**Diary Entry**
Sometimes life throws us unexpected gifts. My story began one night as I slept, while my dear friend asked me questions to which I replied in my dreams. Once, she whispered, What would you want mosta Bentley or some other luxury car? Half-asleep, I mumbled back, A saxophone. The next morning, she told me about it, and that small, seemingly trivial midnight conversation changed my life forever.
Ive always admired Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones, and rock music has been my passion. Yet, the guitar never felt quite right for me. Music was essential, but the instrument had to be something that truly carried my emotions. And then it struck mewhy not the saxophone? It seemed unexpected, but utterly perfect.
From that moment, everything shifted. I started playing, attending workshops, and even studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Music became my true calling. Over the years, Ive been fortunate enough to perform alongside legends like John Coltrane and Jamie Cullum. Those encounters taught me that music isnt just technique or an instrumentits a language, one everyone understands.
Yet, for the last few years, Ive spent my days on the streets of London, playing my compositions for passersby. Nowadays, Im one of the last remaining buskers in England. Once, street performances brought in decent earningspeople would stop, listen, smile, and drop a few pounds into my case. These days, most just hurry past as if I dont exist. But even that wont break me. I keep playing because music, in itself, is life.
At 72, I still take my saxophone to the streets, even when the temperature dips to just above freezing. It might seem difficult, but I feel a strange harmonythe music gives me energy, and the occasional passerby who pauses for a moment fuels my inspiration. Every note, every breath drawn through the sax, is a piece of my soul, shared with the world, whether they realise it or not.
Music, especially the saxophone, has taught me patience, discipline, and honesty. Busking strips away the stage, the spotlightsits just you, your instrument, and the hum of the city. And in that simplicity lies something beautiful: a raw, unfiltered connection. It reminds me that musics purpose isnt applause or accolades, but the power to touch hearts, even if just for a fleeting moment.
I often think back to that night, half-asleep, murmuring about a saxophone. Whod have thought a single word, spoken in a dream, could reshape a life? It led me down a new path, made me a musician, and gave me countless moments of joy and encounters with extraordinary people.
Perhaps what matters most isnt what you have, but what you do. Sometimes answers come unexpectedlythrough a dream, a small sign, or people who simply understand. My story with the saxophone is one of passion, perseverance, and proof its never too late to follow your calling.
And though the world changes, and people grow less attentive, music remains. It unites, heals, and inspires. Im grateful I can still play, still step onto the streets, even in the cold, and watch as a little of musics magic touches those who pass by. Because music is lifeand as long as I can breathe notes through my saxophone, I feel alive, full of energy and joy.
