I actually can’t remember listening to a lot of music growing up. It seems like most people I know can remember loving certain artists from the time they were toddlers, but the only music I ever remember growing up with was Anne Murray’s Christmas album. My parents would throw that record on the stereo, no matter the time of year, because I loved it so much (and so did my sister, but I think it’s safe to say I loved it more than she did. She’s always been a good sport when it comes to my musical tastes!).

My musical tastes came to light a bit later, when I started playing the piano. For a long time, in late elementary school and early high school, I was the only kid I knew that would choose Beethoven over The Notorious B.I.G. Along with a budding love for jazz, old ’40s swing…