“My hearing loss was a gradual thing. Then two years ago, I lost it completely in my left ear.

“With about 70% hearing loss in my other ear, I really started to feel isolated. I wouldn’t admit it to myself at first, but I was avoiding certain people because their voice was too soft. I stopped going to meetings because I couldn’t hear. Especially when people were wearing masks, it was so difficult to pick up conversations.

“The hardest thing was with my grandkids, the little ones, not being able to understand half of what they were saying. I was missing out on so much.

“I read lips a little bit. And I’ve worn regular hearing aids. But they’re nothing compared to getting this implant. It’s made a huge difference. It provides like the vibrations. So I’m able to distinguish sounds and words and so on. My God, it’s a miracle to me.

“I’ve had it for about six months. Once I get this ear to about 80%, then we’ll go ahead and do the other one. I would recommend it to anybody.

“Throughout all this, the thing that has continued to bring me joy — besides my wife, Raquel — is music. Listening to my albums, picking up the beats, and following along to the words in the songs, has really helped. I’ll put on a favorite album and crank it up. It helps me to concentrate and start recognizing more of the sounds.

“When you listen to music, you really become part of it. To me, it’s the sound, the words, the instruments, the beats, all coming together.

“I’ve loved music since I was a young kid growing up in San Antonio. It will continue to be a big part of my life, until the day I die.”

— Fred Aguilar

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“My wife, Raquel, says that I’m a hoarder. I tell her there’s a fine line, but I haven’t crossed it yet.

“I got into record collecting seriously about 20 years ago. I was at a retail shop in Highlands. This lady had maybe 2,000 albums and 45s for sale. I gave her $50 for them all. I had a ’65 Impala, so I loaded up the trunk and the back seat.

“Once I started, friends and relatives would say, ‘Hey, I have a bunch of records. Come pick them up.’ I’ve gotten them at estate sales, garage sales, and from people that I know. I just have a real passion for collecting and listening to music.

“Albums and 45s together, I have probably 15,000 to 20,000. I’ve alphabetized the albums. I have binders where I keep track of them. I’ve got a little bit of everything.

“Rock and roll is definitely my favorite type of music. But I like all kinds. I love CCR [Credence Clearwater Revival]. I love Chicago. I like [John] Coltrane, and Al Green, too. Being bilingual, I’m also able to enjoy a lot of Hispanic music. Whatever mood I’m in that day, I can find something to listen to in my collection.

“I haven’t listened to every single album all the way through. But I try to listen to some of each one. I might find something new that I like.

“I got my daughter a turntable, and she took like 150 of my albums. I got turntables for my two granddaughters, and they got records also. They come out here once in a while and start going through my albums. I say, ‘Make sure they’re doubles.’

“I’ve also got some cassettes, 8-tracks, and a jukebox that holds 80 records. I’m always looking for anything music related, like signs or little instruments.

“I hold on to most of what I’ve collected. But we set up at events sometimes, and sell a few things there. Down the road, we may look at opening a place on Texas Avenue, where I could sell a lot of my albums.

“I’ve been collecting music and other things for about 50 years. I’m 71 now. I think it helps keep me young.”

— Fred Aguilar

Another favorite pastime is collecting sports trading cards. Fred estimates he has more than 1 million baseball cards.

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The post Music collecting a lifelong passion appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“One of the ways I learned to deal with my anger is through music. When I rap, I put everything into it. Whatever I’m going through, whatever I’m feeling, I try to express it in my lyrics.

“For the longest time, my mom didn’t like it. I would talk about her in some of my music. How she wasn’t there for me during parts of my life. I would talk about how I never saw my real dad. Or when my grandma gets sick. My mom always hated that I would put any part of the family business into my music.

“But it’s how I express myself. It’s what keeps me from wanting to kill myself. It’s what keeps me off the streets. It’s what keeps me from starting random fights for nothing. It’s what helps me keep my anger in check.

“My mom didn’t believe in my music. But one day, she finally took a chance to sit down and listen to my songs. Sometimes I talk about myself, and what I need to change. Like I’m sorry for never finishing school. I’m sorry for causing so much pain in your life. And when she finally said, hey, I like this, I like your song, it brought me so much joy. It brought tears to my eyes. She told me, you’re actually good. Keep doing it. Keep grinding.

“The lyrics and the message behind my music are the most important thing for me. My music, and what I’ve experienced in life, have inspired me to be better. I want to make up for who I was. Like every bad thing I did in the past.

“I want to spread peace. I want to spread love. I want to spread manners and respect. I want to tell people that there’s more to life than being out there fighting and being so angry, wanting to shoot something or kill somebody. That’s not the way out, you know? You’re either going to end up behind bars or end up dead. Eventually, you’ll get caught. Because what happens in the dark comes to the light, always.”

— Carlos “C-Los” Caldera Jr.

When performing, he goes by C-Los Da Boss. Google the name to find some of his music.

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The post He expresses himself through his music appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’m a big fan of Patti LaBelle. It’s not just her voice. It’s the positive effect that her songs have on people.

