St James Hotel, Las Vegas, New Mexico and K.S.F.R. Santa Fe

I just returned to Red River afte a mini tour. I started with the Historical Society in Cimarron where I renewed friendships made last year. From there I went to perform at the haunted St. James Hotel. A GREAT AUDIENCE !!! I stayed there that night in a room over the bullet holes in the ceiling. I didn't see any ghosts, but did have a strange dream. It was a good stay and a great breakfast the next morning.

After breakfast, I left for Las Vegas via I-25. This was my birthday and what a nice way to spend it. I enjoyed my visit to Las Vegas, meeting many very nice and interesting people and admiring the many historic buildings. Thanks to Teresa at the Traveler's Cafe for giving me the opportunity to perform there. I look forward to returning sometime soon. Saturday night after the gig, I left for Santa Fe to stay with friends.
Sunday evening I was invited to be the co host with Randy Forrester on his "Gotta Dance" show. It was broadcast by K.S.F.R. public radio in Santa Fe and could be heard worldwide via the internet. Thank you Randy. I really like your "global warming" shirt.
Monday I drove back to Red River, stopping briefly at the "old Blinking light" in Taos, and talking with Michael Hearne. Tonight I will be back in Taos at the Adobe Bar located in the historic Taos Inn.

Gotta Dance, Santa Fe Public Radio.

I climbed out of bed this morning, peeped out of the window and.... it was snowing, snowing hard. It covered my car and the rooftops. Altough it melted as the day warmed, it has continued to snow on and off all day. You can never tell what the weather will bring to Red River.

This Sunday, Randy Forrester has invited me to be his co host on the Sunday evening 'Gotta Dance" programme. That is exciting and I invite you to listen in via the internet on K.S.F.R,s website. Time is 7:00PM Mountain time.

Cimarron, New Mexico

Monday morning I left DeSoto at 5:15AM and got through Fort Worth before the rush hour.
I stopped in Decatur for breakfast then proceeded to Amarillo. The temperature was in the low 100's with the wind blowing just like it always does in the Texas panhandle.

After reaching New Mexico, crossing I-25 and heading toward Cimarron, I came across this herd of buffalo on the Vermejo Ranch. I didn't count, but there were probably between 50 and 75 in total. I arrived in Red River around 6:00PM eagerly looking forward to my Rocky Mountain tour.

Ruffino, DeSoto, Texas

I left Georgia Thursday morning at 5:00AM and drove through to DeSoto. When I arrived it was 9:00PM and I had driven 888 miles. Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunch I performed at Ruffino Restaurant on Hampton Road in DeSoto with great crowds and many people I know from Red River.

In the morning I'm leaving for "Red", a few days rest and then on to Cimarron and the start of a busy June. On June, 8th I'll will be appearing on Santa fe Public radio show 'Gotta dance". You can hear it LIVE on the internet on the K.S.F.R. website. The time is 7:00PM mountain time and 9:00PM Eastern time.
Come to Red River and enjoy cool night time temperatures. I'll be looking for you at the Fine Art and Wine Festival, June, 14th and 15th in Brandenburg Park, Red River, New Mexico.

Memorial Weekend at Lake Burton, Georgia.

What a great weekend. Friday was Sugarmill Creek with a packed campground and lots of friends. Saturday was at LaPrades and there were a lot of kids who were crazy about Beatles songs. They danced almost all night and a fabulous time was had by everyone. Friends also came from as far away as Seneca, South Carolina. There also appeared to be a fair number of Alabama supporters at LaPrades. Could it be because their coach has recently built house on the lake?

I played my old Gretsch and had forgotten what a superb instrument it is. I'll have to do this more often.

I'll be back at both Sugarmill and LaPrades the last weekend in July and the first few weeks in August. Can't wait.....

Southern Hospitality, Clarkesville, Georgia.

Many thanks to Kathy Nicholson and her staff at Southern Hospitality for putting in such a long day on the videos. I think we accomplished a lot. We should have five videos ready to go in a few weeks. The songs featured from the Canyon Road album include Canyon Road, the Tin Star Saloon, and This Guitar.
Tomorrow I hope to see you all at Sugarmill Creek, Laurel Lodge Road, near lake Burton.

