In the classic Trench Town Rock, Robert Nesta Marley (Brother Bob) stated: ” One Good Thing About Music, when it hits you, You feel no pain.” He emphasized his belief by boldly saying, ” Hit me with Music.”It was a way for him to communicate his beliefs.

On the other hand, in William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino hoped that Music, in its excess, can lead to a loss of appetite for love.

A particular song or genre can conjure feelings, whether good or bad or giggles. I doubt whether any form of Music will lead to a loss of appetite in the love department.

The tone, rhythm, and song choice would signal my Mother’s mood. That signal will determine my day and everyone else in the house- day.

We had two radio stations, GBS and Radio Demerara, the only source of entertainment. There were children’s programs, sports and soap operas. But, my primary interest was the Music programs.

GBS catered to the youths and young adults. Radio Demerara was for the older folks. ‘ Best by Request’ every weekday from 1 pm- 4 pm, on GBS was the most loved show. It was a call-in show; the DJ, Pancho Crew, would play all the latest, most requested Music. Thursday evenings had the Music of Sam Cooke, The Drifters, and Patsy Cline, to name a few.

It was oldies night. It is a passion I hold up to the present.

We listened to Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Bach on Radio Demerara on Sunday evenings. We can hear “One Day at a Time.” at 8:15 am every weekday. It served several purposes. A reminder that God is taking care of us each day. And also it is used to determine whether you are on time for work or school.

We listened to Mahalia Jackson’s on Sunday morning. Cannonball Adderley on the saxophone. Also, the distinct voice of Louis Armstrong is a vivid memory. Shirley Bassey’s rendition of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” is my favourite rendition of this song. Jazz also was part of Sunday evenings.

It will be unheard of for Radio Stations to play an up-tempo Song on Sundays.

It is tough to feel ‘down in the dumps’ if Calypso or Soca plays on the Radio. Calypso and Soca Music are considered Social Commentary, transforming current news or hot topics into Music. Calypso Rose, Mighty Sparrow, and Short Shirt told those stories well. They were singing Poets with thought-provoking lyrics.

Another form was Reggae Music. The most famous Reggae singer was Bob Marley. He added the reggae sound to social issues. Interestingly, those issues are still relevant today.

Music will dictate your mood, the singer and, or the instrument.

Gloria Estefan’s Conga is a perfect example of a Song controlling the mood. As Gloria stated, ‘The Rhydmn is going to get you.’ I grew to love the songs of Tom Jones, Stevie Wonder, Bee Gees (since they were called The Brothers Gibbs), The O’Jays, and Marvin Gaye.

Our different cultures are also reflected in Music programs. Pandit Ravi Shankar’s ‘I am missing you, Oh Krishna, where are you?’ filled the airwaves. Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar were among the most popular Indian singers. We also had our own Terry Gajraj and Eddie Grant.

The proudest moments are listening and singing our National Songs.’ Oh Beautiful Guyana: by Valerie Rodway. And W. Hawley- Bryant’s ‘Song of Guyana’s Children” reminds me of an age where everything is possible. Dreams were not too big, and most of all, you were encouraged to dream.

Music is universal and evokes emotions, both good and bad. Whether we understand the words or not, the melody gets to us.

That makes Music the Official Mood Changer.