New Poll: What songs remind you of Ken?

Music is a huge part of my life. I grew up appreciating all different genres, thanks to my mom and dad (both talented musicians and music teachers) and my brother who was drawn to very different music than I was. While I have a bachelor's degree in music and I was always pegged as the musical child of our family, you may not know that Ken was also musically inclined. He may not have pursued it as an extra-curricular activity, but as the sister who shared a bedroom wall with him, I know for a fact that my brother could sing. And while our tastes may have been quite opposite -- I loved Olivia Newton-John when he loved KISS; I loved Top 40 when he loved heavy metal; I loved Debbie Gibson when he loved Grateful Dead -- I don't think I would appreciate all types of music if not for his influence. In fact, I related to my now-husband's musical tastes easily because they reminded me so much of the music I grew up on...only a bedroom away.

You already know some of the songs that remind me of Ken; several of them are on the sidebar and they play each time you visit this site. But there are so very many more that sometimes catch me off guard. Sometimes I cry when I hear them; sometimes I smile. Some of them were private jokes between the two of us. Some were songs he would play on his record player ad nauseum so loudly that I couldn't hear my own music (on purpose, no doubt). But I started thinking that so many friends who wrote their memories of Ken referenced music. And that, of course, led me to wonder...

What songs remind you of my brother, Ken?

I would love to know! To participate, simply click on the link below that says a number and "comments." Then, type your comments in the box. If you have a Google or Blogger account, you can enter that information; if you click "Open ID" you will have some other account choices such as AIM, but all of you can simply click "Name/URL" and enter your name (the URL is not required). If you want, you can also click "Anonymous" and then sign your name at the end of your comment. Then, just click "Publish Your Comment." It's a lot easier than it looks....I promise!

So, please let me know what songs remind you of Ken, and it would be great if you could also tell why it reminds you of him. I can't wait to see your responses!

From Julie Merson

Julie sent this pic from a 1986 Grateful Dead show with Jim Magleby and Ken (and Paul Carek in the backround)

Ken was one of the first people I met at Swarthmore. He lived right across the hall from me in Willets our freshman year, and right below me in Worth for the beginning of junior year. He was a supportive, caring friend who was always there to listen to whatever crazy drama I had going on at the time, and never seemed to judge me for any of it. It always made me felt better to see him in the hall or at a party. Just knowing he was there made me smile. And Swarthmore was never the same without him.

Thanks for helping us remember.