Videos

Tomorrow we will be recording some videos for use on the internet. I'm very pleased to have Kathy Nicholson directing. Kathy has her own cooking show here in Georgia, plus she is a great vocalist. Next week I head out to DeSoto, Texas and Ruffino Restaurant.I have made many friends there and always look forward to seeing them again.
I wish everyone a safe Memorial Day weekend..

Blackberry Winter.

This past weekend I performed Friday at Sugarmill Creek and Saturday at LaPrades. Both nights were quite cool and both venues had wood fires. I think this is what is called a Blackberry Winter. I spent Sunday at the lake and lit a fire there too.
Today I booked June, 12th on the Plaza in Taos. This is one of the summer concert series that occurs almost every Thursday evening through the summer. The St. James in Cimarron is booked for June, 6th.

First night at LaPrades.

What a nice place this is!!! It was really busy, with a bunch of appreciative people. The temperature was very pleasant and the view of the lake... spectacular. I will be back for the next two Saturdays. Come and join me on May, 17th and 24th.

After Memorial weekend, my annual "Rocky Mountain Summer Tour" begins. The first stop is in deSoto, Texas, then on to New Mexico and Colorado.

LaPrades, Lake Burton, Georgia

This Saturday May, 10th, I'll be performing in the bar at the fabulous new LaPrades Marina located on Ga 197. Starting time is 5:00pm. Come join me and enjoy views of Lake Burton from the upstairs location.

The Westcliffe Feed Store Pub and Grill.

I have just added the Feed Store Pub and Grill in Westcliffe, Colorado to my list of September engagements. The date is Saturday, September, 13th. Concert time will probably be 3:00PM - 6:00PM. The venue is a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre. If you can make this date, I hope you'll attend. I never been to Westcliffe but everyone tells me it's a beautiful town. See you there...

A perfect day

I was at Sugarmill on Friday and the weather was ideal. Saturday rained a little, but Sunday was the perfect day. It was around 70deg. and I was looking forward to getting out on the lake. There were actually kids swimming and I would have thought the water would have been too cold, but apparently not. This is the best time of year here in northeast Georgia. Everything is so green. I have several more weeks to enjoy it before going on the summer tour.

The Canyon Road CD Release Party.

The release party was a big success with many folks attending. We started before 7:00pm and still had people at midnight. A lot of Cd's were bought. Pizza came from Pazzo's restaurant and Mat Fried did a great job of entertaining. Thank you Rita and Melissa of Sugarmill Creek for hosting the event.
I will be back at Sugarmill this coming Friday. If you're in the area please come and join us.

Canyon Road Release Party

There will be a release and signing party this coming Saturday April, 26th at Sugarmill Creek R.V. Park located on Laurel Lodge Road near lake Burton, Georgia. My third solo album, Canyon Road, will officially be released on the east coast.If you are in the area, please come and join us. I will be performing songs off the album, there will be Pizza and also my friend Mat Fried will be performing.
I wish Elaine in Colorado a rapid recovery from her surgery.

Canyon Road.

The new Canyon Road album is here and will soon be available from CDbaby and I-tunes plus selected stores..
It will also be available from my website store in a couple of weeks. My thanks to everyone who made this possible. I'm already thinking about the next one.

The road to the lake

Every Friday I drive up Highway 197 going north out of Clarkesville on my way to Sugarmill Creek. This has to be one of the most beautiful drives in Northeast Georgia. For most of the way it follows the course of the Soque River. I always look forward to my time on this scenic highway.

New postcards and cards

This is the design for the new postcards and business cards. Yes that's Santa Fe in the background.

I also have a new blog entitled "Northern New Mexico Music". You will be able to keep up with the new releases of New Mexico musicians such as Jimmy Stadler and Michael Hearne and some performing dates. Check out my website for the address.

Canyon Road album

The artwork has been completed and the new Canyon Road Cd should soon be available. Thank you Regina for all your hard work.
I have been back at Sugarmill Creek for a couple of weeks now and I'm enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
I have a booking coming up at the Basket Peddler. It will be a wine tasting event. The date... Thursday, March 13th. This is my favourite breakfast hangout and I will be performing on the new deck. Thanks to Mike and Jean Armstrong for organizing this.

Fortune cookie

I arrived home at 1:30 AM. Friday morning after driving 885 miles from Dallas. I was up early, unpacking and getting ready for Sugarmill Creek. It was nice to see my Georgia friends again. Happy Birthday Lou and also Bonnie!!!
Today we ate in a Chinese restaurant in Atlanta. I had to laugh when I read my fortune cookie. It read... "Avoid taking unnecessary gambles. Lucky numbers 4,12,24,30,40,44."

