JUDGING THE SINATRA WAY ON THE ROAD AGAIN
when the MP3 player came along. Now we have Bluetooth and commer- cial-free satellite radio for our kara- oke singing while we are on the road.
FROM AM RADIO TO BLUETOOTH
Entertainment systems in our ve- hicles have come a long way since the first car radio was introduced in 1930 when Paul and Joseph Galvin devel- oped a vacuum tube radio which they named “Motorola” and was powered by a single battery. The new system was a luxury for an automobile and cost about $130.00; equivalent to about $1,500 in today’s dollars. That system only offered AM radio, but it was the start of what is now standard equipment on all of our vehicles. The car radio had improvements, and in 1953, the first AM/FM radio was in- troduced. Of course, the reception was limited to the area you were driving in, but it was an advancement that provid- ed more options to the family car. Believe it or not, in 1956, Chrysler had the first and only in-car phonograph which played 7-inch vinyl records. As you can imagine, it did not last as the records would jump and skip while going over bumps and curves. In the early 1960s, there was a brief 4-track system followed by an 8-track system which allowed drivers to bring their music along to listen to. It was in 1964 that Phillips developed the first compact cassette tape sys- tem which would be the hot option through the 1970s and ‘80s. I’m sure many of you remember those mixed tapes you might have made for a road trip or as a romantic gesture for that special someone. During the 1980s, the compact disc was the new wave in music and domi- nated the scene well into the 2000s
LIFE’S JOURNEY THROUGH SONG
The relationship between man and music is well-documented through- out history, and I am truly amazed at the many talented songwriters who use music to tell a story. Great writ- ers and musicians tell stories about all facets of life through song. Songs are out there which tell many stories of man’s journey through life from the cradle to the grave. While driving down the road, an old favorite of mine came on the radio and it got me listening closely to the words and thoughts that went into its story. The song “My Way” was writ- ten by Paul Anka and was recorded by Frank Sinatra. The song, of course, is a reflection of a man as he ponders the ultimate end of his life. As I listened to the words, I began to think not only about my future but also of the many friends and mentors I have lost over the past several years. To me, it seems like we are living in a world where someone or some group is telling us how we must do every- thing. The media tries to intimidate us with their opinions. The govern- ment is more involved than ever in telling us what we can and cannot do. Healthcare professionals are always telling us what is best for us. Plus, there are those who are constantly trying to be sure that we are all “po- litically correct” in every facet of our speech and our actions.
By Walter Sommerfelt
T his crazy journey that we call life is filled with many memories as well as numerous defining mo- ments. For those of us who are in- volved in the sport of purebred dogs, we have traveled many roads and miles to and from the many events we have attended over the years. As Wil- lie Nelson once wrote in a song, we are “on the road again.” For some, it is weekly, but for others it varies. For all of us, we have spent many hours trav- eling down the road again. I am sure most of you on more than one occasion have found yourself, and your friends and family traveling with you, doing “Car Karaoke,” sing- ing along with those wonderful tunes on your radio. It sure makes the time go faster and makes for happy mo- ments traveling to and from your des- tination. The drive home after a great weekend is even better when you sing along with your favorites.
22 • T op N otch T oys , J uly 2022
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