Thanks for the Music: All of You

[You know who "you" are, but you can always reference the list at the bottom.]

I would like to thank you.  Something compelled you to do it.  You taught me the definition of legato and staccato.  You led my junior high choir (1).  You sang beautiful solos and duets and trios in church (2). You showed me how powerful worship music can be (3). You coached me and let me sing my first solos in public (4). You bought me my first guitar (5). You gave me my first guitar lesson (6). You led as I sang in my first big church choir (7).

Thanks so much.  You were so much fun as you led our college choir, and took me on my first choir tours (8). You taught me music theory and piano (which I never mastered, not your fault) (9). You taught me classical guitar (10).

You deserve credit.  You were the first “real” choir I joined, where I learned major classical pieces like Mozart’s Requiem, and enjoyed beautiful musical moments (11).  You led this wonderful choir, and let me sing Handel’s Messiah first as a bass and another year as a tenor (12).

And thanks for your help as I went solo.  You gave me my first solo gig as a weekly strolling guitarist on a mountain in Tennessee (13). You didn’t tell me I was crazy (though you must have thought it) when I went down to Florida to try to find opportunities to play music (14). 

And you were there when I was on the move.  I sang with you when I was working in northern Virginia (15). This was a rather quiet period.

But my thanks continue.  You were my favorite choir director, and you taught me subtlety in music (16).  You were so much fun to be with, and you learned the difficult parts and blended and made a wonderful sound (17). You opened up the world of early music, and you taught me that good singing was all in the easy release (18). You showed me that there was more than one choir director who knew how to finesse and shape the music, and you were the best organist I have ever met (19). 

And thanks for the great times!  You were the first guitarist I worked with, you showed me what it was like to rock the joint, and you worked the open mics with me (20).  You taught me the music of Buddy Holly and The Beatles, and you showed me what it’s like to exercise discipline in learning your favorite music (21). You showed how to make excellent recordings, and you stirred together your music and social and family life in a great way (22). You knew every song ever written, you could play them on anything with strings, and you sang them with reckless abandon (23). You taught me Bossa Nova chords and rhythm, and showed virtuoso skill on the guitar (24). You blindly played piano better than any sighted man I know, and taught me that it should all be about having fun (25).  You played banjo with your claw better than anyone I’ve seen (26).  You pulled the guitar off the wall and turned the room into a magical place (27).

Thanks for all you have done.  You learned the difficult parts.  You watched the choir director.  You took cues from the pianist.  You sang the old tunes (28). You jammed with the band.  You played by ear.  You read all the notes (29). You loved us through your music.  You touched our hearts and saved our souls. You taught me that music is common to all of life, that there is a “music of the spheres” that brings into symmetry all the disparate and confusing aspects of our troublesome existence.  You showed us that la musica es la vida, that we would be lost without it, that it blesses and enriches our lives in ways that could never be understood (30).

Thanks for the music.  My life would not be the same without you.  We are notes on a page, you and I, sometimes getting closer, sometimes stretching farther apart, and yet sounding out to form the harmonies of life.  Sometimes we echo nature, and sometimes nature echoes us.  The mathematics and the physics of music could be measured by scientific instruments, but those devices could never capture the true nature of the sounds that we hear and make.  We are instruments, you and I.  Thanks for making music with me.  And don’t you know, there’s so much more wonderful music ahead!

(1) Mrs. Irvine Parsons.  (2) Judy Smith. (3) The choir of Faith Baptist Church.  (4) Virginia “Aunt Ginny” Wright. (5) My parents. (6) A student at TSBC whose name I forgot. (7)  Lucky Shepherd.  (8) “Prof” Don Ogden.  (9) What was the music professor’s  name? (10) A professor from the English department.  (11) Texas Bach Choir. (12)  Dr. Finster.  (13) The lady at the bed and breakfast in Monteagle, TN. (14) My family. (15) Loudoun County Master Singers. (16) Kathleen Bird. (17) CTK choir. (18) Edmund Brownless. (19) Simon Harden. (20) Dan Carter. (21) Bob Crook. (22) Angus Foxley. (23) Paul Kachur. (24) Marcos Saback. (25) Jogi Kirschner. (26)  Don Lupo. (24)  Anita at Balalaika.  (28) All the singers.  (29) All the players. (30) All my fellow musicians and music lovers.

