In 1962, Jan and Eugenia Van Halen, along with their young sons Alex and Edward, emigrated by boat from the Netherlands to the United States. Jan was a musician who had played in different parts of Europe. He continued to play music when he settled with his family in California. However, he also worked multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Eugenia hoped that her two young sons would not pursue music as a career. However, Alex and Edward both caught the music bug and wanted to have careers as musicians. Both were inspired by hearing their father practice the clarinet frequently. They wanted to have musical careers of their own.
Alex soon took up the drums, while Edward chose to play the guitar. Both became proficient at their instruments. While in high school, they formed a rock band called "Mammoth" which became a staple of the Los Angeles music scene.
In 1974, the band changed their name to "Van Halen." Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth joined the group the same year. Roth would handle the vocals, while Anthony would play the bass. Anthony, Roth and Alex Van Halen were 20 years of age. Edward Van Halen was 18. As young men, the four had settled on a music career and they were in a good place to pursue a career in rock music.
Van Halen produced six albums with this lineup. Their fifth album, "Diver Down", had five cover tunes because the band felt pressure to release an album quickly after the success of their single "Pretty Woman," another cover song.
"Diver Down" features a cover song called "Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now," which features Jan Van Halen on clarinet. It is the only time Jan Van Halen's performance is featured on an album. Roth originally came up with the idea of doing the song and of including Jan on the record. All of the band members were glad that Jan Van Halen could have his moment in the spotlight. He did well with that moment and played a memorable solo for the song.
Things have come full circle for the Van Halen family. Today, the bass player for the group is Wolfgang Van Halen, Edward's son. He has been the band's bassist since 2006.
Jose Santana was a violinist and a guitarist in mariachi bands. He and his wife, Josefina had 7 children - Carlos, Antonio, Jorge, Laura, Irma, Leticia and Maria. He taught Carlos how to play the violin at age 5. By age 8, Carlos was learning how to play the guitar. Carlos inherited the musical ability of his father.
Carlos referred to his father as an "efficient teacher." He is grateful for the discipline that his parents gave him when he was growing up. He saw how much his father was respected when he performed. Carlos wanted to receive that same kind of respect when he played.
Carlos dedicated his memoir "The Universal Tone: Bringing my story to Light." to his mother. Carlos believed that her prayers helped to make him a better person.
Carlos began playing in his father's mariachi bands when he was 12. When he was older, he formed the "Carlos Santana Blues Band," which eventually became known simply as "Santana." In 1983, Carlos recorded an album entitled "Havana Moon," which featured his father's mariachi band.
Carlos passed on his love for music to his son, Salvador, who began playing piano at age 5. Salvador would later learn how to play percussion, typani drum and piano. Salvador plays in the "Salvador Santana Band" and has released a few albums and an EP.
Daryl Hall's father was a professional musician and his mother was a vocal teacher. Daryl has said that the best musical advice he ever received came from his mother. She told him to sing from the diaphragm and not the throat. She explained to him that the diaphragm would never wear out, whereas the throat could wear out. Daryl has always tried to follow that advice. It has served him well, as he has had a successful singing career.
Todd Rundgren, a good friend of Daryl's, said that Daryl "began singing when he was in the high chair." Rundgren's quote shows how early music became a part of Daryl's life.
Betty Hohl, Daryl's mother, received the 2007 Community Service Award from the Owen J. Roberts School District for her volunteer work in the field of music.
In an interview in 2007, Mrs. Hohl said "I've always been a friend of the arts. I grew up with singers, people who like to sing. We used to sing all the time..My mother and father, my family was musical, and when I had my children we did the same." Hohl pointed out that when she and her husband took their family on trips they would sing in the car.
Hohl pointed out that Daryl played trombone in the marching band when he was in school. She said that Daryl played in different musicals for the school and the community. When speaking of his singing, Hohl said "I didn't have to push him. That was something he loved to do. He loved music, and naturally drifted into anything that was musical."
Hohl said that her parents also promoted a love of music. She remembers singing from a young age. She said that she liked different kind of music. She said that "I also like classical music. I enjoy the opera. So, all kinds of music. If it is music, I love it."
Pop singer Charlie Puth was introduced to music by his parents. Deb Puth, Charlie's mother, began giving him piano lessons when he was 4. She also taught him about classical music. She began teaching her three children how to play the piano when they were 5. She told them that when they reached 8th grade they could choose another instrument. However, she wanted to introduce them to music and the piano at a young age.
Deb noticed that Charlie at a young age had an interest in noise. Deb noticed that Charlie had perfect pitch as a nine year old. She said "I mean he's looking at me telling me the B flat, or he could name multiple notes simultaneously. If you play a chord, a standard triad chord, which is three notes, and if you play them with both hands he could tell you all the notes. He could tell you anything. Perfect pitch - that's a gift. That's a gift from God. That's not something that was learned. I wanted to foster that growth so I found ways to train him. You get the best people, and it certainly wasn't me." She noticed Charlie's musical talent at a young age and helped to foster or develop it.