I left Salida, drove to Red River, packed and left for Santa Fe. I stayed with friends for a few days then went to Pimentels in Albuquerque to have my guitar repaired. Yesterday I left for Dallas via Lubbock, hence the Buddy holly statue. West Texas is filled by huge wind turbines producing electricity and the oil wells seem to be busy pumping. Today I had a relaxed day and tomorrow I have a 885 mile drive back to Georgia. M.T.C.

Salida, Colorado.

Valentine's day was spent in my favourite Colorado town, Salida. Thanks to all my friends for braving the snowy conditions and coming anyway. A special thanks to Doug and Elaine for coming so far. I enjoyed seeing you again. I shall be back in Salida on June, 21st. I also booked two more dates at the Adobe Bar in Taos, New Mexico. These are for June, 10th and July, 10th. Tonight I'm in Santa Rosa on my way back to Texas, then to Georgia. This coming Friday I will be back at Sugarmill Creek. See you all there.

To Colorado

I came a day early due to the threat of a snow storm. So far there is none but that will probably change later this morning. Tonight is Valentine's night at Bongo Billy's Salida Cafe. I'm looking for a great crowd, just like last time. Salida is a really friendly town and well worth a visit. If you find yourself here in the summer, try sitting on the deck at Bongo Billy's and watching the Kayaks navigate the river.

Red River Community House

We held the first annual Family Valentines Dance this past Saturday at the Community House in Red River.
Parents were encouraged to dance with their kids. It was a great success and we look forward to doing it again next year. If you look carefully you can see how high the snow is outside the window behind the stage.
My next booking is on the actual Valentine's Day at Bongo Billy's in Salida, Colorado. This also is a really great venue with a wide variety of musical performances throughout the year. See you all there.....

The Adobe Bar in Taos, New Mexico

As always, the Adobe Bar was a lot of fun. It was quite full with an appreciative audience, plus people I knew from Cimarron, Dallas Texas and Taos. The atmosphere is very relaxing. If you find yourself in Taos check out the Adobe Bar and Doc Martin's Restaurant. You will enjoy both. There are many international visitors here mingling with the locals. All in all a really nice place to visit.

Red River, New Mexico

I had another nice weekend at Ruffino's, rested Sunday and set out west on Monday morning. At 5:30 am in Dallas the temperature was 70 degrees so I was surprised to run into snow in Cimarron. The temperature dropped rapidly and snow fell harder. I drove through the canyon and arrived in Eagle Nest. I wasn't sure if I should continue but there were two snow plows heading towards Red River and I just fell in behind them.
You can see the subaru the next morning. If you like snow there is plenty here in Red River. Tonight I will be performing at the Adobe Bar in Taos. This is a really nice venue and well worth a visit. I start at 6:30 pm. I'll look for you there.

Lake Travis sunset

I have just arrived back in DeSoto after my trip to Lago Vista and Austin. Last night I visited the Elephant Room in Austin. There were some really fine jazz musicians performing and it was very nice to hear other musicians for a change. Tomorrow I will be back at Ruffino's in DeSoto. On Monday I leave for Red River, New Mexico.

Austin, Texas.

I spent most of the day in Austin. From a great tour of the Zilker Botanical Gardens, to a really good evening in The "Dog & Duck" with friends, this is a good visit. Austin is an interesting city and I would like to have more time here to explore. Maybe next time....

Saturday Night

I love coming back to Ruffino's in DeSoto, Texas. Everyone is so friendly It's like coming home. Tomorrow I'm heading on down to Lake Travis near Austin for a couple of days and will be back in Desoto in time for next weekend. After that, Red River, Taos and snow.

Bongo Billy's, Salida, Colorado

Today I booked Bongo Billy's in Salida, Colorado for St. Valentine's Day. That will be a really nice evening and I hope to be joined by friends from Pueblo and Florissant. Also in June, I will be back performing for the Cimarron Historical Society.

In March and April, I will be at Sugarmill Creek on Fridays. On March, 13th (Thursday) I will be at the Basket Peddler in Cornelia, Georgia.

Please look at my website in "upcoming" for a complete list.
More from Texas....

