When I came in tonight from outside my wife Peggy had Joe Cocker playing on the stereo. This is not unusual. I keep thinking that the idea that certain music is the “soundtrack of your life” as prescribed by others is very wrong. I don't necessarily like to think of music as my soundtrack. What I like is music that touches me.

I’m not going to list all the music artists I enjoy, but they do cover a wide spectrum. Just to illustrate, I like Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Renee Fleming, Janis Joplin, Sheryl Crowe, Macy Gray, Bryn Terfel, Van Morrison, and Joe Cocker.

I was listening to a “Mix” FM station the other day and I heard Joe singing “A little help from my friends”. (Be prepared for an old man’s comment here): Now that was real music.

Peggy thinks Joe Cocker sings some of the most romantic music out there. I agree. Now, to those younger readers, who are the real romantics singing today? Who tugs at the heart? Who can you sit and hold hands and listen to and enjoy? I’d like a clue. I listen to some of the current music stations and frankly I’m puzzled.

At 61 years old, I’m being left behind. What I hear on the radio doesn’t cut it for me. I don’t want to sound like the old man I am, but someone tell me something recorded in the last 2 years that is equal to Joe Cocker’s romantic music.