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Every step you take along Philadelphia’s trendy strip of South Street, you
will encounter an excitement that reverberates from small tattoo shops to
famous cheese steak restaurants.
From a distance, the rich voice of a man is heard as he
strums his guitar. People head towards the voice that isfloating through the
crowds of people on the corner of 7th and South Street, lured by its strong, yet
soothing notes. All these strangers take a brief intermission from their busy
lives to stop and embrace the extraordinary talent this man possesses.
As tourists take pictures, a couple standing five feet away
from the talent smile and nod as he sings about the first time he fell in love.
“He was really good,” said Michelle Larisson after listening
to his first song.
As people come and go, a few get comfortable and sit on the
pavement embracing every story being sung by this man. Whispers are heard among
the crowd as curiosity emerges about who he is.
“Is he famous?” “What’s his name?” Nobody seems to know, but
everyone wants to hear more.
As he takes a five minute break, he sips from a Poland
Spring bottle given to him by a spectator. Many people walk up to this
intriguing musician and compliment him. Some even ask to have their picture
taken with him because they have been so moved by his music. He shakes a number
of hands and humbly thanks everyone that passes by.
Gary, who wouldn’t give his last name, was born in Philadelphia twenty eight
years ago. He moved to California
to pursue a career in singing when he was 23. Unfortunately things didn’t go
according to plan and he was forced to come back home and began singing and
playing his guitar in open mic nights. He now has a job just outside Philadelphia, but from
time to time he still goes out to the corner of any street and plays his music,
singing songs about his life experiences.
“I just want my music to be heard by as many ears as
possible,” said Gary
as he prepared for another set of songs. “It makes me happy when I see people
vibing and smiling to my music.”
Attracting hundreds of people in a matter of an hour, Gary continues singing his songs about love
and his struggles. Everyone that took a moment to listen to his words, leaves South Street with a
personal part of Gary.
Even though Gary
couldn’t get a break in the music industry he is pleased with having people
hear his music wherever he is. “As long as someone is listening, I’m
satisfied,” Gary
said.
Jessica Bonilla is a Rutgers-Newark student. Posted September 2009.
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