If you were to ask me “what are the three things that you love the most?”
I would answer:
1.-Family
2.-Art
3.-Music
Music has been a constant in my life… my refuge since I can remember, my very own private therapy! I have a very vivid memory of being 4 years old and waiting desperately for my mom to come home and ask her if she had bought the “mama mia” album! For those of you who don’t speak 4 year old Spanglish, I meant Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
I grew up with the best musical influences: my Grand Father, who has always been like a Father to me, with whom I listened to Classical Music and Zarzuelas. He took me to my first Ballet when I was around 8 or 9.
My uncle (mother’s side) who has/had the biggest music library ever with basically every genre from Trova Cubana to Hard Rock. My mom and uncle’s friend P. P., who taught me how to care for LPs, how to use the turn table, a lot about music (including Jazz)… and of course, my mom, who used to get music from them and we listen to it together in car… oh! Yeah, that’s how I got my first mixed Queen tape!
I listened to everything and liked most of it, but of course, my favorite band of all times is always going to be Queen!!!
I grew up with Saga, Queen, Jethro Tull, SuperTramp, Pink Floyd, and of course, once I got into it 60′s music, I became somewhat of an expert for my age, of course.
I started saving every penny to buy albums, first LPs, then CDs… Some music stores became a second home for me. My free time was spent either at a record store or at a museum. For a while, it was very difficult to find the music I wanted, so, I had to special order it, ask family to bring it for me, and sometimes, I would have to wait for moths before I could get the album I wanted.
I had a very nice collection by the time I decided to move to the US. Everything from Blind Faith, King Crimson, Lake Emerson and Palmer, (old) Genesis, Queen (of course), Heart, Iron Maiden, Metallica (old), Motorhead, Suicidal Tendencies, (old) Tori Amos, Nina Hagen, The Plasmatics, Joe Cocker, The Alman Brothers, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton, Sex Pistols, William Ackerman, Michael Hedges, Vangelis, George Winston, Shadowfax, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Black Sabath, Ozzy, Beep Purple, Tears for Fears, Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, Judas Priest, and a ton more.
While I was there, there weren’t that many concerts I was interested in, also, I was kind of young, and I probably wouldn’t have been able to attend anyway, but I did get to see Saga once, great show! and well, Guns n’ Roses!!!! I didn’t get to see Scorpions, but I did meet them during their Press Conference.
So, finally, when I arrived here, I asked my husband “is it too hard to meet the people you admire?” and he said “no, if you really want, you can meet anyone you want!” That being said, I decided that I was going to, at least, try to meet every artist that means something to me, that I admire, or that has been a big influence in my life… of course, with my husband’s support!
The first time I was back stage was at a Cinderella concert. It is one of those memories that time can never take away from you! It was so amazing, I mean, the circumstances were… I wouldn’t even know how to explain it. Long story short: I cried a lot!
Imagine that your world has changed 100%, that you’ve left absolutely everything you’ve ever known, and everyone you’ve ever loved behind, you find yourself in a place you don’t understand, alone (except for husband), no family, no friends, you’ve left all your possessions across the ocean, you have no job, no money, and… well… here is the partial story: 
We didn’t have money for the show, but we went anyway… the idea was to listen to it from outside the venue. I asked a nice guy with a pass if they would come out to give autographs and explained that we didn’t have money for the tickets, but getting an autograph would be amazing for me! He assured me that I would get that autograph at the end of the show.
Eventually, security decided that we had waited long enough and allowed us to get it…
We walked in right at the beginning of “Don’t know what you’ve got, till it’s gone” and I started to cry.
After the show, the nice guy put a sticker on my jacket and told us to follow him after giving me an autographed picture of the band… I was still in shock and I really didn’t understand what he was saying.
We followed him until we were… well, backstage! The singer was there, in body only, but it was great! The drummer realized that Tom Keifer had already left the building (spiritually), and took us to the bus, he was very nice. I started giggling like a little school girl, and couldn’t ask for the autograph… it was great!
The point is that meeting an artist you admire is like finally talking in person to an old friend that lives far far away and you never get to see.
When you go to an art gallery, it is always great when the artists are there (available) and you get to discuss their techniques, problems, etc. That’s why people go to opening nights, right?
So, that’s what I do. If I have the opportunity to meet someone I admire, someone special to me, I take it. I mean, I love talking to people, there is always something interesting about everyone… then, why wouldn’t I want to talk to someone I know about, someone whose career is part of my life? What would you do?
And… if they’ve had an influence in your life, and you were able to meet them, wouldn’t that inspire you to create something related to them or their art?
I like the idea of using music to help channel my feelings when I work on a piece… music has taken me out of depressions, helped me express my feelings when art was not an option, etc. Music is my unconditional companion.
(click here to go to the most influential artists page)
