Local musician Kevin Moore has experienced many challenges on the path to cowriting and creating his new album, “Friends and Family Round.”
“My parents bought me a guitar when I was in high school,” he recalled. “Even though I wanted to be a rock star like everyone else, it took a back seat to sports, girls and a lack of commitment.”
Following school, the Holland resident’s life went in another direction with marriage, parenthood and a full-time job. Playing guitar hardly became a priority–it gathered dust in his closet.
Music fell even further in importance 20 years ago when Mr. Moore was struck with a horrible ringing in his ears. It led to eventual hearing loss, dizzy spells and a diagnosis of Meniere’s–later re-diagnosed as autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED). His hearing fluctuated to where he couldn’t hear sound at all.
“I spent many years not even listening to music because it was just too frustrating,” he said. But once he reached his 50s, the disease went into a form of remission. With the use of hearing aids, he is able to listen to music again.
“About three years ago, my wife Lori and I became empty nesters,” Mr. Moore said. “I decided to blow the dust off my guitar and finally learn to really play the instrument. I discovered a passion for music that I didn’t know I had.”
After a year of practice, he formed a basement band with friends and musicians he met on the Internet. But when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the basement band disbanded.
Mr. Moore’s artistry, however, did not. He used the pandemic to write his own songs, eventually turning singing over to Dean Rochester of Bowling Green, whom he had met via the Internet.
Mr. Rochester, who had already started the “Friends” album, agreed to sing Mr. Moore’s songs.
The two even co-wrote a few songs, now available on Amazon and Apple Music –and at Finders Records in Bowling Green.
“Although AIED is still a struggle, with the help of medication and the support of ‘Family and Friends,’” Mr. Moore said, “I’m having the time of my life making music to my ears.”
