Sunday 22nd
April 2018
Morning Vibes With Dr. Jerry - the First
Hello and welcome to
#MorningVibesWithDrJerryTheFirst-Episode 221
Title: How Are Success And Joy Born?
I am
about to tell you a story, a story of how the American Nation overcame the
worst depression in the Country's history in which lies The Secret Behind All
Great Masterpieces and the Lessons Learned therefrom!
The
ten-year period which followed the stock market crash of October 1929 is
referred to as the Great Depression. This time frame is considered to be the
worst and most difficult of Modern American History by business historians.
Unemployment was as high as 27% among White Americans and reached 60% in the
African American community. In Mississippi, on a single day in 1932, one
quarter of the entire state was auctioned off. Scarcity and limitations were
everywhere to be seen. The Gross National Product of the country, that unit of
measurement which represents everything that is produced nationwide fell by as
much as 43%. The prices of wheat and corn and cotton fell so low, the crops
were left to rot in the fields. Many businesses and families were wiped out.
We all try to forget
unpleasant moments in our lives.
However, the central premise of any meaningful philosophy is to look back upon
the hardest times of our lives and locate the wisdom and insight necessary from
which success and joy can occur.
It has been my experience
that usually within the anxiety there are seeds of wisdom for us to learn from
if we will only learn to look and understand the experience.
When you examine your
business, life or relationships it is the tough times that will teach you the
most.
During the rough times of the Great Depression the music business also almost
collapsed. American record companies, which had sold in excess of 200 million
records in the mid 1920's, had seen unit sales drop by 97% by the mid 1930's.
To put it mildly, things
were tough!
Even the giant Victor
phonograph company stopped making phonograph players altogether.
However, there was a tiny
silver lining in all of this hardship.
A certain type of music
was gripping regions of the country and offering hope.
There was no political
message attached to the tunes. No lyrics. It was an earthy, rhythmic, emotional
and dynamic music.
Its purpose was to make
people dance.
Huge parties would emerge
that would often last for days. Even today music historians marvel how a
distinctive and repetitive bass line and energetic rhythm could change the
focus of an entire community.
To classify this music as infectious would be an understatement! At its
inception this music would be played solo by only one piano player. Since times
were tough sometimes two piano players would share the same instrument. Later,
there would be as many as six musicians on three pianos all contributing to the
infectious power. The result was a celebration of creative energy that everyone
could recognize. It was magical. In spite of the economic hardships, people
could find genuine joy even if only for a short moment.
The celebrations grew. House parties would turn into block parties. The
refrains and melodies would often be played non-stop for what seemed like hours
at a time.
Top Musicians of the day could locate work easily once they mastered this art form.
Hope was born against the horrendous economic landscape.
Then in 1938, legendary Jazz Promoter John Hammond saw a huge business
opportunity.
He organized and promoted
a concert in New York City featuring the three masters of this art form.
When Albert Ammons, Pete
Johnson and Meade "Lux" Lewis performed in Carnegie Hall, it launched
a national craze.
Businesses and clubs had
to hop on the bandwagon and get with the program.
Newspapers began to assign
special editors to cover the 'music beat' and report about this incredible
energy as its popularity spread into the clubs.
Soon all of the
"happening" places were featuring top musicians playing these
infectious energetic tunes.
Club owners seeking to get
good reviews and "cash in" would do whatever necessary to bribe the
music editors so they could acquire good press.
Bribes of free food, free
drinks, free women were commonplace.
Musicians and club owners
understood that one bad review from the critics would kill the good times! Or
so they thought...
The name of this musical art form was Boogie-Woogie. The slang term that the
musicians gave to the critics was the Boogie Man!
Yes the Boogie Man was the monster who could criticize and sit in judgment.
In spite of his inability to create or understand music they somehow were
qualified to evaluate it.
The Boogie Man, like an
executioner could determine the fate of musicians and club owners with his
words.
The Boogie Man was fear
incarnate. He could kill the party as quickly as the review could be published.
The Boogie Man was bad
news! Funny thing is most people do not believe in the Boogie Man.
At least that is what they
tell you to your face!
However within this story
is the understanding of how success and joy is born and how it dies. Did you
"get it?"
In the words of Earl Nightingale, "Don't Compete. Create!"
Until I come your way
again, this is #MorningVibesWithDrJerryTheFirst
Keep it coming!!!
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