Today I'm Grateful for Youtu.be & all the electronics available to me... I'm 81 years old & simply amazed at our technology today... It has added so much to my life & has brought so much enjoyment to me... I'm a published writer & enjoy the solitude I feel as I'm stringing my words together... I love listening to soft instrumental music as my imagination moves right along so I can express myself in a relaxed atmosphere... My love of music accompanies me, especially piano...
When I was working I used to fall asleep to Soundscapes on Music Choice... I acquired a small library of exceptional artists I had never heard of before... If I really liked them I would look them up on Youtu.be & save them to file... That's how I learned of Tom Barabas, a classical concert pianist originally from Budapest, Hungary... He had been playing music since he was four... By the time he was a teenager he & his family moved to, Caracas, Venezuela where his gift was so obvious he was encouraged to attend a Conservatory there much like Julliard in New York City where he earned his Masters' Degree in music... He then settled in San Diego where his talent flourished... He not only performed in concerts, on television & cruises but he composed much of what he played...
Portrait of a very happy man!
I looked up one of my favorite videos by him & left a
comment letting him know how very much I appreciated his music... He had his expanded his style from classical to include latin & jazz... Much to my surprise he replied to my comment... We back & forth-ed occasionally until I finally asked him if he would mind if I used a few of his videos for my blog & he gave me his permission... I was thrilled! For a little while I had lost touch with him last year so I prayed he was alright... I'm so very sad to have learned that he passed away last year in April... One of the very last things he told me before Christmas of 2019 was I should feel welcome to use his videos & he wished me a Merry Christmas... That was the last I ever heard from him... I'll miss him but he shared all of his recordings on Youtu.be... What a legacy he left behind...
Rest in Peace my gifted Friend... I'll love your music forever... I will never forget you because your music has touched my very soul...
Please meet my late but very talented friend,
Tom Barabas!
Comments
Thanks for all that Linda, your kind words and the news update. Of course I'll keep in touch . And, yes, you did leave on a high note. Dr.Buzzard's Original Savannah band - such style and pure class! A bit like yourself methinks.
So kind & generous are you with your words, Tom. Thank you so much.
* Linda *
Tom Barabas, a gifted man indeed. Your tribute does him proud Linda, may his music live on within you.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Tom... It seems I've developed a keen sense of appreciation for the gifted in life... That has so enriched my own... Had you been familiar with his work? I've been blessed for many years... I've always loved piano but he was one of my favorites... I've been meaning to get your new book... It sounds fascinating...
Things have been so depressing here in the States... With Biden at the helm people seem to be getting back to normal again, including myself... I just need to get busy again & write my way out of it...
It's a pleasure to hear from you once again... It's been awhile... It seems the only thing left at IBO is for someone to turn out the lights... The good that has come out of that is all the wonderful people I've met... I see many of them here on Terri's site... We talked last night... I'm so glad to see her site taking off like it is... She's a hard worker & puts much thought into her work...
Well, we have a hurricane making it's way into the Gulf of Mexico this week... The sun is shining so I must get out on my recumbent trike... I'll take a ride to the produce stand & pick up a sangria watermelon for my 4th of July weekend... (Independence Day) I'll look forward to keeping in touch... I'm always happy to hear from you, my friend...
Warm regards...
* Linda *
I'll leave you on a high note!!!