| Neil Young is 64-years old and is the current | | | | on a wooden chair, playing his guitar and singing into a |
| MusiCares Person of the Year. I'm not surprised that | | | | single microphone. Dressed unremarkably in jeans, |
| Young received the honor given his decades of work | | | | Young's full head of dark hair obscured part of his |
| with Farm Aid and Bridge School Concerts. Some of | | | | face. It was vintage Village. |
| the biggest names in the business serenaded Young | | | | Young's haunting voice filled the room. The crowd |
| with his own songs: Elton John, James Taylor, Dave | | | | was a well-educated group and well-behaved. We |
| Matthews, Sheryl Crow Leon Russel, and Keith | | | | quietly listened, nodding to the words which could be |
| Russell. Young was quoted as saying that he'd | | | | clearly understood. Young's style was slightly |
| forgotten how many songs he'd written. | | | | reminiscent of Bob Dylan's thoughtful, folksy, nasal |
| How did Young hit retirement age? He's at the point | | | | style. There were no back-up singers or flashy |
| in his life when he either 1) created so many songs | | | | staging here. |
| he lost count or 2) really can't remember. This kind of | | | | Suddenly, a young couple appeared in the aisle. They |
| thing happens when you're talented, successful and | | | | danced to the music, gyrating in flashy moves that |
| 64. Jack Black was the emcee at the event. Black | | | | announced the arrival of disco. Totally at odds with |
| talked about how the young singers on stage had | | | | the tone of the concert, they stood out |
| been influenced by Young's unique style. How ironic! | | | | unashamedly and, to most of us, jarringly. I turned to |
| Black and the young'uns weren't even born when | | | | a friend and said, "Wow! They must be really moved |
| Young began his career. But I was, and I was in the | | | | by the music." The friend turned a jaded eye |
| audience at Young's debut all those years ago. | | | | towards me and replied, "Don't get excited. They're |
| I was a student at New York University in NYC in | | | | dancers hired to by the studio to hype this guy. |
| 1971. I attended the Greenwich Village campus and | | | | That's how a debut works." |
| got to take part in the Village life. Singers and | | | | I gazed back at the intense young man on stage and |
| dancers performed in the lofts and modest studios in | | | | wondered how he kept a straight face with all that |
| every nook and cranny in the Village. Public concerts | | | | nonsense prancing around in front of him. It looked |
| in the park were commonplace as were artist | | | | like he had his eyes closed as he sang 'A Horse with |
| exhibiting their work on the sidewalk. The wild | | | | No Name.' Smart move. I did the same and said a |
| artistry of the sixties was still with us; the | | | | silent prayer for his success. I figured he could a few |
| commercialized disco era wasn't yet launched. | | | | words on his behalf with the Good Lord in his chosen |
| I hung out with friends at the NYU radio station. We | | | | profession. |
| listened to Carol King, Carly Simon and James Taylor | | | | It turned out that Young didn't need my prayers. |
| who were then emerging on the scene. So much | | | | He's had an incredibly rich,successful and long career. |
| social change was in the air, but not fully formed. A | | | | Reports are that when a balding, graying Neil Young |
| fellow student argued with me that women singers | | | | took to the stage to thank everyone for the |
| would never equal the fame of their male | | | | MusiCares Award, he announced that he was worn |
| counterparts. I objected naming several famous | | | | out by all the festivities. He said it was time to go |
| women, and in a sign of the times, he said African | | | | home, but promised to keep going. He hoped his new |
| American women didn't count. | | | | songs would be as good as his early ones. |
| One winter evening, the radio crowd decided to go | | | | If you don't remember all you've written anymore, |
| to the debut concert of a new, unknown singer | | | | it's OK. Neither do I and it doesn't matter. You're a |
| named Neil Young. I tagged along and found myself in | | | | role model for young people beyond the impact of |
| a large, run-down studio with chairs set up theater | | | | any particular song. Your integrity and good works |
| style. The stage was slightly elevated in | | | | have made their mark. Just close your eyes, play |
| theater-in-the-round style. A long singer was seated | | | | your guitar and sing, Neil. |