How a musical legend taught me kindness

by Christian Kang

​I’m an old soul.
 
I take pictures on film, use manual typewriters, own an overhead projector, and admire old cars. 

Photo credit: Josh Saul. NPR

​Not surprisingly, my taste in music is also eclectic. I enjoy listening to pre-1960 Miles Davis, The Beatles and James Taylor. Once an aspiring musician (turned financial advisor), I have been occasionally posting my songs on my YouTube channel for my mostly gray-haired fans.
 
Sometime ago, I posted on Instagram my performance of a song by Keb’ Mo’ – one of my musical heroes. (In case you’ve never heard of Keb’ Mo’, he’s not Taylor Swift’s contemporary, but a 69-year old blues legend.)
 
And then, lo and behold, a couple of days later, I saw a comment on Instagram from Keb’ Mo’s backup musician who was touring with him at the time. Coincidentally, they were to perform at Jazz Alley in Seattle a few days later.
 
Long story short, after a few exchanges, I got two free tickets to one of the sold-out shows. On top of that, I was invited to their sound check and to hang out with the band before the show. My head was spinning. 
 
But wait, it gets better.
 
During the show, Keb’ Mo’ called out my name and asked me to join him onstage and sing one of his songs (the one I posted on Instagram). I literally felt my knees knocking and my face contorting with adrenaline. What a rush!  I even got to hang out with him after the show.
 
To say that that was the night I will never forget is an understatement. It will be a story I’ll savor with my future children and grandchildren. 
 
I could say that this was magic of the internet at work. But I won’t, because the internet has empowered people to show meanness as much as kindness. Credit really goes to Keb’ Mo’ and his bandmate who showed remarkable interest in a young, nameless musician and gave him the experience of a lifetime. They did it with ease, and with nothing to gain. Except perhaps a young man’s heart.
 
But then, they already had that. 

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