A Soldier's Story: "A Man of Honor"

My father served as an airplane engine repairman for 31 months, from 4 Jan, 1943 to 5 Nov, 1945.  His discharge document gives this summary:  “Repaired Cyclone, Pratt and Whitney , Aeronca, and Liberty engines in all types of planes.  Disassembled, cleaned, and replaced worn or defective parts.  Performed difficult and delicate repairs and adjustments of valve actuating and timing mechanisms."   He was a graduate of Embry-Riddle School of Aviation with six months (720 hours) of instruction.    He completed the course with 96%.  (Embry-Riddle is still one of the top aviation schools in the world, with notable alumni and service to the aeronautical industry.)  The discharge papers also tell about my father’s high school education, stating that he had five months (658 hours) of training in Aviation Engine Mechanics) at East High School Trade School.

In addition to his discharge papers, my father has an Army Air Forces Certificate of Appreciation for War Service signed by the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold.  I remember studying about Hap Arnold during my short time in the U.S. Air Force.  Hap Arnold was a legend, taught to fly by the Wright Brothers and one of the first military pilots worldwide.  The letter states:

"I cannot meet you personally to thank you for a job well done; nor can I hope to put in written words the great hope I have for your success in future life. 

Together we built the striking force that swept the Luftwaffe from the skies and broke the German power to resist.   The total might of that striking force was then unleashed upon the Japanese.  Although you no longer play an active military part, the contribution you made to the Air Forces was essential in making us the greatest team in the world.

The ties that bound us under stress of combat must not be broken in peacetime.  Together we share the responsibility for guarding our country in the air.  We who stay will never forget the part you have played while in uniform.  We know you will continue to play a comparable role as a civilian.  As our ways part, let me wish you God speed and the best of luck on your road in life.  Our gratitude and respect go with you."

Signed, H. Arnold

Following the war, my father continued his studies with the help of the GI Bill.  He earned a certificate  on 10 May, 1954, from International Correspondence Schools, Scranton, Pennsylvania, completing the following subjects:  Electrical Engineering, Division One, Mathematics, Mechanics, Electrical Principles, D-C Machines, A-C Currents, Alternators, A-C Motors, Transformers, Converters and Rectifiers, Motor Applications, Chemistry, Electric Heating, Furnaces,  Batteries, Electroplating, Measuring Instruments, Electron Tubes, Lighting Practice, Illumination, Electric Signs.  On 28 Feb, 1956, he earned a further certificate from International Correspondence Schools, completing:  Electrical Engineer, Division Two, Advanced Mathematics, Wiring, Switchgear, Electrical Distribution, Line Calculations, Electrical Machinery Operation, Voltage Regulation, Relays, Efficiency Tests, Electric Stations, Electrical Machine Design.  On 26 Jul, 1962 – 31 days after his sixth child was born – he received his Diploma from International Correspondence Schools, also called ICS. Completing this program of study was no small feat.  Wikipedia says of ICS:

“The dropout rates were high; only one in six made it past the first third of the material in a course. Only 2.6% of students who began a course finished it. The students dropped out because they overestimated the difficulty, had little encouragement, and had poor study habits.”

I’ve pieced together this soldier’s story from a few documents that have been scanned and are now residing on my computer.  One can see a lifetime in these documents, but I will elaborate somewhat.  My father, a child of the depression, studied a trade in high school that he later developed further and practiced in the Army Air Force, the forerunner of today’s U.S. Air Force.  After tech school, he traveled on a crowded ship to northern Africa,where the Desert Fox, German General Erwin Rommel waged his battles.  My father later went on to Italy, and I have a suspicion that there he know Joseph Heller, the author of the book Catch 22.  (Ask me and I’ll tell you why I think so.)  He saw Rome – I followed his footsteps a few years ago, noting the very spot where he stood in front of the Coliseum, where I explained my father’s story to a group of young choir singers. His mother -- my grandmother -- died before he returned from the war.