“When I found out she was going to perform near Houston, I was like, I’ve got to get a front row seat. It was my third time seeing her. I wanted to stand out. I wanted a way to say, ‘Hey, me, I’m your biggest fan.’

“She always gets flowers from her fans. So I decided to go above and beyond. I got her this huge bouquet. When I entered the venue, security took the flowers and said they would give them to her. I was a bit disappointed. I wanted her to see me in the front row, and to hand them to her on stage. So that maybe, just maybe, her pinky would touch my pinky.

“When she finished her first song, she stopped the show and said, ‘Where’s Christopher?’ And my jaw just dropped. I’m like, she’s talking about me. Those are my flowers on the piano. So I stood up, and she asked, ‘Why’d you give me all these flowers?’ I was star struck. I just said, ‘Because I love you.’

“When she performs her big hit song, ‘Lady Marmalade,’ she asks for four gentlemen from the crowd to come on stage. I was a little timid. But she straight up asked, ‘Where’s Christopher?’ And I was like, OK, there’s no way that the 3,000 people in here are going to let me just sit this one out. So I went up there with the three other guys.

“When I belted out a note, everybody just went crazy. And she gave me this look like, wow. I thought, OK, if the best singer in the world in my eyes can give me that kind of look, then I must have something going on. I’ll always be humble, but it definitely boosted my confidence.

“Fast forward a couple years to another show, and there I was in the front row again. She always brings five or six flowers that she gives out to people in the crowd. I saw her look at me, she saw my red shirt, and I got one of her flowers. I almost started crying. That was everything to me. It was an experience of a lifetime.”

— Chris Champion

Check out Chris’ music.

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“One of my favorite songs is ‘The Change’ by Garth Brooks. Basically, the lyrics say, I might not be able to change the world. But if I start with one person at a time, maybe I can make a difference. I feel that’s life for me. That’s one of the things I want to be remembered for: trying to make a difference.

“I consider myself very blessed. I’ve always had a family who loves me and accepts me for who I am. I’ve always had a decent group of friends. And life has always made some kind of way for me to keep pushing for what I want. There are times when I get down or I’m struggling. But things always have a way of working out.

“I realize that’s not the case for everyone. There are people less fortunate and others who don’t have an appreciation for what they do have. I just encourage everybody to try to find a place of happiness, and share it with others.

“I see lots of negativity in the world. Negativity is very contagious. But I believe that positivity is, too. I try to show positivity in my actions and in my music. I can post all day saying, ‘Hey, today’s going to be a good day. Cheer up.’ But people have heard those cliches before. They’re like, ‘You’re not going through what I’m going through right now. So it’s easy for you to say that.’ I feel that’s where music comes in. It has a way of really touching people.

“I wrote a song called ‘Mountain High’ back in 2018. It basically says that no matter what life throws at you, you’ve got to keep pushing to get to where you want to be — which is that place of happiness. Someone told me it was his favorite song of mine. He memorized all the words. He didn’t come out and say he was suicidal, but he kind of hinted at it. And he made it apparent that my song definitely helped him look at life a little differently, considering what he was dealing with at the time.

“Knowing that my music can have a positive impact on someone’s life in that way, it means the world to me.”

— Chris Champion

Chris’ latest music video is “Play Pretend.”

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The post Singer tries to spread positivity appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I came back to the states in January 2020 as tour manager for an all-girl math rock band from Osaka, Japan, named Paranoid Void. Although it was short-lived, it was one of the most fulfilling tours I’ve been on. So many people turned out in Texas and California.

“But by early February, we all realized that because of COVID-19, we were not going to be able to continue the tour. So I came back to Baytown to be with my family, and the band returned to Japan.

“For quite a while after that, I lost touch with a lot of people. Then shortly after the George Floyd incident, I saw the most wonderfully resonating thing on Facebook. The girls posted this video saying that they wanted to help raise money for Black Lives Matter. In the video, you could see the anguish on their faces. Through their words it was like they were saying, ‘We went to the U.S.A.. We met so many people. We love them. We know they love us. We recognize that you are struggling right now. And we want to help.’

“I have never seen an instance like that, where cultural exchange is helping work toward a solution. Right then and there, my life’s work, my dream, was validated. It didn’t matter how much money I made on that tour, which wasn’t much. It’s a matter of what was accomplished.

“For the girls, it wasn’t a political debate or anything like that. It was so simple. It was just them saying, ‘We want to help you.’”

— David Isaac

Prior to COVID-19, David spent the better part of seven years in Japan as a tour manager, booking agent and promoter for various musicians through his company, Dead Foxx. In the post-pandemic world, he hopes to bring more bands from Japan to Baytown.

Through the sale of band T-shirts, Paranoid Void members Yuki (bass), Meguri (guitar) and Mipow (drums) helped raise $455 for a Black Lives Matter support fund.

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The post Japanese band supports Black Lives Matter appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“When I create music, it’s really about how I’m feeling on that particular day. I could be mad, sad or excited. I could have something on my chest, and I just need to vent.

