Frequently I refer to the "Greatest Generation of Firefighters". To me these are the guys that fought a record number of fires day after day, night after night in New York City. Those were considered the War Years for the FDNY. A little later there were other cities that had their share of very heavy fire activity or War Years. Today cities like Detroit, Baltimore, and Camden are having their so called War Years.
As civilians, "The Greatest Generation" as society knows it, were those that grew up during the Great Depression. They had nothing. Then that same group went on to fight World War II. After fighting in WWII, they came home and built America. That was in the 1950s, when America had jobs, and no mattrer what city you lived in, you could leave your doors Unlocked.
Along that time came some of the greatest music and talent. It became the Rock and Roll era. People sang on street corners. They sang about the girl of their dreams. The music was great. That music and those singers in my opinion will also be known as "Musics Greatest Generation".
I've gone to a few shows in the past where these singers have played. I'm sure our own G-man was a part of the group on stage. In just a few years we have lost many of Musics Greatest Generation members. Music that was played on the radio some 50 years ago is still very popular today. I know that by the packed audience at some of these shows. I watch the audience sing along as they all seem to remember every word to these songs 50 years later.
Bobby Rogers of the Motown group called The Miracles was one of those singers. He is a Hall of Famer whos music will live on, at least with my generation. May he Rest in Peace, and I thank him for the gift he shared with many of us.