After the war, my father met the challenge and expectations of Hap Arnold.  He contributed.  He had success.  He had a comparable role in civilian life.  My father provided for a wife and six children, worked tirelessly in community and fraternal organizations, and finally retired after 32 years as an electrician.  His children and grandchildren know that he was the rock or our family, and we remember him as a great example.  At my father’s funeral, my brother gave a fitting eulogy.  He summed up our father’s life with these simple words:  “He was a man of honor.”

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never"

What does it mean to persist?  Merriam-Webster says that it is “to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning”.  To be persistent is to continue “for a long or longer than usual time”, as:  “We were nagged by a persistent salesman.”  Persistence is “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people”.

Now that I have established this framework for meaning, let’s see what examples I can find for the quality of persistence.  The first that comes to mind – probably for you too – is the story of Thomas Edison and the light bulb.  The common belief is that he invented it, but his contribution was improving the light bulb so that it would be commercially viable.  He was reported to have said, "I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work."

Another story that comes to mind is that of the tortoise and the hare.  This is one of Aesop’s fables, and the lesson is clear:  those who remain focused and persevere will win the race.  Those who become idle and distracted will lose.  It is a good illustration to remind us to stay in the race.

I can think of stories from my life.  In 2012, I followed a fitness and nutrition program over six weeks and dropped 25 pounds.  I was focused, determined, and most of all, persistent.  (I need to find this focus again.)  I can remember work and school projects that seemed insurmountable.  But constant and persistent focus would eventually bring me to a successful end.  And I have many goals that I am working toward in my life.  Others may not understand them. And yet I carry on.

Every day we are faced with obstacles that hinder our path.  We face failures and setbacks.  Things don’t go our way.  We are reminded by others  – sometimes very subtly -- of our shortcomings and limited success.  We see our goals in the distance, and we have a vision of achieving them. But they seem somehow out of reach.

Life is a struggle.  Those things that would hold us back should be seen in the light of the strengths that we know that we possess within ourselves.  It could be that no one else shares the vision, no one else is aware of the internal strength, no one else seems to support us. It is during these times that we draw deeply from the wells of our personal courage, ignore the naysayers, and –-

PERSIST!

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

    -- Winston Churchill

Thoughts from the Ivory Tower

Music is a way to connect to people.  There have been countless times that I have lingered in a social situation, keeping my thoughts to myself, too aloof or disregarded to join the conversation – until I had the chance to sing.  Music can be an ice-breaker for me.  When I sing I am able to loosen up, to release energy, to reach out to people, and often it opens opportunities for new friendships and interesting conversations.  Music can alter the mood in a room and bring people together.

Writing helps me to connect in other ways, although it is often one-sided.  Sometimes I will write in my journal, and I am able to connect to my inner self in new ways.  Writing to others in emails is a way to connect to friends and family.  Poetry is a way to communicate vague ideas and deep emotions.  This blog is an attempt to reach out, to communicate.  Many times I feel vulnerable when writing for others.  I am often convinced that almost no one is interested in what I have to write, and ultimately, they are not interested in me.  And often I feel ignored.  I would almost rather be criticized than ignored.  I wonder if I should shout with a louder voice.

It almost seems weak to say that I would like to connect with others in writing and song – as if I need people.  If a tree falls in the wilderness, does anyone hear it?  I have much to express, and I believe that sometimes I can express it very well. I would be thrilled to have someone to reach out in this direction, to write something thoughtful and responsive and interesting back.  I read about the lives of great men of history and literature that they have written long and deliberative letters to acquaintances, and they – shock, shock – have received similar replies.

I perceive the world in a different way than I experience it.  I expect there to be interesting and serious discourse.  But I look around and see and hear crass culture:  on television, on the radio, in public places.  Maybe I should be in an ivory tower.  There I could write my letters and sing my songs and pass my days in reflection.  But it just wouldn’t be any fun to be in the ivory tower alone.

