Life Tones

A Frustrated Audiophile Tries to Spend a Weekend with Beethoven

By Mark Massura / August 20, 2026 / Leave a Comment / Life Tones

CHICAGO — The first thing that you need to know is that I love Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. I probably listen […]

Tough times befall us all. What I thought would be a productive summer sabbatical of writing and relaxation has been

Image courtesy of www.indeed.com San Francisco, CA — A close friend of mine saw his doctor last week. At least 25 pounds overweight

A Young Carlos Santana (photo courtesy of @santanacarlos official Carlos Santana x.com account) PEDRO IN “RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT

By Mark Massura / May 30, 2026 / 1 Comment / Life Tones

My boys gave me a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable for Father’s Day one year. The next year they got me the

Like the weather in the Midwest, it’s been a whirlwind of activity around these parts lately. We’ve had severe weather,

GRANDPA MIKE RAMIREZ “THE LATE” PATRIARCH SAN BRUNO, CA — It is a very early January morning in 2007 when

When I was a grade schooler, I relished listening to Motown and Top 40 music on a plastic tabletop tube

By Juan C. Ayllon / February 4, 2026 / 2 Comments / Life Tones

I couldn’t help myself and, chances are, if you are a vinyl enthusiast, you couldn’t either. But my wife and

Winters and headcolds seem to go hand in hand, and unfortunately, I’ve spent the greater balance of my winter holiday

By Juan C. Ayllon / December 25, 2025 / Leave a Comment / Life Tones

I was driving my wife, Belle, home last night from a festive Christmas Eve celebration held at my younger stepson’s