Music’s Been a Big Part of My Life

I just attended my last “bucket list” concert.

Recently I was able to attend my last “bucket list” concert. My buddy Brandon and I attended the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Las Vegas and yes, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were the last of the bands I had wanted to see.

Music has always been a big part of my life and I can thank my parents for introducing my siblings and I to a variety of music. I’ve mentioned in both my book and numerous episodes of my podcast that I was raised Mormon. Well, both of my parents sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, my mom for twenty years. Even though church choir music is not my favorite, I was always impressed by how well my parents could sing. I too have enjoyed singing, but mostly at home or in the car.

So just for fun, I thought I’d list the concerts I’ve attended. I’m sure many of you reading this blog have attended one or more of these concerts with me. As I have about 90% of my ticket stubs, and I’ve kept a journal for the past fifty years, I was able to list the concerts I’ve attended by year.

Here’s a few interesting facts related to the concerts I’ve been to.

• The first concert I attended was The Carpenters in 1971.
• Band/artist I’ve seen the most? Jimmy Buffett 13 times.
• First concert I took Judy to, The Doobie Brothers in 1980.
• The first concert I took my son Crosby to, Michael Jackson in 1989.
• The first concert I took my son Dusty to was ZZ Top in 1997.
• The first concert I took my daughter Tatum to was Billy Joel in 2006.

These are in order by year and the reason I didn’t see any concerts in 1976, is because I was on my two-year Mormon mission. A number after the band/ artist represents how many times I’ve seen them.

1971- The Carpenters, Taj Mahal, Ray Stevens

1972-Three Dog Night, The Doobie Brothers (3), Blood-Sweat & Tears

1973- Jethro Tull (2), Robin Trower (2), Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac (3), Rory Gallagher, Blue Oyster Cult, Rare Earth, Buddy Miles, Badfinger, James Gang, America

1974- George Harrison, Billy Preston, REO Speedwagon, The Chambers Bros, Country Joe and the Fish, Chicago (3), The Association, Ray Manzarek (The Doors)

1975- Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Bob Seger, Wet Willie, Black Oak Arkansas, Montrose, Robin Trower, The Strawbs, Chicago, Eric Clapton, Santana, The Doobie Brothers, Henry Gross, Tower of Power

1977- Ted Nugent (2), Nazareth, Cheap Trick (2), Firefall, Air Supply, Norton Buffalo, The Steve Miller Band, Emmylou Harris

1978- Leo Sayer, Bonnie Tyler, Raydio, The Beach Boys, Foghat, Bob Welch, Seals and Crofts, Jethro Tull, Uriah Heep, Foreigner, Journey (2)

1979- Boston, Sammy Hagar Band, Eddie Money, Harry Chapin, Pablo Cruise, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, Chicago

1980- Kansas, Cheap Trick, The Doobie Brothers, Olomana, The Peter Moon Band, The Osmond Brothers

1981- Christopher Cross, Jimmy Messina, The Captain and Tennille, Styx, Ambrosia

1982- Dan Fogelberg

1983- Kenny Loggins (2), Journey, Bryan Adams

1985- Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers

1988- Diana Ross, Hall & Oates

1989- Michael Jackson, Sheryl Crow

1993- Bill Joel (2) Jackson Browne, The Jets

1994- Steely Dan

1996- Jackson Browne

1997- ZZ Top, Los Lobos

1998- Elton John, James Taylor (3), Van Halen (2), Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Alice Cooper, Monster Magnet

1999- Earth, Wind & Fire, Peter Frampton, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Paul Simon

2000- Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, Kiss, Ted Nugent, Skid Row, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett (13), Ernest Puaa, Jonny Lang, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (2)

2001- Rod Stewart, Aerosmith, Tool, James Taylor, Tom Conway, Dave Matthews

2002- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffett

2003- Kenny Loggins, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett

2004- Hapa (2), Jimmy Buffett 1/20 San Jose, Jimmy Buffett 1/30 Maui, Jake Shimabukuro, Jimmy Buffett 8/26 Chicago, Martina McBride

2005- Willie K (5), Jimmy Buffett 4/12 Phoenix, Jimmy Buffett 10/27 Portland

2006- Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz, Queen, Paul Rogers, Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Jimmy Buffett

2007- Stephen Stills, Dave Mason, Rod Stewart, Peter Frampton, Russ Freeman & the Rippington’s

2008- Jimmy Buffett, The Barefoot Natives

2009- The Killers, Jimmy Buffett 2/24 Maui, Jimmy Buffett 5/14 Phoenix

2010- Jack Johnson, ALO, G. Love, Paula Fuga

2011- Jimmy Buffett

2012- Madonna

2013- Kaukahi, The Band Perry, Rascal Flatts, Heart

2014- John Cruz, Henry Kapono (2), James Taylor

2015- The Roughriders (Henry Kapono-John Cruz-Brother Noland), Keola Beamer

2016- The Brothers Cazimero

2018- Alan Parsons Project

2019- Michael McDonald, Robi Kahakalau

2022- The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Strokes, King Princess