Art Imitates Life
Art Imitates Life Recently, I've been thinking about the concept of art imitating life. Oscar Wilde wrote that "life imitates art far more than art imitates life". In musical terms, I think of it as music mirroring life. I've heard songs in my life that reminded me of...
Studio Mixdown
Studio Mixdown I'm continuing with the process of studio mixdown for my album, In a Circle. So far, I have three songs mixed with only nine left to go. For those of you unfamiliar with mixing, it's the most unglamorous part of recording an album. You might think of it...
Songworms on My Mind
Songworms on My Mind Sometimes I am haunted by songworms. Have you ever had a song stuck in your head for hours or days on end? I have a close musical compadre' who has coined the word "songworm" for this phenomenon. Some researchers use the term "earworm." Here's...
Studio Update
Notes from the Studio Last week, I made my way back to the recording studio. I had to take a break from working on my album, In This Circle, due to financial reasons. Ed has been very supportive of my first time out as a full producer and I appreciate him for that. I...
Sequoia Dreamtime
Song Spotlight: Sequoia Dreamtime This song, Sequoia Dreamtime, was inspired by a trip Dena and I took in the spring of 2016. We took a long drive south of Fresno to attend a family reunion. I learned that the reunion location wasn't far from Sequoia/Kings Canyon...
Artist Spotlight: Livingston Taylor
The Brothers Taylor I'm a huge fan of James Taylor. In fact, he was one of the main singer-songwriters of the early 1970's who greatly inspired me. Back in the early years of my guitar playing, I spent time learning Taylor's hit tunes of the day like Fire and Rain. I...
Raffi Sings
Artist Spotlight:Raffi Last weekend, Dena and I went to hear Raffi in concert at the lovely and classy Crest Theatre located in downtown Sacramento. His concert was billed as Raffi - 40 Years of Singable Songs. I've been an adult fan of his music for children since he...
Music on the March
Music on the March Last weekend on Saturday, January 21st, the Women's March happened around the country and the world. Although I had the intention of going in support of my sisters, known and unknown, other personal commitments took precedence. However, my beloved...
Adventures in the Partial Capo Universe
I've had a vague knowledge of partial capos for awhile, yet I had never used one. Last autumn, I was enjoying a live show by Carrie Newcomer at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, Ca. I noticed she was using two (and sometimes three) different Kyser model capos at...
25 Things About Me
Here are 25 things that you may not know about me: I was born in Mattoon, Illinois because the other town my parents lived in didn't have a hospital. One of the earliest cartoons I remember watching on t.v. was called Crusader Rabbit. The main character had a tiger as...
Musical Adventures of 2016
Thank You, 2016! I sure had a wild ride of musical adventures in 2016. I'm very grateful that I retired in 2015. It has given me a lot more time to do what I love. Here's how the year unfolded, month by month. JANUARY Wrote Bless the Journey Now, a new song to...
You Can Shine a Flashlight
Dena and I co-wrote You Can Shine a Flashlight back in 2012. Somewhere earlier in her spiritual journey, she had coined a phrase, "You can shine a flashlight, but not a flashdark..." While talking with a friend who was sharing about their fear of darkness and evil...