Music to Expand the Soul and Bless the Inner Life

I've made a breakthrough with my piano playing.  I've been working on jazz standards for 16 months with piano.  I had played basic chords for many years, but then last year I had two lessons from a friend of my sisters -- a very good pianist with a masters in piano performance -- and he helped me with piano voicings.  I wrote out the arrangements I would use for several songs, and developed a certain technique.  The aim was to keep the finger movements to a minimum, to keep everything tight.  I struggled through my first public performance last May (at the Balalaika), but I got through it.  Since starting this project, I've worked up over 100 standards, and I'm learning more every day.  I love it!  I've got plenty of songs by Rodgers and Hart, Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Jimmy Van Heusen, and others.  This is a real treasure trove of music!


So here's my breakthrough:  I had been plugging away on piano in my little room near Raleigh, NC, for several weeks.  And all of a sudden the other day I started moving up and down the keyboard on some piano solos.  Wow!  I try to keep everything in the chord, and definitely avoid going out of the key, and then go back to the melody notes from time to time, especially at the end of a phrase.  I figured that I could leave out the root from the right hand since I was playing it with the left.  And now I'm just amazed how this is working! After all these months, my fingers are finding the melody (I can remember how hard that was before) and playing notes around it.  And this is coming naturally.  I think it's a matter of time spent at the piano.

For those of you who have been improvising on your instrument for years, you may not think much of this.  And those of you who don't play at all may think that playing an instrument will be forever out of reach.  But I say that for all of us, learning musical skills is a way for us to improve our lives in so many different ways. The struggles bring out the best in us, and when we finally master some skill that has eluded us, we can bask in the joys of our newfound selves.

I really want to write books and sing songs all the time. I will keep spending time doing these things.  I wish I didn't have to worry about the money.  I have centered my life around making money for so many years, and despite the things that money has provided me, it has left me with a certain emptiness and longing. They say you only live once.  Why not a life filled with music?  As music expands and develops in our lives, so does our inner being. We grow with every new song, every improved skill, every development in sensibility.

My friend Marcos_Saback, an amazing guitarist now back in Brazil, talks about "la vida" as he drinks red wine.  La musica es la vida.  Let us raise our glasses, and allow the wonder of music to create a life of joy and beauty within our souls.

Slim Is In, Stout Is Out

I was slimmer last year, and it was all good.  I earned the privilege after losing 10% of my body weight in six weeks.  I was quite proud of myself.  I felt better about everything, and I didn't mind being seen. I was in a happier state. I think back to when this picture was taken: I was having a wonderful time with friends at the Frankfurt Art Bar in Frankfurt, Germany. My great friend Jogi, seated to my right, is a superb jazz pianist and a wonderful soul.  The young lady on my left is a Russian friend who just finished university and is great to be around.  And I was feeling groovy.  My social life was in full swing, and everything seemed to be in place.

Since then I have returned to my old habits -- and my previous shape.  All those good thoughts about myself are now only memories.  The social life is nowhere.  And I am back to square one.  No one wants to be negative.  But the feelings that I experience when I am in bad form are generally  negative.  The mind becomes dull, The body craves the sound nutrition that it deserves. The soul is listless and unwell.

It would be quite easy to remain in an undisciplined state, and unhappy with myself.  The only thing to be done is to return to the same disciplines that brought me to that happy moment. That's something to consider.

Resources:

• Fitday 
• The Aerobics Program For Total Well-Being: Exercise, Diet , And Emotional Balance by Dr. Kenneth Cooper  
• Meditation Oasis

Thinking and Growing

Last year I read the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.  For some reason I can't remember much about it.  I know that it was not just about making money, but about being successful.  I know that he extolled personal virtues like desire, faith, imagination, and persistence.  But it didn't really transform my life in the way that I had hoped. There was no great illumination or special inspiration that led me into a new way of life. I particularly appreciated the  way Hill had developed such a system, how he seemed to put everything in place, showing a certain discipline that is quite admirable.  But after the reading, I remained unchanged.

I do bear the opinion that our thinking does determine our destiny, at least in some way. Our lives can be helped or hindered by the quality of our thought lives.  Negative thinking can hold us back or lead us to isolation.  Confidence can have very positive effects.  But how can we train our minds to bring ourselves more success?  I have tried prayer, reading, meditation, conversation, and even logic exercises. And yet I have not become this person that I want to be in the inner life.

