I think the year was around 1967 or so. I just completed 8th grade when I was told I had to stay with my grandparents over the summer to start my freshman year at a different high school. For the past 5 years or so our family lived in a small Georgia town since 4th grade. Prior to that we lived at the New Orleans Southern Baptist Seminary while my dad completed his masters of divinity certificate.
LaGrange Ga, where we were to move to was much bigger than Villa Rica Ga. Here I am living with my grandparents while the rest of my family waited to relocate into the new church parsonage until the next time we moved. LaGrange High was a huge two story gray cement like building supported by four columns in front, sprawling cascading cement steps reaching out to roadway.
I registered for classes thinking I could get out of PE by taking art class, so that's what I did. First day of art class, the assignment was to bring in a record of favorite music for discussion. The only music I knew from growing up in church was church music, mind you I lived in a small rural town at an age my activities included riding bicycles with friends, I did not drive and my whole world was within the town I lived in.
After school I stoped by the town music store to pick out a record for discussion. I did not know any bands or music artists but I knew I wanted something psychedelic. After listening to a few samples I chose a 45 by Jefferson Airplane with songs Crown of Creation and Lather. Next day at class I met guy who agreed to let me borrow Big Brother and the Holding Company Cheap Thrills album. We became friends and traded music. I joined the Record Club of America, learned about new music and created a large music library.
Music is everything to me. After living in Lagrange my family moved just outside of Atlanta Ga. By this time I was going into my junior year of high school. I had friends from the new church that attended the high school I chose to go to. The new school was different, plus living near Atlanta made a difference. There is more to tell, however I want to make a final point.
Drugs and music always worked together, when I lost my mind, the only thing I could relate to was music. I remember sitting on a grassy knoll at the state mental facility, listening to the college fm station watching airplanes circle the sky taxiing for landing at Atlanta airport. A staff person at the asylum gave me the album YesSongs by Yes. It was an act of kindness when music could not be replaced by words.
LaGrange Ga, where we were to move to was much bigger than Villa Rica Ga. Here I am living with my grandparents while the rest of my family waited to relocate into the new church parsonage until the next time we moved. LaGrange High was a huge two story gray cement like building supported by four columns in front, sprawling cascading cement steps reaching out to roadway.
I registered for classes thinking I could get out of PE by taking art class, so that's what I did. First day of art class, the assignment was to bring in a record of favorite music for discussion. The only music I knew from growing up in church was church music, mind you I lived in a small rural town at an age my activities included riding bicycles with friends, I did not drive and my whole world was within the town I lived in.
After school I stoped by the town music store to pick out a record for discussion. I did not know any bands or music artists but I knew I wanted something psychedelic. After listening to a few samples I chose a 45 by Jefferson Airplane with songs Crown of Creation and Lather. Next day at class I met guy who agreed to let me borrow Big Brother and the Holding Company Cheap Thrills album. We became friends and traded music. I joined the Record Club of America, learned about new music and created a large music library.
Music is everything to me. After living in Lagrange my family moved just outside of Atlanta Ga. By this time I was going into my junior year of high school. I had friends from the new church that attended the high school I chose to go to. The new school was different, plus living near Atlanta made a difference. There is more to tell, however I want to make a final point.
Drugs and music always worked together, when I lost my mind, the only thing I could relate to was music. I remember sitting on a grassy knoll at the state mental facility, listening to the college fm station watching airplanes circle the sky taxiing for landing at Atlanta airport. A staff person at the asylum gave me the album YesSongs by Yes. It was an act of kindness when music could not be replaced by words.