Georgia snow

Yes it does snow in Georgia. In fact we have had two snows in two days. Even so, there was probably no more than about an inch or so. Today was quite cold. When I looked out at 9:15am it was only 18deg. I imagine the low was around 12-15deg.
Tomorrow I will be preparing for my trip to Texas.I leave on Wednesday.
The artwork for the album is underway and hopefully will be finished soon. More later...

Canyon Road

The order of songs on the new album "Canyon Road" has been decided. Now all that has to be done is the mastering and then the printing. I'm expecting this album to be available in mid April.. Songs include Canyon Road, San Cristobal, Hanging out in Taos, The Silver Star Mine, plus eight others, including the instrumental entitled " Chamisa".
If you enjoyed the last one, you'll like this one too. Musicians on the album include
Dennis Wage, Glen Duncan, Wayne Killius, Dow Tomlin, Charlie McCoy, Scotty Sanders and myself on the Pimentel, Gretsch and Gibson Guitars.

Back to Georgia

The photograph shows Nickajack Lake on I-24 in Tennessee. It's a beautiful lake and I always enjoy stopping for a few minutes.
The mixing is done and now the listening starts before it is mastered. There are three mixes of each song so I have to decide which ones to use and also the order in which the songs will be arranged. I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend without headphones etc. Nashville's a fine place, but it's nice to be back in the country and away from all the traffic.
Next Friday I will be back at Sugarmill Creek and the week after that, I go to Dallas.

Mixing the album

We are in the middle of mixing and here is a photo of the console. I find all this fascinating, especially the Protools software. It would be nice to have it in my studio, so it would be compatible with Omnisound.
We should be finished in a few days then there is the artwork to be done. That will probably take a few weeks. I think the Cd should be ready sometime in March or April.

The band

Here are more musicians who are helping to make this recording so good. The first is Wayne Killius on percussion (played on A Different place... a different time) Dow Tomlin on bass, mostly upright bass. The third photo shows Dennis Wage on piano, Hammond B-3 and also synthesizer. I don't have a photo of the steel player, but I owe my thanks to Scotty Sanders. Scotty also played on the last CD. A big thanks to everyone involved, including the engineers....

Glen Duncan and Charlie McCoy

The first photo shows Charlie McCoy and me in Studio B at Omnisound. I have been a fan of Charlie for at least 35 years and it was fabulous to have him play on this album.
Another one of my favourite musicians is Glen Duncan, an amazingly talented fiddle player. Both of these guys play a host of other instruments with great skill.

Canyon Road Album.

After three really great days, there are now 12 basic tracks done with most vocals and guitar parts added. This morning Glen Duncan worked his usual magic on banjo, fiddle, and a cross between a banjo and a bassouki Spelling anyone? Scotty Sanders came in this afternoon and recorded steel guitar on several tracks. As some of you know, both Glen and Scotty were on the last album. Charlie McCoy will be in tomorrow morning for some tracks. Now that's really exciting too !!!
More information coming soon...

First day in the studio

Yesterday was a good day. With the help of some awesome musicians, 11 basic tracks were laid down. This is the point where my work really begins. Today I'll be working on my guitar parts, acoustic, Pimentels and electric, (Gretsch) I believe Glen Duncan comes in tomorrow to add fiddle etc. I'm amazed at the number of mics that are used just for the drums, I counted at least 14. The other image shows the control room of studio A. This is all very exciting. Look for the next update...

Recording in Nashville, Tennessee

Tomorrow, I'm leaving for Nashville to record the second Southwest album. This is exciting and I'm looking forward to releasing it sometime in the spring. There is a song about a Taos ski bum, one about a favourite bar of mine in Santa Fe, two songs about authors, plus a bunch more. A Happy New Year to everyone...

Merry Christmas !!!

It's been cool in Georgia this week. That's ok, it's supposed to be. I have booked in this coming Friday back at Sugarmill Creek. It can be quite cozy when the wood stove is fired up. This is my last booking before the holidays, then soon after I will start recording.
I wish a Merry Christmas to all my friends across this great country and also Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and England. Perhaps I'll get to go over there one day soon. Hope to see you this coming Friday at Sugarmill.

Nashville, Tennessee.

I just returned from a couple of days of meetings in Nashville. I got to see the latest addition to Omnisound Studios. Very nice and I'm looking forward to going back in January. The photographs show two famous hangouts on Broadway. It was raining in Nashville and also in Georgia when I returned. Tomorrow night I'll be back at Sugarmill Creek.