United States Of America

Grew up in Boston. Mother and grandmother sang in nightclubs to make money during the Depression. Grandmother was a classical pop pianist. Used to take me to the Boston Pops in a Checker Taxi (with stools instead of a back seat.)

I played classical piano in my childhood, practiced about five hours per day, then stopped when we moved to a place that won’t be mentioned where everyone laughed at me.

My blind brother played flamenco guitar, and spent an hour at Perkins with Segovia, who told him his hands were too small, and he’d never be able to play professionally.

I also read five books a week as a child, and was reading adult books by the time I was four.

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