I did write a poem about thinking when I was in college.  It begins:

I thought a thought.
At least I think I thought a thought.
And the thought that I think I was thinking was 
A thoughtless thought I think.

But wait a minute....

As I rethink my thinking, I think a thoughtless thought
Could not be thought at all
If thoughtless thinking means I do not think.

And so it goes on in an endless circle.  I would like to think that I can Think and Grow rather than thinking in circles, endlessly filling journals with the same sort of musings that I have done since I was a youth, ever hopeful that I will fall upon some great life-changing truth or central principle around which to build a successful life.

I really would like to Think and Grow Rich.  But sometimes it seems that I just Think and Grow Tired.

Finding Balance: The Golden Mean

Aristotle himself

I consider myself a student of Aristotle.  At least, I have read Nichomachean Ethics, and I am enamored with this idea of finding the mean between the extremes of excess and deficiency.  I highly recommend the book and what it teaches.  I have the impression that in the classical world folks enjoyed a certain wisdom that is now long forgotten.  That's probably stretching it.  But there is much to be learned.

I am sure that much of my discontent stems from some combination of excesses or deficiencies as regards various practices.  I'd rather not provide details, but the most obvious one is regarding eating. Consider that getting excess calories, sodium and saturated fat and deficient potassium and vital nutrients will cause the body to be out of balance and out of shape.  The same principle could be applied to other areas of our lives, including pursuits of courage, friendliness, and truthfulness.  Have a look at the table here:  Aristotle's Table of Virtues and Vices.

I aspire to some Golden Mean of virtue that would yield for me The Good Life, also known as  happiness (Gk. eudaimonia - sometimes translated as "living well").  As I consider this, I would like to go back and study this again and see how these teachings may apply to my life.  Better to live the examined life, one that is within the bounds of one's own values, than to either live a life of excess or deficiency.

A Novel Suspended

I started a novel on January 28, 2013, and worked on it until March 5, 2013. I stopped in the middle of chapter eleven, thinking I needed to focus on other things more important. Now my characters remain frozen in place, gazing ahead, awaiting their next move. One fat man is holding a cup of expresso to his lips. A middle-aged character is staring at a young girl's legs, knowing it should only be a glance -- but he can't turn away. The bartender is amazed that the cocktail he is pouring remains as an arc between the mixer and the glass. Everyone is wondering what will happen next -- and when. Do you think it's time to continue writing?

Music in the balance

I find myself fully distracted from music these days by the grind of the day job (which is really a day, evening, and night job – shift work!). I suppose there are seasons in life, and each is different. It makes me wonder about so many others who are in a similar situation, hoping to find time for the music that they love but compelled to do other things.

I dare say that most musicians are not able to play music full time. And those who do may find themselves struggling to make ends meet. There is often a trade-off, and the need to make choices to strike the right balance. I know an excellent organist and sometime choir director whose music time is limited because of the need to provide for his family. And I could name a host of other musicians who have come to terms with the music/money balance in their own ways.

In some respects I could say that my current situation is intentional. I have often said I would be happy to alternate between well-paid technical work and lesser-paid creative endeavors. In fact, that seems to be happening. The first half of 2009 was taken up with music – forming a band, rehearsal, and performances. My five-piece band played 50’s music in a large festival, and through the spring and summer I found myself performing for birthdays, weddings – even political events. And now, since July, I am back on the technical side, working round the clock monitoring and troubleshooting your mobile phone connections.

I suppose I could look on the bright side. How many people have such opportunities to use both sides of the brain in their work like I do? I look forward to more opportunities for music performance in 2010 and beyond. And I will continue to find the right balance, and to strive for those wonderful experiences when my audience and I are for a moment transported, and the temporal art of music transcends the more mundane aspects of our lives.

