By Doug Boilesen, December
7, 2025
December 6, 2025 was
the anniversary of the invention of the Phonograph, known to Friends
of the Phonograph as the Phonograph's 148th Birthday.
December 6, 2025 Traditional FOTP Sign at our Front Door
The traditional FOTP
birthday party hosted by FOTP did not happen this year so all Friends of the Phonograph
enjoyed their own celebrations in the US, Canada, and Switzerland.
Our own December 6th celebration at home,
therefore, was Sharon, myself and Gracie, our wire fox terrier.
Making it an official tradition, carried over from the 147th Birthday, we again lit a candle in a French chocolate macaron on a Walker's shortbread
cookie (symbolizing, of course, a phonograph record). I raised a cup of coffee
in my Friends of the Phonograph mug and toasted to "good health, joy, music, and many adventures ahead" .
Castle Rock, Colorado
Edison Nutcracker, Rockwell plate,
French chocolate macaron and Walker's shortbread cookie with one candle.
I addressed my annual Phonograph Birthday email to
Friends of the Phonograph and "Stewards of the Phonograph's History" as a reminder that the red-letter day had
arrived and that I didn't want anyone to forget their opportunity to enjoy the phonograph's birthday. I included the
link
to Phonographia's On This Day December 6 to help refresh memories since I know most don't think about the phonograph everyday.
It's my favorite broken record track to play again and again: "December 6th is a day
worth celebrating: Ephemeral sound has been redefined by a "Revolution Still Turning" and an "Evolution Exceeding Expectations."©
As a reminder of its evolution, a highlight this year was Brother James creating a music piece
using an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Music Creation Platform called Suno which took my email message and made it into this year's official Phonograph Birthday Song.
One of my favorite recorded songs is from Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore" titled "The Captain's Song." Listening to that song by Sir Malcolm Sargent and the Pro Arte Orchestra, or hearing the 1907 Sterling Cylinder Record sung by Harry Dearth, can be a prelude to listening to James' Birthday Song gift.
""The Captain's Song - Good Morning"."
The following is the link to the new and official Phonograph Birthday Song created by AI Suno Music.
It's amazingly memorable and a somewhat disconcerting recorded song when you think about who is 'performing'. But it's a great example which shows how fast AI technology is changing everything, including the arts.
Here is the link to the 2025 Phonograph Birthday song titled
"Dear Friends of the Phonograph and Stewards of the Phonograph's History", created from my December 6, 2025 email and a few key design instructions.
Enjoy!
