A belated tribute to a musical ‘heartbreaker’

Like most everybody, there are all kinds of music I like and keep on my personal playlist — from classical to classic rock — which doesn’t get fed much new material these days; I seem content enough to listen to the old standbys when exercising, gardening, cooking, etc.

My musical taste was first forged in fourth grade when I asked for, and received, as a Confirmation gift from my parents, the Monkees debut album...