Music playlist

Steve Schaffner, fiddler extraordinaire and Cape Central orchestra director, gives us his top five as he readies to play in the "Big River" opening performance.

1. "Big Boss Man" by Elvis Presley

I decided I wanted to be a musician after I saw an Elvis movie called "Roustabout". Musicians get the good-lookin' chicks. Now I got three or four, if you count the female dog!

2. "Sandy Beaches" by Delbert McClinton

Almost 26 years ago, two weeks after we were married, my wife and I lost almost everything we owned in a fire (except for a few fiddles, guitars, her wedding dress and our stereo). Two weeks after that we moved to Georgia. I have fond memories of dancing cheek to cheek in our furnitureless apartment to this song.

3. "Favorite Memory" by Merle Haggard.

I've always loved his outspoken, blue collar attitude and the fact he's always had a fiddle in his band. "Fightin' Side of Me" takes on new meaning now that I have former students in Iraq.

4. "Accentuate the Positive, Eliminate the Negative" by Willie Nelson.

'Nuff said.

5. "Choo Choo Cha Boogie" by Asleep at the Wheel.

A remake of a Louis Jordan (and his Tympani Five) tune. This premiere Western Swing band has been my favorite musical group for 30-plus years.