As most folks I’ve seen this performance numerous, numerous times. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a good clip with the setup by Michael where he explains that while he loves the “old songs” with his brothers… that was then and he was going to do one of the “new songs”: now. As they “the rest is history.”
It’s history now, but then it was so important because it was what was happening in 1983. I get the fascination these days with the old songs, but when someone looks back to right now will they actually be able to understand what’s happening now? Or will our “now” only reference an all too familiar musical past that many are unwilling to let go of?
Ivan Orr is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, and writer. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia Ivan was involved with the forming and nascent days of The Music Resource Center as its first Program Director. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Music, Ivan currently resides in Richmond, VA where he maintains an active performance and production schedule while serving as the Music Editor for Grown Folks Music, a position he has held since 2010.
