music

Each month, our staff shares their favorite “picks” of the month, whether they be TV shows, movies, books, podcasts, recent events, recipes they’ve tried, dishes from restaurants, places they’ve visited or a mix of a few.

My ears are beginning to recognize the rhythms of what they hear. Pop. Rock. Rap. Reggae. R&B. Blues. Jazz. Classical. Country. Folk. Show tunes. Opera. Hip-Hop. Heavy metal. Dance. Disco. Electronic. Elevator. And even spa.

A small-scale symphony concert is coming to a park near you. This summer marks the fifth season of the Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Serenades in the Park series, which offers free family-friendly concerts in Stark Parks. Concerts begin June 27 and run through the beginning of September.

Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz is in his second year as the assistant conductor of the Canton Symphony Orchestra. And he’s been busy.

Dan Monea can’t remember his life without music. Monea, the vocalist, guitarist and chief songwriter for the popular Canton-based trio, Hey Monea, started playing the piano at the age of 3.

Go, ahead: Ask 100 people the “Disney vs. Pixar” question. Most will say Disney, and not because it’s what they grew up watching or because most people can’t name a Pixar movie besides “Toy Story” or “Cars.”

North Canton resident Ryan Humbert is an award-winning singer-songwriter and lead singer of the traditional honky tonk band Shooter Sharp & The Shootouts, which recently recorded its national debut album to be released this fall. He also hosts Shooter Sharp’s Americana Roundup every Sunday morning on The Summit WAPS-FM.

Perhaps not since 1959, when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper met their end in an Iowa snowstorm, has popular music had such a year of loss: Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, Merle Haggard, Paul Kanter of Jefferson Airplane/Starship, David Bowie and Prince.

From past to present, get in the know on music legends, concerts and genres.

It doesn’t matter your age, at some point in the summer, you are going to find yourself lying in the grass forgetting about the world.