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Baby Boomers and Eric Clapton: Wonderful Tonight

Times they are a changin' and big time. Last night, September 16th, my wife and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary by attending the Eric Clapton concert in Minneapolis. Here was this 62 year old icon of 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's rock and roll, looking at an arena full of similar age fans. He was serene on stage often letting his two young, accompanying guitarists have the spotlight.

Eric Clapton was enjoying himself, so comfortable with his craft. No fancy light show or pyro-technics, just great music. He played songs spanning the last 5 decades as all 16,000 of us swayed and sang together.

The audience was an incredible collection of baby boomers. Some brought their grandchildren!! There were many thinning hairlines, bought-and-paid-for pot bellies; dentists, lawyers, bankers, doctors, nurses, teachers, homemakers,artists and construction workers all unified in their appreciation of this legendary artist.

The couple behind us were dressed in their Lauren jeans and matching Lauren shirts. Both in their early 60's, in tow with their two early teen grandchildren. The grandpa kept telling them over and over " now, this kids ... is real music!" He was so right.

The couple in front of us were in their early 40's (I knew I hated them!), trying to film the concert on their two camera-ready cell phones. She even had an extra-battery charger. The guy next to my wife was a portly gentleman, wearing a suit and very swank t-shirt. His clean cut haircut and shiny black shoes gave him away as an accountant. But he was boogeying ... until he wrenched his back and had to sit for the rest of the show!

The air was distinctly clean and clear of any funny "cigarette" smell. I cannot recall ever being at a concert where the smell of wacky tabacky was not evident everywhere.Not last night.Too many grandkids in the audience, and the smell would have ruined some expensive outfits.

All in all, it was a grand evening. My wife and I just took it all in and relished our generations appreciation of great music and artists like Eric Clapton. Baby Boomer pride was everywhere and we wore it gracefully.We all sang together when Clapton played the beautiful chords of "Wonderful Tonight", and we all sat a bit on edge, looking a bit uncomfortable in front of the younger fans when he played the riffs of " Cocaine". Clapton even gently said after the song, not appropriate anymore!! "He's grown up" yelled the woman behind me ... haven't we all ...

... now, any chance of getting Led Zeppelin re-united for a show?

Filed under: Change , Destiny , Inspiration

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About Georges Yared

Georges is a world-class investor and businessman with an enviable track record of success. His new program is entitled "Stop Losing Money Today - The Art and Science of Investing."

Georges entered the brokerage business in February 1979 as a rookie stockbroker for Dean Witter Reynolds, now Morgan Stanley. In his first year of production, June 1979 to May 1980, he opened 521 new accounts, shattering the then Dean Witter record of 228. After 3 years of full time production, Georges became Senior Vice President and Branch Manager of Dean Witter's Oakbrook, Illinois office. In two years, the office more than doubled in size and revenues. In 1985, Georges became Midwest Regional manager for Dean Witter, in Chicago. He was in charge of 1200 brokers, in 40 different branches covering 11 States.

In 1987 Georges became President and CEO of Dean Witter Canada, headquartered in Toronto. In two years, the size of the firm was tripled and subsequently sold to a large Canadian bank. In 1992 Georges joined investment banking research boutique firm, Wessels, Arnold and Henderson in Minneaplois. MN. There, Georges became a partner and was in charge of its European sales effort. Wessels was eventually sold to Dain Rauscher, becoming Dain Rauscher Wessels, and in 2000, Dain Rauscher was sold to the Royal Bank of Canada, re-naming the firm RBC Dain. In 2003 Georges joined ThinkEquity partners, headquartered in San Francisco, as a senior partner, head of International sales.

In his career, Georges has directly and indirectly worked with over 5,000 individual investors and over 100 professional portfolio managers. He has worked with over 150 research analysts. Georges' passion is the stock market and great growth companies. He has travelled and advised many of them. He has seen first hand what makes some companies great and some ... not so great.