Hello World,

I haven’t written about the Trayvon Martin case on this blog because I have been trying to stay positive at least on one public domain, but this case has certainly “awaken a sleeping giant” when it comes to race relations in this country…And it saddens me so…But that’s all I will say about it here on this blog…

So on to more encouraging and uplifting news…

Through one of my Facebook friends, I watched a YouTube video about this elderly black man “Henry” who had been in a nursing home for 10 years. While he had been a vibrant man in his younger days and often spontaneously broke out in song according to his daughter, he was almost lifeless now. In fact, he mostly sat with his hands folded and face pointed down. He only responded to questions with “yes” or “no.” But his entire countenance changes when he listens to his favorite music from his youth on an iPod, and he is even able to engage in conversation. It is truly inspiring…See for yourself…

This story is a part of a new film “Alive Inside” which demonstates the therapeutic benefits of music on the elderly…

From The Huffington Post…

“The film, a project by social worker Dan Cohen and neurologist Oliver Sacks, author of “Musicophilia,” captures the transformation that takes place when nursing home patients are handed iPods loaded with music from their youth.”

Here is a quote from Henry when asked about the music’s effect on him: “It gives me the feeling of love, of romance. I figure right now the world needs to come into music, singing. You’ve got beautiful music here,” Henry says, before breaking into a version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” by an artist he says is one of his favorite — Cab Calloway.

Cohen’s Music & Memory organization is soliciting donations of used and new iPods to put music in the hands of nursing home patients across the country. His documentary “Alive Inside” is slated to premiere on April 18 at the Rubin Museum in New York.

 Any thoughts?

Sidebar: Can you imagine about 60 or 70 years from now, some elderly people getting crunk to music from 50 Cent, Jeezy or Trey Songz?…Hmmmm….somehow, I don’t see that happening….

Sidebar: Speaking of Cab Calloway…Remember when he makes a cameo appearance in Janet Jackson’s video for “Alright?” In fact, the whole video, which was like a mini-movie, was an homage to the heyday of Cab Calloway…That song would get me moving in a nursing home years from now 🙂

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