To be one’s true self is the goal in life. This blog series would not exist if it weren’t for a reunion with an old friend who had all the makings of a modern-day Mozart. But at a pivotal fork in the road, he chose the path behind a desk, instead of one behind a keyboard, which would’ve honored his gift - like Mozart did. Now, 20 years later, he’s unrecognizable, this friend who once had music radiating from every cell, especially when singing in random bursts of happiness. The years have taken their toll - not just in the added 20 pounds that don’t belong, but in the heaviness that comes when living someone else’s life, and not one’s true purpose. The life you came here to live.
As a writer, this inspired me to highlight the special souls who chose to follow their true path. The tougher path, but one that honors and expresses the powerful gift of music they’ve been given. To live the Mozart life. May some of their words help or inspire you to find your true calling in life.
Tommy Roe had six top 10 hits from 1962 to 1969, and has been called the “Father of Bubble Gum Pop,” with songs like “Sheila” and “Dizzy” becoming no. 1. This year he wrote his autobiography “From Cabbagetown to Tinseltown” and he has upcoming book signing at Book Soup in West Hollywood Feb. 19, 2017. Tommy reflects on how songs flow through someone in a divine moment, dreaming songs, when he listens to Christmas music, making a career out of his love for music and his life as an adventure.
I’ve said in my blog post about living the Mozart life, that it may be a tougher road to choose, where one gets to fully channel their Higher Selves, their true selves. But people who make music and get to travel the world doing so are rare example of such a life, where one is most connected to their true self. What are your thoughts on that? Do you feel you’re consciously living the life you thought you would be living?
I believe that I am consciously living my destiny. My choices in life created my destiny and in spite of some stupid choices along the way I am living a life I could have never predicted. I am now 74 years old and my life has truly been an adventure. So my life is, as it was meant to be, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
There are divine moments of serendipity, where a catalyst opens the door that leads to the path we’re meant to be on, the one where we live out the fullest expression of our true selves. What was that moment for you and how did it happen?
In 1978 when I met Josette Banzet, my wife of thirty five years. I was booked at the Troubadour in West Hollywood and she was invited to my rehearsal and then attended my show.
Speaking of moments of divine inspiration and connection, original music is often channeled from our Higher Selves. For example, some of the best songs were written in minutes. What’s your take on that? Do you feel that those are the moments you’re most connected to your true self?
This is true. That is why I can’t write on a schedule. Some of my best songs flowed through me like water in a stream. It’s as if they were sent to me from some musical place in the clouds. I have thought about this phenomenon for years and I am no closer to understanding the process of song writing. Some of us are just gifted with this ability. I have even dreamed songs. I used to keep a tape recorder next to my bed and wake up during the night humming a melody which I would work on the next day. One of my biggest hits, “Dizzy” was from one of my dreams. Go figure.
It’s been a tough year for music, losing its own. What are your thoughts on time, how it seems to go by faster each year. Perhaps it’s made you reflect on what you want to achieve in the time we’re given here? Do you think about time much and what you want to achieve in the time we have?
I believe I will achieve what is meant for me to achieve in this life. And I will pass to the next level satisfied that I lived my life to the hilt and did the best I could with the talent God lent to me while here in this dimension.
When did you know you had this gift of music and how did you start to do the human discipline it takes to channel it, hone it, and bring it forth?
Around 13 years old I started writing poems. About the same time my father taught me three chords on the guitar and I started putting music to my poems. At age 14, I wrote a poem titled “Sweet Little Frieda” for a girl I had a crush on in school. After changing the title from “Sweet Little Frieda” to “Sheila” and putting some chords and a melody to this poem, it turned out to be my first hit, my first million seller, and my first gold record in 1962. I write about this in my book in more detail.
How did you know this is your life path, your calling? How does one know when they are on their true path?
I only began to realize I could make a career out of my love for music and songwriting when I followed up my hit “Sheila” with another song I wrote and recorded in 1963 called “Everybody.” “Everybody” went to No. 3 in the Billboard charts and I started to think my gift might prove to be fruitful.
What advice do you have for people who have the gift of music, but don’t know how to start to channel it, develop that gift and bring it out?
In the beginning of any career, one must always be prepared and ready to seize any opportunity that comes along. Always make yourself available when offered a job or position that you may consider at the time unattractive or menial. You never know who you will meet. You never know what doors will open by simply walking through the first door.
What is your songwriting process?
I know that many of the songwriters in Nashville try to schedule a writing session every day and it works for them to have this kind of discipline. For me, however, I may go months, or even years without writing a song and then suddenly get inspired by something I read, or some event in my life. I also file away song titles to use when I get this urge to write. I will then turn out one song after another until I exhaust my creative run on ideas, and song titles.
What song or songs are you most proud of, that came in such a seemingly easy manner, ethereally, almost.
The aforementioned “Dizzy” is one. “It’s Now Winters Day” is another. “Glitter and Gleam” is another. I have many such songs.
Life does give us catalysts, a release valve, which often is our lowest point in life, that allows us to push up to the next, hopefully better chapter. Like a desert, wilderness period in life, that helps raise our consciousness and stay true to yourself and your own path. What was that low point for you that helped you push yourself further, evolve and do better, and what did you do when you had that epiphany?
The decade of the ‘70’s was my low point. To overcome this period in my life I just worked harder and made the best of my limited choices during this time. This is something else I cover extensively in my book.
I’m a firm believer in doing mitzvahs, especially in the tougher times of our lives. To give back, be of service in some way, to use our time most wisely, can only help us in the end. What are your thoughts and do you try to do your own mitzvahs to help others, even in the smallest way?
Mitzvahs sounds Yiddish. And as my Jewish friends will tell you, my Yiddish is limited indeed. But I believe you mean to pay forward or give back and this is absolutely something I try to do.
Unlike any time in history, we are now in a overwhelming digital era. There is so much detritus, noise and schadenfreude. How do you find quiet in this noisy time? How do you ground yourself and focus on your own life path and purpose?
Debris, noise, self gratification! Too many choices for sure. I have this innate ability to shut out any unwanted outside influence that might interfere with my healthy consciousness. My wife jokingly likes to say “Tommy only hears what he wants to hear and can sleep while walking.” Another more mundane answer is, when I play golf I focus on golf.
What do you do to help pick yourself up when you’re feeling down, and help you stay the course? Is there a song you play that inspires you when you’re needing some inspiration?
I have a martini straight up with olives and play Christmas music.