I interviewed my dad about the music that he listened to when he grew up. Even though my parents grew up in Liberia (as I'm sure everybody has heard by now), they were exposed to a lot of American music. A lot of countries in Africa are developed and have similar customs to the ones that people here are accustomed to. In the following interview between the two of us, I hope that some light is shed on the customs of countries that we didn't discuss during class. 

What kind of music did you listen to as a child?

R&B, African and Jazz

Which one would u say u listened to more, or were they equal?

R&B

How did you listen to music, i.e. what technology did you use?

Radio, Tape Player, Record Player

Was there any dancing involved? Why or why not?

Oh Yeah. All kind of dancing everything you could think about. Celebration for whatever occasion, party, wedding, for fun

What sort of environment did you listen to music in?

In the house, social gatherings, on the dorm

How did your parents or teachers feel about your music of choice?

Acceptable

What happened once you became the parent or teacher?

Listen to Jazz mostly, I don’t like music today kids music ya’ll are crazy I don’t like hip hop, not too much of country western not too much of African no rap I don’t like rap

Did you play an instrument or sing yourself? How was that for you?

No. In retrospect I wish I could. I had an opportunity to learn but I didn't

What was your musical environment like?

Rich. All the music and instruments were there

Why did you listen to music? Were there any situations that caused you to turn to certain kinds of music?

Yeah in the mission (boarding school) we listened to gospel. Listened to religious music on holy occasions and sad on occasions on festive occasions we listened to r&b as an adult I usually listen to jazz

Were you ever exposed to music outside of your own culture? How so, and what was it like?

R&b. How were u exposed to it was it just because Liberia was little America? It was out music too. African and International music too but our culture was more American than anything.

Do you feel like any types of music should have been present more when you were growing up? No I was content with what I had.

How did music in gender affect the way u listen or experience music today? 

Well, I think it gave me a keen sense as to what kind of music relaxes me, what kind of music I’m attuned to. I can easily like what I was brought up with that’s what I was accustomed to. And I guess I have a good ear for music because that’s how I was brought up even though I don’t mention it.

If you had to pick a song to describe you, what song would it be? I did it my way –Frank Sinatra. Is that song choice relevant to the way you grew up?  Very. How? Cause it expresses independence. Gave me an appreciation for who I am.