Dr Kelly Fleming

I don’t “listen” to music very often. However with Bluetooth and my phone, I’m able to appreciate music.

Here is my story about learning music:

As a Deaf kid, I never had the opportunity to hear my own Mum’s voice, who was, I’ve been told by many, a beautiful singer all her life.

Mum used to sing to me and I’d feel the vibrations of her voice. Likewise I would sit on the floor next to the organ when she played it to feel the vibrations but never heard the music.

One day I was in the car and my brother started it while we waited for Mum to come out. I felt the car vibrations and asked what it was. My brother explained it was a radio in the car (something I didn’t understand because the only radio I knew was the big wooden box on the mantle). He turned the radio up, Gloria (sung be Laura Branigan) was playing.

Mum came out to the car and asked why the music was so loud and I signed radio Mum, music! Mum smiled and turned it up as loud as it would go. She was so excited that I finally “understood” what music was.

I fell in love with music thanks to Laura, Gloria and the car radio.

I bought every record Laura recorded. I never missed American Bandstand or Solid Gold when she was on. Every time she was on Carson, I watched. I watched the telethons that were broadcasted from Detroit to Southern Ontario (I live 2 hours from the border.

While I’ve come to appreciate a few other artists, Laura’s music is what I know and love the most. What I put on when I’m sad, when I’m happy, when I just need a friend to talk to me and help me think.

Like everyone else, I was shocked the day she left us. But for 21 years she has the ability to smile every time she knows someone is appreciating her music. Her words live on in us, her other half. My teenage years were spent with Laura blasting through my ghettoblaster (boom box) and Mum bought a special set of headphones from the music store after a few years of having to listen to Laura’s voice on full power going through the entire house 🤣

I blew up several sets of speakers to my stereo in university because of Laura’s voice. And so many memories I have that relate to her.

I never had the opportunity to meet her, but to see her perform – what a blessing and to rewatch some of those now thanks to technology.

Laura left us too soon but she’ll always be here with us and I know she’s in another place singing and so grateful to her other half for the joy she continues to bring us.

Forever Young ❤️🤟🏼

Can I live without music? Absolutely. Would I give up listening to Laura Branigan? Not a chance in the world.

❤️🤟🏼🎶