An interview with Tom Locke
Author of Moments in Time

Tom Locke has a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and is an MBA graduate of York University in Toronto. He focuses much of his time on human capital development, strategic planning and executive training. He is also a founding member of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC

Interviewer Ross Michael Pink


reviewVancouver’s Ross Michael Pink in a conversation with music historian Tom Locke about his new book, entitled, Moments in Time 2.0. It's just as colorful and interesting as his first.

Moments in Time book cover
Photo courtesy of the author's web site

RMP: What do readers like most about the first book?
TL: The format I used in telling the story behind the artists and their music. In the book all the stories are two pages in length with the first page acting as a teaser, providing readers with just enough information to pique their interest so that they will try and figure out which artist or what song I was writing about. Page two is the reveal of the mystery, or what legendary journalist Paul Harvey coined “the rest of the story.” Again, instant gratification arises at the end of each segment with the inclusion of a link to the referenced song via a QR code.

RMP: What new points are covered in the second book?
TL: First off, in writing this sequel, I have stayed true to the format that proved to be so successful in my first book. However, in Moments In Time 2.0 I have adopted the suggestions made by my supporters and music professionals (interviewers, podcasters, deejays) to include some memorable stories about artists and songs from the 80s as that decade has entered the “oldies” domain. Hence this sequel focuses on artists and songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

RMP: What do you find most interesting about the new book?
TL: Moments In Time 2.0 takes you on Rock & Roll’s journey from the clipping of its wings in the early 60s through the sprouting and development of sub-genres in the 70s to the synthesizing of compositions in the 80s when listeners began comparing what they heard on the radio with what they were experiencing via live performances.

RMP: Who are your favorite musicians?
TL: This is a tough question for me. I remain a Rock & Roll guy and over the years I am still a sucker for vocal harmonies – the Everly Brothers may be responsible for cementing that in me. I was in my teens when the British Invasion hit North America. However, it was after its initial thrust that I seeked an alternative sound via blue-eyed soul. The first group in that genre that resonated with me were the Rascals (initially known as the Young Rascals). I was also a big Motown fan with the Temptations leading the way for me. In the mid-70s through the early 80s, I found myself listening to R&B vocal harmony groups again like the Spinners (“The Rubberband Man”) and the Manhattans (“Kiss And Say Goodbye”). In the early 80s I went somewhat full circle as I started following groups like Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (“I Love Rock ‘N Roll”). And then just when I thought there was nothing “new” out there for me along comes Simon Cowell’s 2010 discovery, One Direction, and I began following them after their breakout 2011 smash hit “What Makes You Beautiful.” Lastly, as far as go-to music is concerned, I still often listen to late-50s/early-60s country crossover legends such as Jim Reeves (“He’ll Have To Go”), Johnny Horton (“Sink The Bismarck”), and Marty Robbins (“El Paso”).

Autographed photo of Theresa Brewer
Courtesy of Tom Locke

RMP: Do you have an entertaining personal, musician story, meeting to share?
TL: Here’s one that is in my new book. In the late 80s and early 90s, I was engaged in chairing Vancouver film initiatives that involved hosting film producers from Los Angeles who were interested in shooting in BC. One of these film producers was a seventy-year-old gentleman by the name of Walter Shenson, noted for producing the 1959 film The Mouse That Roared starring Peter Sellers. Walter and I hit it off. During a follow-up visit to Los Angeles, I discovered that he had also played a significant role in the British Invasion of the mid-60s. While in London, England in the 60s, Shenson consented to producing a low-budget film on a musical group that was causing a sensation in the UK. A year later he produced another movie with that group: the Beatles. Those two movies were A Hard Days Night and Help. During the first film, Shenson was on the set every day. After he had looked at some early rushes, his wife asked him whether the Beatles could act. ‘’I don’t know if they can act,’’ he replied, ‘’but you can’t keep your eyes off them.’’

RMP: How is reaction to first book?
TL: It has been most rewarding. The book has received numerous awards throughout North America and can now be found in the gift shop and in the Library & Archives at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. It also hit #1 status on Amazon. Moreover, I ended up connecting and reconnecting with people worldwide. It was their encouragement and that of my readers/followers that spawned Moments In Time 2.0, a continuation of my commitment to create and share an ongoing tribute to the music that shaped our lives.

RMP: How has the music scene evolved over the past 40 years?
TL: The late 50s saw a number of music-related incidents that shook, and shocked, the American public and placed Rock & Roll in jeopardy. These included Little Richard trading his piano in for a bible, Jerry Lee Lewis marrying his thirteen-year-old cousin, Chuck Berry being arrested for taking a fourteen-year-old girl across state lines for “immoral purposes,” the tragic deaths of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens on February 3, 1959, and Elvis being drafted. The unique rawness of Rock & Roll began to dis¬appear. Top 40 Radio, a new phenomenon, contrib¬uted to this. Radio broadcasting establishments dictated what was to be played, much to the chagrin of the deejays during that period. Throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Rock & Roll continued to evolve and adapt to changing cultural and musical land¬scapes, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture and inspiring generations of musicians to come. Lastly, it is important to note that the advancements in social media over the years have allowed us to easily access the music of our youth and relive those Moments In Time that put smiles on our faces. Social media has also been a catalyst in introducing new generations to the hits of the late 20th century – so much so, we are experiencing the release of more cover versions as what’s “old is new again."

I© 2024 Ross Michael Pink