We recently connected with J.robert Houghtaling and have shared our conversation below.
J.Robert, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
“Somehow we made it this far…we always have and we always will.”
My great-grandmother Lizzy and her generation of Americans were known to have overcome immense political, economic, and personal turmoil, being born in the late 1870’s in rural Florida.
Her optimism would account for several inquiries on your questionnaire such as “where I got my sense of generosity, inner strength, modes of survival, or necessary work ethic.
Her generation and her children’s children have drawn themselves out of bed each and every day of their lives only to take on one challenge at a time…one step at a time…nothing more, nothing less.
It’s simply our cultural and personal heritage that keeps us on the good path of respect for the past and responsibility for the future,
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have enjoyed a lifetime of personal adventures and professional accomplishments as I know each person in this column gladly share.
I’ve been a keen student, forestry worker, cowboy, farmer, music performer and producer, film score composer, a sailor, a booking agent, friend to successful businessmen, musicians and Native American Chiefs as well as being a happy husband, father, and family man.
My biggest present challenge is to be a good caretaker for my wife and aged mother-in-law while building an artistic vehicle for my extensive collection of unpublished songs and stories I wish to share on my website www.JRobertMusic.com
I’ve most recently gathered my family to a quiet community in central southern Idaho where I’ve helped institute a monthly talent show of local music artists located at the Magic Valley Universalist Unitarian Fellowship Hall. This is a continuation of my “10,000 Songs Show” my friends and I instituted for several years in Marco Island, Florida.
As well, I’ve joined “The Idaho Cowboys,” which is a group of about 20 fledgling musicians who gather in a rural blacksmith’s shop once a week share a heritage of cowboy songs.
I’ve had so many blessings to celebrate over the years that I’m even more excited about the new and unknown challenges ahead. www.JRobertMusic.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1 Keep an Inquiring mind – wonder about how things work.
2 Have faith in the moment – all your experiences led up to this moment…you’re ready!
3 Keep an eye on the horizon – don’t be surprised if you didn’t see it coming…neither did anyone else, but you had an inkling!
My best advice to young people is go ask an old person about their journey, then go ask a younger person if they have any questions for you.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I could use a good facilitator to help me navigate the wondrous array of tools we have available nowadays.
Promoting? Marketing?
So many toys…so little time!
Standing by@ [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JRobertMusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrobert.houghtaling
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/MangroveMan
Image Credits
J.Robert Houghtaling
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