GETTING OLD

Here's an El D'Rage "Minute Rap" that looks at aging in America. What are you doing to look out for your old age?



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It's been fifty years since El D'Rage first picked up a guitar and began strummin' and hummin'. In 1955, his musical tastes ran from "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" to Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons". A lot has changed since back then.

The musical background of El D'Rage is the musical background of many a "Baby Boomer". Caught up in the folk revolution of the late 50s, then Elvis, Motown and the Beatles, he is a product of America's most tumultuous - and exciting - musical era. And "El" has been in the thick of music all his life.

Now, he's done something exciting; something totally different. El D'Rage has created Elder Rap: a new form of music combining the over-the-top rhythms of Hip-Hop with lyrics fun enough to get seniors jumping (carefully) out of their chairs - and sensitive enough to bring tears to the eyes of strong men.

Elder Rap is about three things:

First, it's a celebration of two proud generations: The aptly named "Greatest Generation" and their notoriously funky kids, the "Baby Boomers". These two generations have experienced it all - the Great Depression, wars, peace, poverty and riches - and El D'Rage's rap puts lyrics to their lives.

Second, Elder Rap is all about "unwrapping the rappers." Rap, which originated as a serious attempt to express feelings about life in America's urban ghettoes, has degenerated into a foul-mouthed expression of all that is wrong with America. Much of it is racist, sexist, obscene, hateful and just plain wrong for our kids. Today's rap messages are: crime pays; being disrespectful pays: being offensive pays; do your worst and reap the rewards of a nation growing too fat, dumb and lazy to give a hoot. El D'Rage says, "Enough! Parents, WAKE UP! DO YOUR JOB!"

Third, Elder Rap is about teaching the "Three T's" - teens, twenties and thirties - about the values and experiences of their parents' and grandparents' generations. We've learned a lot of lessons over the past sixty or seventy years. Listen to us. Pick up a few pointers about how to keep America a great place to live.

El D'Rage and his Elder Rap are moving front-and-center on the American stage. People over forty-five are getting their musical voice back. Give a listen, think about what you're hearing . . . and spread the word!