The Deaths of Our Musical Icons

It was in the news in 1977, forty one years ago.  Elvis Presley passed away and the nation mourned.  

I remember that day as if it was yesterday.  I was at work when I heard about the passing of Elvis.  But, I had a big date that night and was excited more about that then upset over the loss of a legend.  I guess I was born a decade too late to have been a real Elvis Presley fan.  Oh, he was okay but I never really got into his music.  However, millions of Americans did and some are still grieving to this day.  I will agree that he died way too young, but he sure did make a major impact on the world while he lived.

It was in the news yesterday that Aretha Franklin's death was imminent.  I haven't heard it reported yet that she has in fact passed.  Miracles do happen.  However, it would seem that the Queen of Soul's presence in this life is nearing its end.   This photo was reportedly taken of her two days ago and she does look frail.  But, whatever happens she has also made the world sit up and take notice with her successful singing career spanning several decades.  Whether her death comes today, tomorrow, or waits a while, she will be grieved by millions as well, as it should be.  At 76 she is not nearly as young as Elvis was when he passed.  But I feel as though she too will be leaving us too soon.

Elvis and Aretha are just two examples of American musical icon whose lives have played special roles in the courtship of many couples.  Many of those couples are close to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  What? Can that be so?  Even the likes of singers such as John Denver, whose songs are special to me due to a couple of boyfriends, impacted relationships of ours in our teen and early twenty years.  John would be 75 years old today if he had lived.  

I could go on and on with names like Johnny Cash, who would have been 86, and Glen Campbell, who would have been 82, as musical icons for us baby boomers.  For so many years they have made our hearts beat and our loves true blue.  What would we have done without them?  

But here's to musical icons of our era that are still around.  Neil Diamond, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, and Rod Stewart, just to name a few, were all a major part of my youth and I still love them today.  And, I can't forget the singing groups, now can I?  The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Abba, ELO, Aerosmith, and Eagles were group icons in their own right.  Wow, just recalling these legends gives me chills.  

While musical legends have played a significant role in our nearly 70 year old lives, they along with us are getting old.  Linda Ronstadt and Neil Diamond have Parkinson's disease.  I am sure the others have their own aching body parts and health issues as well.  Yep, we are losing them one by one.  Sad to say but it is true.  

Here's to our baby boomer musical icons.  They have made our lives so much more fun and romantic.  Even at my age they still make me swoon.  Most of all, they help me to remember.  Perhaps that is their most important gift of all to us!

Until the next time...Becky

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