Life has a way of surprising us with unexpected gifts. My story began one night as I slept, while my dear friend asked me questions to which I murmured answers in my dreams.
She once whispered, What would you rather havea Bentley or another luxury car? Half-asleep, I mumbled, A saxophone. The next morning, she told me about it, and that small, seemingly insignificant conversation changed my life forever.
Id always been a devoted fan of Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones, and rock music was my great passion. Yet the guitar never felt like mine. Music was essential, but the instrument had to resonate with my soul. Then it struck me: *Why not the saxophone?* It seemed an unusual choice, but undeniably right.
From that moment, everything shifted. I picked up the saxophone, attended masterclasses, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Music became my true calling. Over the years, I was fortunate enough to perform with artists like Eric Clapton and Jamie Cullum. Those encounters taught me that music isnt just technique or instrumentsits a universal language, understood by all.
Yet lately, Ive spent my days playing on the streets of London, sharing my melodies with passersby. Today, Im one of the last buskers left in the city. Once, street performances brought decent earningspeople paused, listened, dropped a few coins. Now, most hurry past as if Im invisible. But even that wont break me. I play on because music *is* life.
At 72, I still take my saxophone to the streets, even when the temperature drops to a chilly five degrees. It might seem tough, but I feel completely at peace. The music fuels me, and the fleeting listenersthose who stop even for a minuteinspire me to keep going. Every note, every breath through the saxophone carries a piece of my soul, even if they dont realise it.
Music, especially the saxophone, has taught me patience, discipline, and honesty. On the streets, theres no stage, no spotlightjust you, the instrument, and the citys hum. Theres beauty in that simplicity: a raw, unfiltered connection with people. It reminds me that musics true value isnt applause or fame, but its power to touch hearts, if only for a moment.
I often think back to that night, asleep yet answering a question that shaped my path. Whod have thought a single word, murmured in a dream, could change everything? It led me herea musician, filled with joy, meeting countless extraordinary souls.
Perhaps lifes greatest lesson isnt what you have, but what you *do*. Sometimes, answers come unexpectedlythrough a dream, a small sign, or the people who understand you. My saxophone story is one of passion, perseverance, and knowing its never too late to follow your calling.
The world changes. People grow less attentive. But music remains. It unites, heals, and inspires. Im grateful to still play, to step onto the streets even in the cold, and see glimpses of magic in passing strangers. Because music *is* lifeand as long as I can breathe notes into my saxophone, I am alive, full of energy and joy.
