| ...born in a small rural community in central Texas, is laid before you on these pages. I have chosen to do this for many reasons; perhaps, most of all because I have hopes of setting the record straight for many others who have given so much to the local Austin music scene and me, and who have received little or no recognition for their contributions. Their stories are not told here in their entirety, but at least, their names and how I know them are noted. Much more time and research should be devoted to the business of the evolution of the black, blues music scene here in Austin. Perhaps, this is just our beginning.
It has been said that "life is something that happens to you when you're not looking" and I would agree with that. For me, life has been about music. Always. One way or another. Truth is I've had an ongoing love-hate relationship with my music, but always we've both been there. I now know it is my true love, and as my love, music has "happened" to me with all its highs, lows and absolutely everything in between. And yes, I would have had it no other way. I could not have had it any other way. There was this one time after coming back to Austin off the road, that my mother tried to convince me that my music career was not happening for me. I could see where she could conclude this at that time, and I listened carefully to her. As she spoke to me about being "normal" and all that went with a "normal life," I knew in my heart-of-hearts that she wasn't speaking about me. No, nothing about my life was normal, nor would it ever be. My life was music. Privileges came to me within my music career. As strange as it seems to say this, music has afforded me open doors to business opportunities I never would have dreamed of. However, the irony here is that my financial investment in music has never paid off directly. Meaning, it has paid me well sometimes, but most often it has not paid - rather it has cost. Counting those costs, which are much more than financial, paints a picture I believe many of you, our readers, will find common to your own lives. Musician or not. I've laughed a lot, suffered several broken hearts, made many mistakes, smiled at real success, and loved it all one way or another. If I may be so bold, and without being presumptuous, I hope your reading of my story allows you some enlightenment and comfort, too. At the very least, I thank you in advance for spending some time with me and my life's work. Every moment has been a privilege. Major Lee Burkes, Sr. |