by Kyle, West Chester, PA

I was listening to the Bob Marley & The Wailers album “Kaya” on my walkman one summer afternoon as I was on a long journey by foot to the local mall, at the age of 13. I had just begun listening to Bob Marley & The Wailers recently at the time, and had really been enjoying their music. It was a beautiful day outside, and as I strode along, the tape flipped over to Side 2, bringing on the song, “She’s Gone.”

I walked along, staring up at the clouds, falling in love with that song….and just had this remarkable moment of being filled with complete joy, happiness, and appreciation for the music. It was sort of a revelation in a way, a switch turned on inside of me so to speak, and music had an effect on me that it had never quite had before.

A lot has changed for me since then, and it all leads back to that moment. Up until that point, I could never really understand why my brother and sister would blow all their money on tapes and cd’s…I could never understand how they could be so into it all….up until that point, music was just….music.

I’m 24 now, and in the past 11 years and for the rest of my life, music has been and will be pretty much what I live for….listening to it, playing it, and listening to it some more. That day had a profound impact on me in more ways than one, as the love I found for Bob Marley has heavily influenced the way I am as a person. His attitude and disposition has a lot to do with why I’m generally an easy-going person, and always attempting to have an understanding and optimistic outlook on life. You can never really say enough about the music and message of Bob Marley. I enjoy all different types of music and artists, but when it really comes down to it, Bob made me realize how powerful music really is.