, large populations of listeners in the United States make their own playlists. What are we missing? When you buy music digitally, there is no record cover, or CD insert. I remember the joy of buying a new CD (yes, in the 90’s) and looking at the artwork, studying the producers and engineers, or reviewing the “thank you” section. It was an experience that connects oneself into the music. You may remember getting the album cover or sleeve of your favorite record and memorizing the lyrics to your favorite song, or staring into the artwork as you listen. It takes a lot more than just the voices or instruments you hear to produce a song. Be the detective, find out who is involved in the creation of the music to which you listen. You may be surprised that there are some similarities between the people involved in the songs you like. It may be the same songwriter, or the same producer, or even recorded in the same studio!