Operas, operettas, and musicals

I was just thrilled to see Die Fledermaus last night at the Wiener Volksoper. It was just great! It was my first opera – ok, it was an operetta. The music was beautiful, with some themes I already knew. The singers were excellent, and I didn’t hear any of this “operatic voice” thing that some people really don't like. Ok, it may be that because it was an operetta, which seems closer to a musical, the singer just didn’t seem so heavy and dramatic.

And in light of that I think of the pop music that I have done and wonder how it compares. It’s a totally different style, I know. But there is something wonderful in being able to open the voice and sing out without holding back. I envy them. It makes me want to add more of this kind of thing to my repertoire, more of this music meant for a big hall. But where could I perform it?

Ok, I did do a sort of opera in college. I can't even remember the name of it, but the plot was similar to the play "Our Town". I only sang in one piece. It was 5/8 time, and I sang a high baritone part over top of four singers. "I shall hold this tight. I shall remember." (What was that piece anyway?) The four singers seemed to have lost the timing, but I kept mine. Ok, theirs was a bit more difficult, I admit.

But I get a thrill when I sing songs where I am able to cut loose and sing big. Let’s see. Which songs are those.... Not the 50’s rock n roll. Not the folk songs. Not the bluegrass. Not the jazz. I think I get this feeling sometimes when I am at home singing old Italian songs, or some Broadway tunes. I don’t know, it just seems I’m not finding the opportunities – the right music? the right venues? the right audience? – to really show off my singing voice.

Sondheim said: "I really think that when something plays Broadway it's a musical, and when it plays in an opera house it's opera. That's it. It's the terrain, the countryside, the expectations of the audience that make it one thing or another."[1] What is my music then? Is it limited by the terrain, the expectations of the audience? Or something else?

Will I ever find my sound? Maybe it is just evolving. Maybe it is meant that way. I have heard music divided into three categories: pop, folk, and classical. Most singers find their favorite genre (sub-sub-sub-genre?) and stay with it. Me, I can't sit still. Now that I have a better appreciation for this music, I want to add some of it to my repertoire. Someone recently told me just to follow my heart, just do it, and not worry about the crowd. I think I will.



[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_theater

Current songlist

Adieu
Ain't Misbehaving
Ain't She Sweet
All I Have to Do Is Dream
All My Ex's
All My Loving
All of Me
All Shook Up
All the Good Times
American Pie
Are You Lonesome Tonight
Autumn Leaves
Baby You're So Square
Baby's in Black
Banks of the Ohio
Blowin' in the Wind
Blue Days Black Nights
Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain
Blue Moon
Blue Skies
Blue Suede Shoes
Blue Train
Boil Them Cabbage Down
Bridge over Troubled Water
Bury Me Beneath the Willows
Bye Bye Love
California Dreamin'
Can’t Help Falling in Love with You
Carolina in the Pines
Cathy's Clown
Cold Cold Heart
Come Fly with Me
Come Monday
Country Roads
Crazy
Cripple Creek
Cry, Cry, Cry
Crying in the Rain
Danny Boy
Dark Hollow
Desperado
Devoted to You
Dock of the Bay
Don't Be Cruel
Don't Blame Me
Don't Think Twice
Dooley
Every Day
Feelin' Groovy
Fly Me to the Moon
Folsom Prison Blues
Friends in Low Places
From Me to You
Georgia
Get Rhythm
Give My Love to Rose
Goin' Down That Road Feelin' Bad
Goodnight Irene
Goodnight My Someone
Guess Things Happen That Way
He's Got the Whole World
Heartbeat
Heartbreak Hotel
Hello Mary Lou
Help!
Hey Good Lookin'
Hey Jude
Homeward Bound
Hotel California
Hound Dog
House of the Rising Sun
How Do You Do What You Do to Me
I Am a Rock
I Feel Fine
I Fought the Law
I Just Called to Say I Love You
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
I Walk the Line
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
I'm a Believer
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down
I've Got Rhythm
I've Got You Under My Skin
If I Had a Hammer
If I Had You
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Imagine
In the Pines
In This Life
It's Hard to Be Humble
It's Now or Never
John Hardy
Johnny B. Good
Just the Way You Are
Kentucky Rain
King of the Road
Let It Be Me
Love Hurts
Love Me
Love Me Do
Love Me Tender
Love's Been Good to Me
Lucille
Mama Don't 'Low
Maybe Baby
Maybellene
Me and Bobbi McGee
Mean-Eyed Cat
Mona Lisa
Moon River
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Tambourine Man
Mrs Robinson
My Way
New York, New York
No Milk Today
No One Loves Me
No Tears in Heaven
Nowhere Man
O Cessate di Piagarmi
Ol' Man River
Ole Joe Clark
On the Road Again
One More Last Chance
Only You
Over the Rainbow
Please Please Me
Poor Wayfaring Stranger
Puff the Magic Dragon
Red Sails in the Sunset
Requiem
Ring of Fire
Rock Around the Clock
Rock Island Line
Rocky Top
Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
Route 66
Roving Gambler
Salty Dog
See You Later Alligator
She Loves You
Since I Met You Baby
Sittin' On Top of the World
Sixteen Tons
Solo Miro
Some Day
Something
Stormy Weather
Strangers in the Night
Summertime
Suspicious Minds
Sweet Georgia Brown
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Take It Easy
That'll Be the Day
That's Alright Mama
The Boxer
The Dance
The Gambler
The Girl From Ipanema
The Green Green Grass of Home
The Lady is a Tramp
The Next in Line
The Sounds of Silence
The Twelfth of Never
The Way You Look Tonight
The Wayward Wind
The Wonder of You
There You Go
Through the Sleepness Nights
Ticket to Ride
Till I Kissed You
Till There Was You
Tom Dooley
Tutti Frutti
Twilight Time
Two Sleepy People
Unchained Melody
Unforgettable
Vincent
Wake Up, Little Susie
Walk Right Back
What a Wonderful World
When I Fall in Love
When Will I Be Loved
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Will Ye No Come Back Again
Wishing
Wonderful World
Words of Love
Worried Man's Blues
Yesterday
You Are So Beautiful
Your Cheatin' Heart

