From: Anita Gyojin Essex Cherlin
Columbus
This letter is an expression of gratitude to everyone involved in the American Pie concert project, especially in making it possible for to those of us at home to enjoy it. This was my first experience of this event, which I’d seen publicized each year since returning to Columbus from northern California in 2010, but never attended. I see now what I’ve been missing.
As a member of the Class of 1961 (it’s our 60th anniversary!) many of my classmates and I had fun being part of the first CHS (pre-North) musical, "The Sensational Sixties," which was more a variety show without the explicit historic context and excellent narration — which are what makes American Pie so delicious — adding the à la mode touch, one might say.
I must admit it’s a bit head-spinning (and aging) to see my era portrayed as, well, history. Hey, that was the music of our lives! And, at that, performed by people so young they probably can’t imagine what it would be like to only be able to listen to your music on the radio or 45 RPM and LP records (huh? what was that?).
But to their credit, it really is a treat seeing kids who are the age my generation was when we were living that music performing it with a gusto and panache that demonstrates their respect for both the music and its originators.
As a bit of context for the Magical History Tour, my generation was fortunate in the unique way our lives intersected with the revolution in popular music that began in the 1950s. For example, I was 13 when I first heard Elvis on our little red Arvin radio, and was in high school during the rise of Rock & Roll, songs by Chuck Berry and Little Richard being my first record purchases. The Beatles hit our shores when I was at IU (and I got to imitate Ringo in skits because of my haircut). By the time Dylan was on his way to musical history I was ready for his message (prompting queries from other students down the hall about who that was they heard "yelling" in my room).
I was lucky enough to be young, independent and suitably hip in California for the best of what’s thought of as classic rock, hearing Eric Clapton and Cream a couple of weeks after my arrival in the Bay Area and later Dylan and The Band, the Moody Blues, the Pointer Sisters, Van Morrison — even the MC5. Luckily, my friends and I decided against attending the disastrous free Rolling Stones concert in Altamont in 1969 that many had hoped would be a West Coast Woodstock.
American Pie is a gift to Columbus and our area, the recipe for which I understand we owe primarily to the imagination and hard work of North history teachers Ed Niespodziani and Jerry Mihay, so thanks, guys. I hope to be in the audience for a piece of the 2022 Magical History Tour pie!
