When the Music Played On: Memories from the '50s to the '70s

There was nothing like the music of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. I was a teenager in the ‘60s, swaying to doo-wop harmonies and slow dancing to crooners like Sam Cooke and Nat King Cole. That music didn’t just play in the background—it played in our hearts. It was the soundtrack to our laughter, our first loves, our rebellions, and those sweet weekend parties where someone always snuck in a record player.

By the time the ‘70s rolled around, I was a young woman, and honey, the music took over! We danced until our feet hurt, throwing our hands in the air to the Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Temptations. It wasn’t just music—it was joy, wrapped up in a beat. Soul, funk, R&B, and disco each had their moment, and we soaked up every minute of it.

The parties were lively, the outfits were wild, and the dancing? Oh, we didn’t need a reason—just a rhythm. It was the era of living out loud. Every gathering was a celebration. Even now, when I hear certain songs, I’m instantly transported back to those good times: a house packed with friends, laughter spilling out the windows, and someone yelling, “Turn it up!”

Music connected us. It made the hard times softer and the good times even sweeter. And no matter where life has taken us since then, those melodies are stitched into the fabric of who we are.

So here's to the music that moved us—and the memories that still make us smile. 🎵

What’s one song from that era that brings it all back for you? I’d love to know.