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70 in the 20's - 20 in the 70's

Kimberly and I celebrated my 70th birthday in Nashville. I played a showcase at the Copper Branch and we shared a wonderful meal at Maggiano's Little Italy. I saw a clip of Joe Walsh saying he had more fun in his 20's in the 70's than he's having at 70 in the 20's. Funny line Joe, and I'll steal another one of yours, "Life's been good to me so far." The 1970's were an amazing decade for us Baby Boomers. Post Beatles, I graduated high school, did not get drafted and chose not to enlist for Vietnam, went to college at Long Island University in Southampton, New York, visited Nashville for the first time, road tripped across the country and hitchhiked from Boise to San Francisco, dropped out of grad school in Boston, became a ski bum poet in Vermont, and found my way to New York City to begin a 40 year career in TV news, video production, and storytelling that landed me in Texas in 1983 and took me around the world.

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In the 20's, I've found love in a sleeping bag with Kimberly, written a couple of books, road tripped back and forth across the country, watched my kids graduate from college and grow their own careers and families, and moved from Dallas to Nashville to pursue a career in songwriting, performing, and storytelling.

Music for Seniors

I recently joined Music for Seniors, the non-profit group in Nashville that plays for senior communities. Program Director Matt Bridges thinks we're going to be a good fit. Played my first shows and have gotten good feedback. I get as much out of it as the residents do. This is not my first rodeo on the senior circuit. It started 14 years ago, when my mother was in a hospice home in 2009 on Cape Cod. The staff asked me to move from her room to the living room so other residents could listen, too. Then I played for seniors in Dallas, and worked with LonestarSound, run by my friends Jessie Frank and now Sam Baker.

"Stories with a Beat"

Take a look and listen to the latest episode of "Stories with a Beat," my interview with contemporary blues artist, Tim Gartland, a master harp player and blues singer, who lives in Nashville. Tim's 2022 album "Truth" spent 5 months on the contemporary blues chart. Tim was the first artist we met when we moved to Nashville and he and his wife Patricia have become good friends. In the video, you'll hear some of Tim's music performed live and on record, learn about his musical heroes like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and BB King, and follow him on his journey from Cleveland to Chicago to Boston to Nashville.

"Me and You" - The Single

Here is my first Nashville single "Me and You" available on your favorite streaming services. I hope you'll give it a shot and listen to it.

Me and You Don Wall

I'm trying to boost it, not to make money per se, but to expose it to more ears. That means getting it on appropriate playlists, encouraging people to listen, and ultimately recording more songs, all of which is in the works. Any feedback is appreciated. I'm very interested in "sync," the music that is used to enhance a scene in a movie or TV show. I'm also aiming at other artists who might want to record it. It's a Western swing tune. Here is a lyric video from my YouTube Channel. Thank you for your support.

One Year Anniversary

We are fast approaching our one year anniversary living in Nashville. I have joined thousands of artists and aspiring writers here, playing rounds, showcases, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, house concerts, any place to share original songs and stories, trying to catch magic and write a song that resonates with people. I'm seriously thinking about singing lessons. I took voice lessons when I first got to New York City to get rid of my Massachusetts accent, and that helped me later to get a job in broadcasting in Texas.

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Tin Pan South

In March, we attended the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, put on by NSAI, Nashville Songwriters Association International. We saw so many great songwriters, performing their songs which became big hits for other artists. The first show might have been the best, and it was a Texas show at the Bluebird Cafe, a reciprocal exchange between NSAI and Austin's Saxon Pub. The artists included Aaron Barker, Radney Foster, David Grissom, and Lee Roy Parnell. We met Aaron a couple of years ago, and he's one of the guys who inspired me to move to Nashville. His catalogue of hits includes "Love Without End Amen," "Easy Come Easy Go," and "Cheyenne" for George Strait.

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Another great round at Tin Pan South included Rivers Rutherford, Jim Collins, and Matt McKinney at the Analog at Hutton Hotel. Rivers wrote "When I Get Where I'm Going," with George Teren which became a big hit for Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton. It's also a favorite song to play at funerals. Kimberly asked me to play it at her mama's funeral in January.

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We had a terrific time at Twin Kegs II with Dave Christen and his wife Brenda from Dallas, and Dave's son Collin, from Los Angeles. We met Dave's high school band buddy and hit Nashville songwriter, Austin Cunningham. I had a couple of co-writes with Mark Allen who moved to Nashville from Phoenix and met up for a co-write with John Terry, Fort Worth Chapter Coordinator for NSAI. In May, Trevor Valentine, a Dallas Songwriters Association member, is coming in from England and we're going to play some shows together. If you come to Nashville, holler at me and we'll get something going.

Who Does What and Been There Done That

April 1- Tin Pan South at Analog at Hutton Hotel

April 2 - Show at Copper Branch with Bobby Ray, dinner Maggiano's Little Italy

April 5 - Show at Bad Axe Throwing with Mike Villines

April 7- Show- Music for Seniors

April 9 - Show at Commodore Grille, Debi Champion's Writers Rounds with Les Kerr

April 9 - Show at 615 Chutney, Nashville

April 10- Show- Music for Seniors

April 15 - Attend Vanderbilt vs South Carolina baseball game, Show at Twin Kegs II with Dave Christen

April 16 - Show-Music for Seniors

April 17- Show at Copper Branch

April 19 - Co-write with Mark Lee, NSAI

April 20- Show at Preston Hotel with Jaye D. Marie

April 21- Co-write with John Terry, Forth Worth Chapter NSAI

April 22 - Show at Drifters BBQ with Clay Lutz and Friends

April 24- Show at Copper Branch with Bobby Ray & Clay

April 26- Co-write with Mark Lee, NSAI

April 28- Show at Bar Louie, Bellevue- Stompin' Grounds Writers Rounds with Jacob Merlin

May 1- Show at Copper Branch with Bobby Ray

May 8- Show at Copper Branch with Bobby Ray

May 9- Show- Music for Seniors

May 10 - Show at Commodore Grille, Debi Champion's Writers Rounds with Trevor Valentine

May 13- Show at Twin Kegs II with Trevor Valentine

May 14- Show at 615 Chutney

May 15- Show at Copper Branch with Bobby Ray

May 16- Show at Commodore Grille, Jimmy's Showcase with Trevor Valentine

May 17- Show at Bad Axe Throwing with Bobby Ray

May 19- Show- Music for Seniors

May 23 Recording session with Bryan Cumming, Studio 23

May 25- Show- Music for Seniors

May 26- Show-Music for Seniors, Show at Copper Branch with Jaye D. Marie

May 29- Show at Copper Branch with Bobby Ray

Spring

Storms have been severe across the South, but overall Spring has been wonderful in Nashville. The Bald Eagles at Radnor Lake State Park successfully hatched two eaglets. The Canada geese are nurturing their goslings. A barred owl keeps watch over the woods.

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