“There’s a song on my third album called ‘Alone.’ The concept is about depression and how it can take over your state of mind. Through the years, I’ve had friends that have passed away due to depression or some other tragic event. At the start of the song I sing, ‘Man, this place is all I know. But why do I feel so alone?’ Then I realize if depression has taken my friends, does that mean I’m next? Later on in the song I say, ‘I try to find myself by the end of the night. So maybe that’s why my dreams are black and white.’ In dreams, that symbolizes there is something missing from your life that is part of you — the color, or in this case, loved ones.

“Overall, when people hear my songs, I want them to be able to relate in some way. A lot of people said ‘Alone’ reminded them of a loved one they lost as well.”

— Blaine Tate

Blaine recently released his album, “Misfit,” which is available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms. The video for “Alone” was filmed mostly in Baytown. You can find more of his videos on YouTube.

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The post He creates music to match his mood appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“My dad was a drummer for a band in the early ’90s called The Allisons, and then later for Carl Hayn and the Holdouts. From a young age, I was sitting in recording sessions and practice sessions in his garage. He always wanted me to play the drums. I was more interested in the singing side of things, but I couldn’t really sing.

“When my cousin started introducing me to artists like Tupac, Master P and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, I really liked it. Then in the early 2000s in Houston, you started seeing more Hispanic artists come out like Lucky Luciano and Baby Bash. I was maybe 13 when I thought, you know what, they look just like me. I think I could do this, too.

“At the lunch table at school, other people would be freestyling and just making music right there on the spot. Then I started doing it. And it got to a point where somebody said, ‘Hey, that’s pretty good. You should do something with that.’ So I bought a cheap, little microphone and interface, and I started making small freestyles or little songs.

“Looking back, I guess that’s where I got my start. Now I’ve put out four self-made albums and a bunch of music videos. I can see my progression as an artist, where you kind of find yourself, your sound, your style. I’m having fun with it. But I’m always looking to expand my fan base and reach a wider audience.”

— Blaine Tate

After pursuing a degree in audio engineering and music production at Lee College, Blaine worked at Dope House Records in Houston. Opportunities there helped launch his music career. His latest album, “Misfit,” was released in January. It’s available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms.

The video for the new song, “Absolute,” was filmed in Baytown. It features Blaine’s cousin, Chris Martinez, also known as Cursedout. Chris is a vocalist for the band, Positive Disturbance.

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“Dad used to sing solo hymns at St. Mark’s Methodist Church, so we kids grew up singing. Sometimes when he would sing in the shower, neighbors would pull out their lawn chairs for the concert. ‘Danny Boy’ was a favorite of his to sing, and we would sing along.

“My brother, Robert, loved to sing. He would go to piano bars to sing. There was one in Kemah called Webb’s Cove, and he would sing there on weekend nights. Usually on a Sunday night, a certain guy named Red Adair would stop in to listen. Red really liked Robert’s voice, and he would always request that he sing either ‘How Great Thou Art’ of ‘Danny Boy.’ Red would insist on giving Robert a $100 tip, which he’d split with the piano player.

“‘Danny Boy’ was a favorite of Robert’s. When he sang it, it was really powerful, and it would bring listeners to tears. It was also a favorite of mine to perform. But it’s a difficult song because of its vocal range.

“In 2019, I was in Dublin, Ireland, with my daughter and her husband. We toured the Irish Whiskey Museum that was near Trinity College on land that was once owned by my ancestors around the year 1100. After the tour, there was karaoke in the bar. So we stopped for a moment and sang a few songs.

“Then I asked the karaoke host if he thought I could sing ‘Danny Boy’ as an American, and if it would be OK with the locals. I didn’t want to show any disrespect. He said to go ahead, so I dedicated it to my brother, who passed away in 2000. I knew that Robert would have loved to have been there. The wind was blowing something awful outside, and I just thought it was now or never to honor him since I was in the land of our ancestors with his favorite niece. So I mustered up my courage, and just lived in the moment to remember him and my dad.

“It was such a fun time. By the end of the song, we were all in tears and the whole room was singing along. I swear that I could feel Robert there in spirit as I sang this incredible Irish tune.”

— Lou Ann Stanley

The post Singing ‘Danny Boy’ stirs memories of brother, dad appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I always thought I would pursue music. It never really worked out. But I play piano and I sing.

“I actually got to sing the National Anthem at an Astros game several times. The first time, I was 18. I had sent in a VHS tape, and they called to let me know. It wasn’t a great experience. There was a three-second delay, and I had never dealt with anything like that. I just kept slowing down because I couldn’t hear myself.

“I told myself that I’d do it again after that, but I never had the courage until I sent in another audition many years later. My daughter, Lyla, was 4, and I felt that I needed her to see me do something that I love after the (spinal cord) tumor removal. She had come to the hospital and laid in bed with me. She saw me struggle. She was with me when I had to learn how to walk again.

“So I contacted the Astros and asked how to send in a video now. I assumed they no longer did VHS tapes. They told me what I needed to do, and later they called and said I could sing.

“It was really special for Lyla to see a different side of me. I had wanted to back out so bad. I was so scared that I would forget the words or that I would be feeling too much pain to do well. But I figured even if I bombed, she’d have seen me try. And I did fine. I guess I’m super stubborn. I just keep trying.”

— Sheryl Duncan

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