On what would have been Freddy Mercury’s 65th birthday today, I was touched to see Freddy Mercury’s Google doodle tribute to the incredible singer. Truly fitting! Thank you Google.

Queen’s The Game album was the very first record I bought.  I was hooked from that point forward.  I went on to find all their older albums, each amazing me with it’s own theme (A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, News of the World, Jazz…)  The magical singing of Freddy combined with Brian May’s guitar playing had me eagerly awaiting each new album as it was released.

In the early 1980′s, I saw my first rock concert — Queen of course!  I was 14 and visited Maple Leaf Gardens in downtown Toronto with my best friend Mark and his older brother Paul. I didn’t realize at the time, but it was one of Queen’s final concerts before Freddy’s illness stopped the shows.  It was an incredible concert.  To this day I have never seen a more entertaining and energetic concert then that first one.  I was truly lucky to see them live.

So today, it is a little bittersweet to listen to those old albums — appreciating the great music and Freddy’s unrivaled voice.  Enjoying the music, but missing the artist behind it.

Happy birthday Freddy. You are remembered and missed.