While Deb Puth encouraged Charlie to develop his musical abilities, she did not apply too much pressure. She says "I also believe if you want something, you don't have to be the best at it. There are levels and there are tiers. There are levels and there are tiers within whatever you want to do that you can succeed at. You don't have to be at the highest level...but you can certainly participate and write music and write scores for Broadway, or a television show, or whatever it is that you want to do. Parents should stop worrying about their kid being the best. Not every kid will be the best at everything." Deb Puth suggests that situations should always be put into the proper perspective. It is good when young people strive to be good at something, but it is not necessary to be the best at something.
Charlie Puth, age 26, has already achieved considerable success. In 2009, he started his own youtube channel. In 2010, he independently released an EP entitled "The Otto Tunes." Later that year, Ellen DeGeneres signed him to her label eleveneleven. In 2013, Puth released his second EP, which was entitled "Ego."
In 2015, he signed with Atlantic Records. During 2015, he released an album entitled "Nine Track Mind." The album was successful and sold many copies. It reached number 6 on the billboard top 200. In 2017, he released "Voicenotes," his second album. He has released three singles from the album.
Michael McDonald, of the Doobie Brothers, began singing with his father when he was four years of age. McDonald told "The Daily and Sunday Express" that his parents introduced him to music. McDonald said "My dad was a singer-not professionally, but he sang in pubs - and whenever he got home I'd ask him to sing a song. It was usually Danny Boy, and he loved old ragtime songs from the 1920's and 30's. I was about four when I started singing with Dad, and I learned to play the banjo to accompany him. I leaned the piano, too, but in lessons I struggled to pay attention so I was mainly self taught."
McDonald sang with Steely Dan and joined the "Doobie Brothers" in 1976. In 1982, he embarked on a solo career which produced nine albums. McDonald has won 5 Grammy Awards.
In 1980, McDonald produced his wife Amy Holland's solo album. "How Do I Survive," a single from Holland's album, became a hit song. Additionally, he worked on his son Dylan's album as well. "Dylan McDonald and the Avians" have released an album recently and are touring to promote their work.
Music continues to be passed down in the McDonald family.
When he was four years of age, Dave Brubeck took piano lessons from his mother. She played Frederick Chopin's piano pieces, which Dave would alter and modify. Brubeck would re arrange the music to sound more like jazz.
When he was 14 years old, Brubeck started to play gigs with a band.
Brubeck's father was a cattle rancher. Brubeck went to college for verinary medicine. However, one of his professor's noticed that Brubeck was much more interested in music, so he encouraged Brubeck to change his major to music. The professor noticed that Brubeck wanted to spend most of his time practicing at the conservatory. So, a switch to music made the most sense.
Brubeck was drafted into the Army. He played at a Red Cross concert which was well received. The performance was so popular that Brubeck was asked to form a band. Brubeck was taken out of combat duty due to the popularity of his band.
In 1951, Brubeck formed a Quartet. The quartet recorded two albums in 1953 and one in 1954. Brubeck was on the cover of "Time" magazine in 1954. In 1959, the quartet recorded another album. One of the most successful albums by the quartet was a live recording from Carnegie Hall in 1963. In the 1960's there were some years when the Brubeck quartet released as many as four albums a year.
Brubeck married Iola Whitlock in 1942. They had 6 children together. All 6 took music lessons. Darius, Michael, Christopher, Catherine, Daniel and Matthew all became musicians. All 6 continued the Brubeck musical legacy.
Darius Brubeck, Dave's oldest son, studied music in college. He wrote music and became a bandleader. He went on to teach music in college as well. Matthew Brubeck, his youngest son, is a cellist who released two albums in the 1990's. Daniel and Christopher are also active musicians.
Harry Connick jr. was immersed in music at a young age. He started piano lessons when he was 3 years old. By age 5 he was playing for audiences in the community. When he was 10 years of age, he made a recording with a local jazz band.
Connick's father is a singer who performs in his community. Connick, Sr. was influenced by music at a young age as well. He was particularly impressed by the music of the Glenn Miller orchestra. He was nicknamed the "Singing District Attorney" because of his singing in the local community. Connick Sr.'s wife, Anita, was a very good flute player. Additionally, the Connick family owned a record store when Harry Connick Jr. was growing up.
Harry Connick Jr's parents passed on their love of music to their son. Connick, Jr. made a soundtrack for the movie "When Harry met Sally." The soundtrack was very successful.
In 1992, Connick Jr. recorded an album entitled 25, which was a collection of solo piano music. The album featured piano standards such as "Stardust," "On the Street Where You Live,", "Tangerine", and "Caravan." The album showcased Connick, Jr.'s piano playing ability.
