As a youngster my appetite for Classical music was whetted by radio/TV programs and movies that referenced many well-known works. A good example of this was The Lone Ranger TV series, whose title sequence was underscored with a spirited excerpt from Rossini's (1792-1868) Guillaume (William) Tell Overture (1829). Then there were those Looney Tunes cartoons filled with Classical snippets as well as Walt Disney's (1901-1966) groundbreaking, animated feature, Fantasia (1940). Consequently, I spent countless hours listening to my parent's Classical albums on our Capehart Console, which was a 1940s precursor of today's sound systems.

This was back in the days of 78s, which only had up to five minutes of music per side (for details click here). Accordingly, our Capehart had a gizmo that flipped as well as changed them -- shades of Rube Goldberg -- and on occasion even break one.

Prior to college, I attended schools where I took music appreciation courses as well as piano and organ lessons. While the latter confirmed I'd never be a Vladimir Horowitz or E. Power Biggs, these academic endeavors greatly deepened my love for the Classics, which led to my becoming an avid record collector and audiophile.

Then having moved on to college, I developed a great liking for the sciences and decided to major in physics. However, the university I attended had an outstanding music department, which resulted in my taking several related courses that included harmony and counterpoint. I also joined the college radio station (WHRB 95.3FM), where I served as its Classical Music Director during my junior and senior years.

My schooling was followed by a four-year stint in the Navy, and then a civil service career. However, I stayed active in Classical Music circles, and developed a strong interest in sound equipment. This led to a part-time job as an audio consultant, and my starting an advertising company that specialized in radio commercials for high-end-stereo stores. As might be expected, these spots were heavily laced with Classical Music.

Then after retiring from government, I decided to pursue my musical interests, and went to work for Tower Records in Washington, DC, where I headed its Classical Music Department. These were highly enjoyable years; however, the store closed in 2006, at which time I began writing reviews for the company's website.

This resulted in my establishing the CLASSICAL LOST AND FOUND WEB SITE (CLOFO.com) to tell music lovers about new discs having repetoire that was off the beaten path, but well worth the detour! It does that through periodically published CROCKS NEWSLETTERs (see the "Classical Lost and Found Home Page").

The latter put into writing what you might have been told regading a particular album by a knowledgeable salesperson in one of those old time, brick-and-mortar record stores. What's more, CLOFO being a nonprofit organization, the commentary in every review is a candid appraisal rather than a sales pitch. Enjoy!

-- Bob McQuiston