I been following this thread with some interest, but haven't much time at the moment to write.
I've had similar pedigree to some of you guys. First guitar at age 13 in '62, played in 'pop' groups til, after having an on-stage electrocution when I was 15 (and was too young to sue the venue!) I was given some records to listen to whilst recovering in hospital. John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson......that was me converted!!
I played the blues and was part of the (British) blues revival of the mid 60's until I was enticed in a different direction through discovering the cross-over between blues and folk music. I then did folk clubs and festivals til '75, when I virtually stopped playing, due to family commitments.
I always kept a guitar at home and taught both my daughters to play, along with basic keyboard skills.
Two years ago my younger daughter fancied a 'penny-whistle' course at the local college but wouldn't go without me! That was the thing that kick-started me back into music. I learned the whistle, I picked up the guitar again to help out with accompaniments for the rest of the class, I followed this with a basic 'music technology' course and then realised that I could record myself at home!
Enlightenment, at last.
So now here I am. Sitting at a computer that I only learned to use 3 years ago, making age-old music, and being able to multi-track myself playing as the band that I always wanted to be in!!
So....I don't know if it is a hobby (yes, as it fills in my spare time), or art (maybe, as I also paint and draw and find music is another creative outlet), or just simply a part of my 'being'.
Anyways.......it's brilliant being here amongst you people. I had two collabs here within weeks of first joining, and look forward to more. My first love is 'real' instrumentation. I like to play and record acoustic, but also love the contrast of mixing traditional with electronic. My biggest disappointment is that I can not sing! Anyone wants to take my tunes and put words to them......just go ahead. Some tune that aren't over here on the forum are over on my 'artist page'.
I notice that some of the contributors here don't have there own pages! Try it...it's only a click away!!
I'll come back to this when I have more time.
James