At the beginning of the 1960s, many Americans believed they were standing at the dawn of a golden age. On January 20, 1961, the charismatic John F. Kennedy became president of the United States. He and his brother Bobby took on the new world with confidence and great aspirations. However, that golden age never materialized. On the contrary, by the end of the 1960s it seemed that the nation was falling apart.
With the Vietnam War, the British Invasion, Woodstock, the Civil Rights Movement, and JFK’s assassination, the 1960s represent, perhaps, the most consequential decade in U.S. history. It was a period of monumental social and political change, altering virtually every aspect of American life for future generations.
There are so many similarities to the 60’s when I started out my career in rock in the rock ‘n’ roll world. The sixties was fertile soil for some of the greatest song writers in modern day history: Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Van Morrison, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Otis Redding, Neil Young………….
Today the current unrest and the major changes in politics has become a songwriter’s dream. I am running into more and more young song writers that are taking advantage of the times we are living in and putting together some great songs. For me personally, it is a great time to be alive. Sure I am no longer jet setting to London with my band, instead I now go to the local Costco and swap stories with the old musicians here in Nashville over a hot dog and slice of pizza 🙂