Sing Out


… a song is but a little thing — and yet what joy it is to sing…


This is me in 1961. Lead singer of surf music band, the Triptides.


This is me in 1964. Lead singer of the R&B group, Brothers Royal.


This is me in 1967. Lead singer of hard rock group, Stone Fox.


Me in 1974, as punk persona Myles R. Gyles, doing insane rock&roll.


Me (standing) in 1980. Lead singer of jazz/rock band Qruze Quintet.

 
When life has lost its harmony
a simple song is where to start
sing — and laughter will light your day
a joyful chorus will lift your heart

if strife makes you feel you’re lost
a sweet melody will find your way
a joyful chorus will lift your heart
sing — and laughter will light your day

if you find your mind is full of worry
a tune will make the dark clouds part
sing — and laughter will light your day
a joyful chorus will lift your heart.

a cheerful whistle if you feel low
sadness flees when you sing and play
a joyful chorus will lift your heart
sing — and laughter will light your day

*
rob kistner © 2021

Poetry at: dVerse

 

Here’s to the amazing man who has made the whole world sing for nearly 60 years:


 

48 thoughts on “Sing Out”

  2. I love “Sing a Song” .. Karen has inspired me ~~ I have a melody in mind for these great lyrics / poem!! Love it.

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  5. Such a cheerful poem to read Rob. Your lines really lifted my day:

    sing — and laughter will light your day
    a joyful chorus will lift your heart

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  6. Sing out indeed, it does seem to make the day better. I drummed today during a terrible storm, the rhythm was strong bringing a sense of calm.

    Always, interesting to see where your mind travels.

    I hope you are well…

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    1. Thank you, and you are welcome! 🙂 BTW, do you have a name, other than a big fat can of worms out of the cave — that is a lot to write! 😉 I think from now on I will address you as BFC!

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  17. You really captured the power of singing. How it can lift your spirit and make the world seem less bleak. How it can fill us with energy to go on.
    You really found the right subject for the form. This is uplifting and absolutely marvelous. And you told me we share a passion for singing.

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    1. I love to sing Helene. Did it professionally (getting paid), since my freshman year in 1962, as part of a group we called the XL’s (Excels). I was 15 years old. I was 41 years old the last time I got paid to sing. I did make a little money doing radio commercials after that. Was the Midwest radio voice for Honda motorcycles for a couple years, which was fun. A helluva lot of bands and groups in those 26 years performing. From 1967-1980 I sang professionally full time, working my college and early working career, and a cross country motorcycle adventure (following a painful group breakup) around my singing. We performed all around the Midwest and Northeast. Made a couple records that never took off, played Bill Graham’s “Fillmore East” snd Steve Paul’s “The Scene” in NYC. Also performed at Cleveland’s “Agora”, and Cincinnati’s “Ludlow Garage”. We were the opening act for a lot of 60’s and 70’s rock heavy hitters the times we played at those venues. I fully intended singing to be my career. But I married one of my groupies (she became my 2nd wife, whom I fell in love with) had a couple more kids. The pressure of two ex-wives and three children eventually derailed my professionally singing — which now I do not regret! I can still sing, and I do constantly as I go about my life. Tone, pitch, and timbre are still solid, but my vocal endurance is not what it was. Failing health has impacted that. I am a smarter singer, as I have learned how to use my head voice and vocal texturing better, to compensate for having less lung capacity. But still got the core of my chops, for which I am so so thankful. I truly do not know what I would do if I could no longer sing. Oh my, wow… Well, I guess that’s enough rambling and ego tripping down memory lane. Sorry, can’t help it — looooove to sing Helene! Get to feel that thrill just writing about it. You said you sing, so I’m sure you can understand. 🙂

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    1. Cool Ingrid! Sing on my friend, because the song must go on forever! Or we’re screwed as humans. Don’t think I will be performing live. I never know how my voice might be next Thursday. I am old, and it requires I warm up a bit. When I was younger, I could pretty easily jump right into a song. Some days I can still do that now at 74, but not as predictably. However, I will make a decent video recording of a brief section of some song in the next few days — and post a link to it next Thursday, and write “song” next to my name on Mr. Linky. 🙂

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  20. Thank you Rob. The first thing I read this morning was your poem. What an uplifting start to my day. ????

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    1. I fully believe you Marion. This website of mine is so old, it does mot recognize emojis. The only way to make a smiley face is to first type a colon “:” and then type the second half of smooth brackets “)” immediately after, and right next to it — no space between. What you will then get is “ 🙂 ”.

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  22. Nice way to spend a Sunday… enjoyed the music and positive words on the power of music to alter our lives. Also love the photos when you were a cool and groovy rock star 🙂

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    1. Thank you Rall. I tried to be a little “cool”, as the illusion required it. As for groovy, who knows. Some thought so, so I went with it for them — it kept me working. Now I’m just old, kinda marveling at it all, being grateful for and enjoying the memories — and trying to still stir just a bit of cool & groove… 🙂

      Reply

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