Strumming the Day Away

It’s a bright, breezy and warm fall afternoon.

Jody Burke of Hampden can’t think of a better way to spend it than playing his guitar.

“It’s fun and it makes people smile,” Burke said.

So Burke, 51, picked up his accoustic and headed out to The Avenue. He sat with a couple of friends on a bench in front of the .  He closed his eyes, nodded his head and strummed the chords to Hocus Pocus by the band Focus.

There’s no jar or guitar case out seeking a donation. There’s just a guy who likes to play guitar for people.  

Burke, who works at Port Discovery, only recently picked up the guitar again. He said he returned to playing about nine months ago after a friend asked him to give some lessons.

“I played for six or seven years before I got married and all that stuff,” he said. “It’s like riding a bike. You know what I mean?”

Single again, Burke is strumming and enjoying the attention that comes from playing in front of people.

“You see girls and stuff and you say, ‘Let me play you a song,” Burke said with a smile. 

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