Tag Archives: music technology

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Get Outta Bed. Busy Day. Dinnertime. Your Own Song. Birthday Dance. And Dreamtown. Those are all songs that went out to thousands of kids and families. All over America. And even in several other parts of the world. For 20 years I’ve sold that personalized music for kids. But due to some data loss prevention, they’re gone. Maybe forever.

The data loss prevention was messed up by some user intervention.

And I’m not tossing out anything to mess with anybody’s reputation. But I know exactly who messed up. And I know he feels bad about it. So, maybe that’s punishment enough. After all, no amount of yelling, screaming, or threatening will bring back the files. Right?

I suppose it’s another one of those awful “lesson learned” moments. And the lesson, in this case, is…just because you have something “backed up in the cloud” doesn’t mean it’s impervious to human error. And loss.

So, going forward from here, I won’t be selling any more personalized music for kids. No downloads. No CD’s. And no streaming. Because the files have gone to digital heaven. And until (or unless) I…or someone…can find a way to dig up deeply buried versions, that’s it.

But to the thousands of kids and families who’ve bought CD’s and downloads from me over the years…thank you. From the bottom of my heart. And the depths of my soul.

And…

You’ve sent me so many nice comments and testimonials. And I never got tired of hearing how the little kids’ faces lit up when they heard their name sung in the songs. Some of you even sent me videos of your kids dancing. Very cool.

Now, I guess kids will have to get outta bed, get through their busy days, eat their dinner, dance their birthday dance, and go to sleep without me singing to them personally.

But I bet you guys will manage.

Or…here’s an idea. I could re-record the songs to make them universal. Hey, maybe that’s the solution. They wouldn’t be personalized because that would take too much time now. But maybe kids would love ’em anyway.

Eh…just an idea.

Stay tuned,

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Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Music Box Vacuum Cleaner Dancer

At the age of 35, a young German guy named Gustave Brachhausen established the Regina Music Box Company in America. And he set up shop in the cultural center of the universe, New Jersey. No…really. And you might ask, “But Tony, what does that have to do with vacuum cleaners?” Well, don’t rush me. I’m gonna tell you.  

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The first Regina Music Box models were 11 inches and 15.5 inches.

But apparently ol’ Gustave was one smart cookie. He acquired multiple patents. And he came up with a 50% wholesale offer to retailers, which helped him go nationwide. Plus, one of his patents was for an automatic disc changer (yeah, long before Sony or Panasonic). And his company set up a coin-operated service for their music boxes and discs.

Talk about ahead of your time. This was way before juke boxes and Elvis.

But those phonograph records on those juke boxes did arrive.

And the stiff competition convinced Gustave to change the company named to just Regina. Then, they started adding products like copying presses, player pianos, and…wait for it…

Yeah, you guessed it, vacuum cleaners.

But their first model pretty much bombed.

And unfortunately the company went bankrupt in 1922. They were down. But not out. And in 1930 Regina got back into the vacuum cleaner business and eventually came up with something you might recognize. The ElectrikBroom, a stick model vacuum. And during World War II, Regina made bomb fuses. (sort of appropriate for a company who’s first vacuum cleaner bombed…but moving along…)

The rest of the story for Regina is a far cry from that initial success in the world of music boxes. And you can look it up online. So, I’m not talking about that here. But I will say they went bankrupt again and the company went through several ownership changes. And it appears they relaunched their brand just this year, 2020.

Why do I bring any of this up?

Partly because I think it’s an interesting story. And partly because it gives me a great comeback if anybody ever says my music sucks. I’ll just say,

“Obviously you wouldn’t know good music if somebody dropped it, like a bomb, on your head because you live in a vacuum.”

Yeah, I’m loaded and ready for bear.
So, hecklers and rude dudes beware.
My comebacks are loaded and you’ll be railroaded
Back to the wide open nowhere.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your player.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself a cool tee

Or how about some music for kids