At that time, I don't think there was a major city in America, where the National Guard was not called out because of rebellion! Here, in Albuquerque, New Mexico the National Guard was called out in 1971, after the three students at Kent State were killed by the National Guard. Fires were set at the University of New Mexico in protest of Viet Nam and the Kent State killings!

And, the music of the time reflected the mood of the country! Hundreds of protest songs were written and recorded, and many of those songs are still popular today. (2006) It was a time of, "do your own thing," independent thinking...free and clear from the "establishment!" But, the music continued!

I would say that around 1970, rock and roll began to change. On the one side, was "heavy metal sound," which I did not listen to! And, going in a different direction was something called, "disco!" Over the years, people put labels on music, and to this day in 2006, I have no idea what "disco" means! The only thing I can say about disco, is that me and my wife saw the movie, "Grease" in the 1970's, and we loved the music! The movie itself was a dork...but the music was great!

Sadly...Rick Nelson; Bobby Darin; Eddy Rabbit; John Denver; Buddy Holly; Roy Orbison: Mama Cass Eliot; Jimi Hendrix; Van Morrison; Janice Joplin; Roger Miller and of course...the "KING"...all died so young!

One of the most ironic things that happened to me in the mid-1990's when the Rolling Stones appeared in Albuquerque, N.M. (where I live) You remember, back when rock and roll first began, parents and the "establishment' hated the music! It was 1995, and I was taking a computer course at a local community college, and the Stones were in town. The community college was located near the football stadium, where the Stones were to perform.

That night, I got out of class about 6:30 in the evening, before the Stones show, and, as I waited for a traffic light to change, I noticed 40 and 50 years old PARENTS taking their CHILDREN to a Stones concert! Can you imagine that? What a difference a generation makes! Back in the 1950's/60's parents hated rock and roll, and now those KIDS are taking their KIDS to a rock and roll concert...UNBELIEVABLE!

In the year 2006, the oldies dominate the music airwaves, at least where I live. And, the music will continue to dominate, because the music and lyrics are so great...they will never die! I never hear too much about new music much anymore! Oh...well...as the song says...rock and roll is here to stay...whether the songs be the oldies or the new songs coming along!

I've always admired musicians...those who can sing a song...those who can write a song...and those who can play a musical instrument! As for me...the only instrument I can play...IS THE RADIO...and, I don't even do that well at all!