Once a Musician, Always . . .

Once A Musician, Always...

It has become my firm belief that being creative is not really an option if a human being is to fully thrive. For a musician to stop making music can be dangerous ground, unless the creativity is expressed differently, say, through painting, poetry, sculpture or other art form. And even then... there's something about sound.

From Judy Rodman's "All Things Vocal" blog
http://blog.judyrodman.com/2010/09/once-musician-always.html

Rockin' for Rett 2.0

Michael will once again be a featured artist at the Rockin' for Rett benefit concert. Rockin' for Rett 2.0 will be held October 2 at Tucker's Farm in Gabriels, NY. This year's event will feature a number of performers, as well as great food and Tucker's famous corn maze. This year's corn maze will feature a Rockin' for Rett theme.

Visit Rockin' for Rett in Honor of Emma for more information.

Summer Fading - Update

A trip to the Gulf to help out with the oil spill (gulfcoastpost.org) has delayed my getting into the studio to record Summer Fading. I have been going over some of my older songs and reconsidering what I may include in the upcoming CD. My plan is to reassemble my small personal digital studio and put together this CD myself in time for Meadowlark and Rockin' for Rett.

We shall see. . . .

Summer Fading . . . - An Update

Here is an update on my upcoming CD entitled "Summer fading . . . "

• I have narrowed down my selection of original songs to include on the CD (see below)
• I have burned rough drafts of the songs to CD and sent them on to Dan Duggan at Esperance Productions in Red Creek, NY. Dan has agreed to be my recording engineer and production assistant at his recording studio.
• I am hoping that Dan and I will find some time in April or May for a multiple-day session to work on arrangements and lay down the tracks

Here is the list of original songs as it stands now, arranged somewhat seasonally. I am also considering a few additions or alternates.

1. HoneyBee Song -- (Spring)
2. Cry of the Loon -- (Spring)
3. Road to Somewhere -- (Spring)
4. Poison Ivy† -- (Summer)
5. Thia's Song† -- (Summer)
6. Mr. Guitar Man -- (Summer)
7. Summer Fading† -- (Late Summer)
8. Free Range Chicken† -- (Late Summer)
9. Looking So Hard for Love† -- (Late Summer)
10. Black-eyed Susan -- (Autumn)
11. White Mountain Memories† -- (Autumn)
12. For Emily† -- (Autumn)

Bonus/Alternates

1. Pass the Bottle 'Round (in memory of Dave Venepol)
2. Labor Day Night
3. Can't Take Me Now
4. Time Apart Together

You may recognize some of the oldies but goodies from my first CD, Glitch Unplugged. Meadowlark Music Camp attendees might recognize a few, as well.

† Songs associated with Meadowlark Music Camp, Washington Maine - either written at camp or on the long drive home

Free Range Chicken

Hey, here's a fun little number of the animal variety. I wrote this song while directing car parking at Meadowlark Music Camp August 2009. During lulls in activity, I was kept entertained by these free range chickens that would come out into the dirt road near where I sat. Also starring real roles was a toad and horses. No animals were hurt during the making of this movie!