In 1994, Connick Jr. recorded an album entitled She. The successful album featured New Orleans funk music. After the album was released, Connick Jr. toured the United Kingdom and China in order to promote the album.
In 2003, Connick Jr. recorded an album entitled Other Hours Connick on Piano Volume 1. In order to promote the album, Connick Jr. The songs featured Connik Jr. on piano and three other jazz musicians. The album was the first that Connick ever recorded as a member of a quartet.
Connick jr. has done a lot with his musical talent. He has added to his family's musical legacy.
Paul McCartney may be the best song writer in pop music over the last 50 years or so. McCartney's work with the Beatles, and his efforts after the Beatles represents some of the best song writing pop music has ever seen. Even today, the Beatles represent the gold standard for pop music. Their music seems almost as relevant today as it was when it was first composed and recorded. McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all showed themselves to be capable song writers and musicians.
McCartney was born in 1942 to James McCartney and Mary Patricia McCartney. James McCartney played in ragtime and jazz bands when Paul was growing up. James McCartney had a record collection that he would play for his family. Additionally, he played songs on the piano for his family. When he and his family listed to the radio together, James would talk to his children about the different musical instruments in the recording.
James McCartney encouraged Paul to play the piano. James encouraged Paul to take music lessons as well. Nevertheless, Paul preferred to learn by ear and soon gave up the music lessons. Paul wrote the song "Let It Be" in 1968 in order to honor his mother.
Joe McCartney, Paul's grandfather, listened to the opera and played the tuba in a local band. Joe McCartney also played double bass and sang. Joe McCartney hoped to pass on his love of music to his family.
Paul McCartney's first group, "The Quarrymen", rehearsed in his parents' home at night. Later, after the Beatles disbanded, Paul recorded a song called "Walking in the Park with Eloise", which had been written by his father.
Paul McCartney's success with the Beatles has been well chronicled. The Beatles contributed a lot to the history or popular music. There many hit songs have become a part of popular culture. Their songs have been covered by many bands and artists. Their music inspired many to learn how to play musical instruments and form musical groups. The Beatles' music continues to be a part of our popular culture.
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born on April 29th, 1899 in Washington, D.C. Duke Ellington's parents, James Edward And Daisy Ellington, were both piano players. Daisy played parlor songs, while Edward played operatic music. Duke Ellington began taking piano lessons at 7 years of age. His parents encouraged him to learn from ragtime pianists.
When the family took summer vacations, Duke's parents encouraged him to learn from the pianists that the family would meet during their trips. As he grew older, Duke learned how to read music and began performing in bands. His parents' tutelage and encouragement instilled within him a love for music and the piano. Duke was growing as a musician.
Duke would work a job during the day and play music at night. In the 1920's Duke performed in Broadway clubs as a bandleader. At one point, the band had 10 musicians. Some of Duke's famous songs include "Concerto for Cootie," "Cotton Tail," and "Ko-Ko."
Two of his most famous songs are "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing," and "Satin Doll." Some people consider "Take the A Train," to be his most famous song.
Duke married Edna Thompson in 1918. They had one son named Mercer Kennedy Ellington. Mercer wrote a piece of music called "Pigeons and Peppers," which was recorded by his father. Mercer attended the Julliard School. Mercer followed in his father's footsteps and became a bandleader as well. Mercer composed music for his father. At various points, Mercer played in his father's orchestra.
The Ellington family had three generations of musicians. Of course, Duke Ellington became the most famous of the Ellingtons. Duke benefited from his parents' encouragement and help. He passed on that encouragement and help to his own son, Mercer.
Martha Reeves was born in 1941 to Elijah Joshua Reeves and Ruby Lee Gilmore Reeves. She was born in Eufaula, Alabama and raised in Detroit, Michigan. The family participated in a church that was pastored by her grandfather, Reverend Elijah Reeves. In addition to participating in the church, the family also sang in the choir. Elija played guitar in the choir, while Ruby sang. Elijah and Ruby passed on their love of music onto their children.
While in high school, Martha began taking singing lessons. As she got older, Martha worked during the day and sang at night in the most respected clubs in Detroit.
Martha joined a group called the "Vandellas" after a couple of members left. Eventually, the group became known as "Martha Reeves and the Vandellas." Some of their hit songs included "Dancing in the Streets," "Come and Get These Memories," "Heat Wave," "Wild One", "Nowhere to Run," and "Jimmy Mack."
After Martha left the Vandellas, she would go on to sing concerts with her sisters Lois and Delphine. The musical foundation that her parents gave Martha and her sisters had come full circle.
These are just 10 examples of families who passed on their love of music to the next generation and in some cases multiple generations. The history of music and of popular culture is richer because of the tutelage and guidance of these parents and families.
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