I used to play the violin and was really good at it..it kinda faded out of my life . I'd like to get back into it but i just dont have the time

I've always wanted to play the french horn.  I never tried it though. 

I think its such a shame that playing an instrument in school you are considered a "band nerd".  I think music is a very important part in anyone's education and I think schools should stop spending as much money (I think sports are important also, just don't spend as much) on athletic departments.  In my high school even music class wasn't mandatory.  I think we called it chorus because it was actually just learning musicals, which was fun, but I wish we had learned a little more music theory.

Thats good that the school was so small that you could do that and not feel dorky about it.  My high school was big and I know I wasn't in the band simply because I didn't want to be a "band nerd". 

I am/was not calling you a band nerd by the way. 

(If you really want the mastiff and since you have someone else who will take him if it doesn't work out, I say go for it.)

I used to sing in a local bar. It was so much fun. My mom also sang in a bar when she was younger.

I remember once when we were at a street dance and the band heard me singing and dancing and they asked me to come on stage with them. Anytime I get drunk you might hear me belt one out.

Kittys Mom wrote:

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I sing, also. Love to sing. My mom sings too, so does my Iranian lover. I love to hear men sing.

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"Your Iranian Lover" lol the ways thats put makes me feel you have a toy boy or something naughty lol ...have you reconsidered swapping you iranian lover with Michael yet  

..ive trained mine to hand me his wallet full of bankcards..seems to be working lol~im having major problems trying to train him to hang his clothes up at night and to stop leaving wet towels on the bed  

Music isn't just a part of my family....it is my family.  My grandfather played on the Grand Ole Opry for years.  When he died at 43, his 15 year old son (my father) was given his job and played on the Opry for years as well.  My dad later joined the band of Emmylou Harris (when she had the Nash Ramblers) and toured with her.  When he wasn't on tour he did studio sessions here in Nashville.  He played on albums for Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Mark Chessnutt, and so many more.  We have several gold and platinum albums in our home that were given to him for the record sales of songs/albums he played on along with a CMA and dozens of other awards.  He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as well.  In 1997 he was given the honor of being on of the top 10 musicians (of his instrument) in the world.  He died later that year of cancer.

I didn't follow the tradition of playing the Opry after his death.  I grew up in country music and I didn't want to play it.  I had my own style.  I don't play strings as my father and grandfather did, but I play keys.  I now write music clips for commercials and also write that annoying music you hear on some video games...lol.  Ansy is really hoping out son will keep the tradition of being musical.  She loves music, but can't play any instruments. 

A very good friend of my fathers, John Hartford (you can google his name if you don't know who he is) was also very close to me.  I grew up watching he and my father play music together.  I was also named after him (JT - John Thomas).  When Ansy became pregnant, he was so happy and couldn't wait to see the baby.  Shortly before our son was born, John Hartford became ill with cancer himself.  The day we left the hospital from having the baby, we drove to his house even before going home.  We knew he was very sick.  We also named our son after him (and me as well).  He is JT II.  When we got there we found out that John was rushed to the hospital.  Ansy needed to get home to rest (had a C-section delivery) so we went home.  John died the next day and never got to see our son.  It was really heartbreaking because after my fathers death, this man became the next closest thing I had to a father.  I wanted for both men to see my son, but knew that neither of them ever would.

It was this incident. coupled with my dads death that led me to continue my music.  I am not much of a talker, and unfortunately....lol....thats what my wife does for a living.....so sometimes it can be difficult.  I just find ways to express myself in my music and everything just falls into place.

I'll never be in the Hall of Fame, but as long as I'm in the Heart of Fame (the heart of my family) then I figure I must be doing ok.  They all love my music and thats good enough for me.  I don't make alot of money on what I do.  Too much competition. But the money isn't what I'm in it for anyway.  I just want people to hear my music and enjoy it.

Now, who was it that posted this and made me go all sappy?..lol.  Sorry, I could talk about music all day.  I'm very proud of my family's accomplishments and have always enjoyed talking about them.  I'll try to post some pics for you.

PS - As far as singing.....well, I am not a singer.  Last year I attempted it.  I tried out for Fear Factor and on my audition tape I wrote, played, and sang a Fear Factor rap.....lol....I never heard back from them.

Barnabbus, you feel about music a lot of the same way I do.  I have had family in the Grand Ole Opry also.  My great uncle played for Dolly Parton.  He used to laugh about how when they would get together to practice her boobs got bigger each time.  LOL!!!  Anyway when I lived in TN I played at DollyWood, my banjo.  I love my husband and I know I have to stay in PA but TN is my home and I really wish there was somewhere here I could play my banjo but there's not.  I could go on and get all sappy like you did but I'm not going to.  The dogs are being insane today and the baby needs a nap so I have to shut up.  I did record a few things on my banjo.  I also played with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra a few times in high school.   

Wow.
Neat stories...
We are brushed with greatness.