From the editor: Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember

For Christmas in 1984, I got a stereo and two of the greatest albums of all time – Madonna's Like a Virgin and Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.

I was 11 years old, and I believe that’s when I truly fell in love with music.

But it probably started a little before that. For much of my childhood, my mother worked in advertising for local radio stations – one played country music and the other classic rock.

I can remember visiting the radio stations and meeting the disc jockeys. I was on the air once, but I can’t remember why. I also remember hearing my mom sing along in the car and being amazed at how she knew the words to every song.

Growing up in the ‘80s, though, meant I listened to Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Prince, Michael Jackson and so many others. Then in the ‘90s, REM and U2 were among my favorites.

In college, I developed a much more eclectic taste for artists such as Neil Young, Tom Petty, Nanci Griffith and Billy Joel.

Today, I lean more toward country, but I still enjoy a wide variety of music. While I no longer have a record player, I can see why vinyl has made a comeback.

More:Wilmington is a vinyl town: How spinning records impacts the culture of the Port City

In today’s cover story, reporter John Staton tells us about how an explosion of interest in vinyl records is having an impact on Wilmington's arts and cultural scene.

Various spots are offering vinyl nights and Wilmington even has a vinyl-themed hangout in the Ibis bar and coffee shop in the Soda Pop District.

More:5 things to know about sea turtle nesting season along the NC coast | MyReporter

I’d also like to point you toward one more story in today’s StarNews. Our MyReporter feature talks about sea turtles and what you can do to protect them.

It’s an important time of year where nests are found along our coastline. Please be mindful of the nests and the hatchlings and do your part to keep these delicate creatures safe.

Sherry Jones is the StarNews executive editor. You can reach her at sjones1@gannett.com.