Gigs, repertoire, band, and more....

Now I'm moving into the music venues. I'm excited that I've booked another gig in Munich. On September 25, 2008, I'll be performing at the Oklahoma Saloon. This venture is progressing. In the past year I've been doing mostly events that I've scheduled and organized myself. I liked having the control of the room, as if it were my own venue. I invited my own people and sold tickets. But the music venues will be doing promotion too. That's what I was missing.

I'm trying to get a better handle on the songlist. I told you in another post that Bob and I have memorized our repertoire (ready to jump up and sing at the drop of a hat!). Now I'm doing the same with my other music. I made a list of 100 songs that I want to be sure that I know by heart. Then I made a second list of 100 for when I'm done with the first. Just think of the confidence of knowing all the text off the top of my head, without fumbling for a songbook. It's funny though, on the Bose website forum we have been talking about songlists and music stands. Some of these guys have thousands of songs at the ready, just a few clicks away in their laptop and they can read as they go. I've heard some professional bands use a teleprompter. Gee!

I just put out the word on the Toytown Germany Munich forum for musicians. I have been griping about this for the past few months. I want to find musicians who are skilled, reliable, professional (not to mention drug-free!). I need some people I can work with to make the sounds that I want to make. Should I go with professionals? Should I seek out classically trained musicians or the folks that improvise everything? Where are these people?

The other day I met with a musician who told me about his groups that are playing in front of thousands of people. We talked all evening over dinner and drinks about many aspects of making music. I have this thing where I don't like to think of music as "hobby" or something you just do for "fun". To me it is more than that. It is an art. I told him that sometimes when I am rehearsing at home, the beauty of a sing just hits me in such a way that tears come to my eyes. He responded with some comment about it being sad or depressing. But that is just not it! How can I make it clear to people that the sensibility for music -- understanding, feeling, expressing -- is the most important part of learning and performing music. Fun? Money? Well, they are part of it too. But if I want to fill the bank account, I just get another tech contract. A musician in it for the money? .... Show business! Good grief, Charlie Brown.

