To all professional and aspiring musicians (all inclusive of your pop-stars, rock legends, heroes to the people, street corner serenaders, shower singers, karaoke bar sweethearts, Broadway babies, and anything else you choose to fit right here in your ideal as a 'musician'):

Do you remember a time when you stopped caring about the music?

A time when it suddenly became less important to you to express yourself through your work and more important to simply roll with the punches and make as much money as you possibly could, gain as many adoring fans as possible, and not care about much else?

A time when fame started to effect you in such a way that the very love you had when you first began sharing your music with the world eventually got replaced by something much less important?

A time when upon meeting your fanbase, you are not greeting them with the open arms and appreciation they so deserve, but instead with a cocky attitude and an impish nod of the head, not remembering the days where these very people were helping musicians like yourself along by spreading your shows, and giving you publicity?

A time when it just became a job for you and nothing more?

Perhaps you are shaking your head in disbelief; unable to even comprehend such an attitude, knowing full well that it is nothing that you are, and hoping it will never be.

It is for you that I still find joy in music, and still give my all to support you and your cause. It is for you that I have found my life's blood. It is for you that so many people have found the happiness that comes from beautiful music that they are able to keep close to their hearts.

But you would be surprised how many do not even know any better to realize that their answer is "yes". And for that, I do hope the magic will one day return to you... because we miss it.

Love,
Erica Lynn Gruenberg.