For The Love Of Music-A Forever Bond

I sat in the dark theater next to my Dad listening to Jordan Albertsen speak of the role played by music in connecting him with his father. 

I felt a soul level response bubbling up inside of me as I realized what I was experiencing. 

I don’t know Jordan, yet in that moment I felt two children finding a bond with their Dads that will go beyond life and death. 

We walked out of Boom: A Film About The Sonics in a playful synergy I hadn’t felt in a long time. 

Let’s go back to the beginning…

My beginning anyway.

My Dad was one of my very first friends. 

The nights he spent at home were often filled with hours of card games. 

I can very much see those old cards in my mind's eye right now, the green and gold pheasant deck. 

My favorite game was “Remember”.

I became incredibly good at memorizing the overturned cards and quickly matching them with their mates, stacking my triumphs and winning our game. 

Music played a significant role in our home. 

The Moody Blues, Kansas, Cat Stevens, The Byrds and my very favorite, Bee Gees, were nearly always spinning on our record player. 

(My parents actually named me after the Bee Gees 1969 release, Odessa) 

We lived in a house straight from a fairy tale. My parents secured a 4 acre property in a tiny town called Home, Washington when I was a toddler. 

They created a home from a seedling of imagination.

Our house was a rustic gem, nestled between great firs and fruit trees.

My Dad ignited his skills in carpentry while my Mom unleashed her artistic talent in sewing curtains, pillows and hand painting embellishments upon pieces of our abode. 

I must have developed my love for the unique and one of a kind things from my upbringing.

In my youth, I wanted the “norm”. I longed to fit in and thought if I had a certain kind of jeans, haircut or a bologna on Wonderbread, my life would somehow be a breeze.

Today I treasure originality.

Today they might have been a YouTube home improvement sensation but it was the 70s. They were nonconformists doing their best to create a life in alignment with their values. 

After the house was completed, my father went on to build a massive concert hall just steps across the yard. 

Thee Inn was an incredible structure.

It had a sprawling main floor, a large staircase to the second level and a ladder up to the tower.

My Dad held a grand vision. 

He had made connection to the music industry in Hollywood California prior to my birth there in December of 1970. 

Circumstance brought him back home to Washington state where he decided to build his rock and roll dream where his muses would gather and collaborate. 

I’ll never forget drifting off to my childhood slumbers hearing songs vibrate through the walls of Thee Inn. 

Sadly the project was never fully developed. Neighbors brought my Dad to court for his disturbance of the peace while my parent’s marriage erupted into separation and divorce. 

I recently found the paper from 1979 in my keepsake stash. Dad must have really been making a ruckus to make front page news in Tacoma!

All press is good yes??

In my teens, I became crazy for rock!

It was the 80s and I was obsessed with the Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Accept etc. I mail ordered the 12 cassettes for a penny (if you know you know) and had a ball introducing my Dad to my favorite rockers. 

We drove around in this ridiculous monster of a car. I’m guessing it was something like a 1970 Ford LTD. It was an awful shade of green. It had no key. You turned it on by connecting the wires under the steering wheel. 

I think he paid about $100 for it from this low end car lot downtown Tacoma. 

We may as well have both been teenagers, tearing down the road in that beast, cigarette smoke and Accept pouring out the windows. 

In the 40 ish years since, our friendship has remained yet a great part of me has gone on to trailblaze my own path and experience personal lessons and victories. 

My Dad visited me for a few days in Fall of 2021 while I was living in Northern California. 

We had a blast retracing steps we had taken on a road trip to San Francisco the summer of ‘81.

I recall this feeling I had as he drove away, knowing I wouldn’t see him again for a long time. 

He moved to Mexico shortly after and our communication waned. He’s not a man of technology. FaceTime and texts weren’t always possible and I’m not the best at phone calls.

That three years was the longest time of disconnection I’d experienced with my Dad. 

A few weeks ago, he decided to put his life in Mexico on hold and venture home to Washington for an extended visit. 

The day after going to see Boom, we spent the entire morning and afternoon in my living room where I asked him all kinds of questions about his experiences in the 1960s Pacific Northwest music scene. 

At age 16, he was the frontman for a band called the Centrix. One of their greatest influences were the Sonics. They both played venues around Tacoma Washington. I believe those young guys were having the time of their lives. That was likely their magic too. Less “trying”, more BEing. Experimenting. Making unapologetic moves.

A favorite story my Dad shares is where he and his band were mistaken for the Kinks at Seattle’s Summer Spectacular in 1965. He first handedly experienced what it was to be in the hands of raving fans and apparently it was quite terrifying. Of course that didn’t stop him. It was all part of the wild ride. 

Centrix play the Gaslight in Tacoma, Washington circa 1964.

Robert Poole-lead vocals and guitar.

Of everything and everyone in his life, I believe my father’s deepest love has been music. Especially when he’s the one playing. 

One of my recent personal triumphs is becoming the woman that sees my father as a man dedicated to his dream. 

I’m no longer a girl that went without because of this or that. 

I’m a woman taking responsibility for what I desire in this life. This isn’t on anyone but myself. 

Doing life in this energy allows me great freedom in releasing others from expectations.

Today I am excited to enjoy and experience not only what I bring to life through my imagination and intentional action but being witness to others living out their visions. Even better, is when a bit of my magic plays into another's success. I love to see and help others win.

My Dad is a treasure trove of rock and roll history. 

He’s an incredible storyteller. He makes an excellent podcast and radio guest. His voice is powerful. His energy magnetic. His greatest joy is playing live to an engaged audience. 

I recently created a Facebook page for my Dad where you can connect with the man and his music. 

https://www.facebook.com/RobertPooleMusic/

Follow for live events, song releases, interviews and more. 

Whether he’s playing an old Byrds tune or one of his own songs, the music takes you to another space in time. 

For me, it’s a warm wave of nostalgia carrying my inner child across life’s tides.

The ability to tap into this lives within me. It’s forever mine.

*A special note and a song from Robert…

In the 1960s, I was moved by the 12 string “Ric” guitar that Roger McGuinn, from the Byrds, had played.

It was like a spiritual tone-like a rockin harp, if you will. Their first big hit, Tambourine Man, by Bob Dylan took me on a trip…where my soul and mind were free to travel beyond space and time.

And still now, many years later my boot heels are walking and dancing to my seasoned concept of this high, all-inspiring character.

So as you listen with heart to this tune I have written, please join in this walk with me in this journey and timeless parade-

because I’m still following the Tambourine Man…

Robert and Odessa at the Moody Blues concert.

Hollywood Bowl. June 2017