I remember it like it was yesterday, except that it was 1980 and I was four years old. I was in the back seat of my mom’s bright orange mustang when she played Donna Summers new hit, “On the Radio.” Music to my ears, love at first listen—I don’t know what to call it or how exactly to describe it; but for me, it was the very beginning of my love for music and the way it can make you feel.

There was always music in my house growing up. But I sought it out, too. Casey Kasem’s Weekly Top 40 became sacred ritual–my tape recorder pressed up against stereo speakers, an ever-growing collection of cassette tapes and new favorites. This led to me painstakingly rewinding, pausing, playing back and committing to paper all the lyrics to the best, “Ice Ice Baby” included. I guess you could say something had a hold of me tightly. Through the years, my musical tastes morphed from gangster rap to heavy metal to the Grateful Dead to indie rock.  At heart, I have been a hippie, a head banger, a gangbanger, and an aficionado of the classics. It’s all part of my life’s soundtrack and influence on my preferences today.

I formed Your Other Big Brother (YoBigBro) in the summer of 2009.  My goal was, and still is, to present one song I believe you need to hear each week.  Or maybe I should say one song you really should hear. Some songs will be brand new, others will be classics. Almost every genre will be explored. I devote hours each week scouring material for the best songs out there. And each and every Monday, I’ll post a gem right here for you.

For your part, you just have to listen each week. You can think of it as three to five  minutes toward exponentially expanding your music library. Or maybe just as a small gift each Monday—a better way to start the week ahead. If you don’t like a song, no worries.  The song didn’t choose you.  But if a song does, enjoy the feeling. And pass it on to someone else.

YoBigBro