New myspace site

Good news! I just created my new myspace site: www.myspace.com/davidscottbrown. No, it wasn't hard to do. The problem was that there was another David Scott Brown who had the url. I have kept an eye on this for over a year. The other day I noticed he hadn't used the site for almost two years. Finally I sent him an email, but got no response. Then I made the point to the myspace folks, got no response, but voila, in a few days the site was free.

A mixed blessing. I have to say sorry to the other DSB if he still wanted to use it, and it would be great to hear from him. But I'm trying to build this web presence. I don't know why, for heaven's sake, because I don't want to be famous. But it occurred to me yesterday (not trying to be messianic or anything) that I have a musical message for the world. We'll see how well it gets out.

AGBC National Membership Meeting -- performance

I have been invited last minute to perform at the American-German Business Club's membership meeting this Saturday at 18:00. I've invited Bob Crook to join me. We'll be singing and playing at the beautiful winery Balthasar Ress in the Rheingau region. Sorry, this is for AGBC members only, with prior reservation.



I'm happy to tell you about AGBC. (Read more about AGBC here.) I've known Dennis Phillips, the founder and past president, for several years. Dennis and the current president, Robert Stoffers, asked me to provide some American music to complement the ensemble 15 Strings, led by AGBC member Matthias Lichentaler. AGBC is a great group to know and be involved with. It's a good forum for business and social networking and community involvement. Check them out sometime!

Vocal harmonies

I had a short but very productive rehearsal with two colleagues yesterday. We worked on harmonies on a couple of Beatles songs. Three-part harmony on Beatles tunes! This is gonna be great! Should have a short set ready by the next concert.

Bob Crook and I are still polishing the duets. We have about forty songs now pretty much memorized. We want to add bass and drums but we're still looking for the right people.

I also have a mixed quartet in the works. It's not clear when we'll perform, but it may be just for informal functions. The problem is just getting everybody's schedules to sync up. I'm really looking forward to this sound, but it may take a while to get a little songlist together. We're still contemplating which music we want to do.

As a singer, I find it easier to work with other singers than with intrumentalists. Sometimes I wonder if I should just do a vocal ensemble rather than working with a band. But I expect I'll be doing both. I'll keep you informed.

Piazza Linda

I found a great music venue in Munich. The Piazza Linda is owned by a lovely woman from New York who is an accomplished singer and believes in music. I sang there last night during open stage, and afterward Linda invited me to perform on 23 July 2008. I met a lot of musicians. It was a great evening, and I highly recommend the restaurant for anyone who loves music.

Three steps forward

I'm making progress. That's something. A few weeks ago I said to my colleague, Bob Crook, who sings Everly Brothers-style duets with me... "Bob," I said, "let's learn this music." So we did. We memorized about forty songs. I don't want to look at the song sheets again.

Next item. Johnny Cash. How did he make that sound? Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, standup bass. Luther Perkins on a Fender with a 5-watt tube amp, J.C. banging rhythm on the acoustic, Marshall Grant on upright bass. "Boom-chicka-boom". I've asked my friend Dan Carter to learn the cool Perkins riffs. And he has a Fender.

Vocal pop and jazz. I have three colleagues who are professional singers and are joining me in a vocal quartet. I don't suppose it will be commercial, but we will be singing at informal gatherings. I like the sound.

I sang at the ecumenical Pentecost fest on Monday in Frankfurt. Gospel music. But I don't suppose I'll ever entertain the masses with Gospel. Or even try to. It is too important to treat lightly.

And then there's swing. Not porch swing, not swinger, but swing music. I saw it the other day. I met some musicians. I saw the dancers. I liked it. Sinatra on an energy drink. I'll meet with some swing musicians in Munich soon and put something together.

All for now.

150 Fans and Growing!

Hello everybody!

I just wanted to give you an update on what's going on with my music. As you know, during the past several months we've had lots of concerts doing lots of styles of music. My repertoire continues to grow and there is so much more music to explore and learn. I don't want to be stuck in one musical genre; don't fence me in. Better to have one's own style than to try some cookie-cutter approach to music.

For me, singing my songs is not about seeking fame and fortune. Frankly, I don't wanna be a "wanna-be" music star. Crass commercialism is not my thing. (Heck, I'm still trying to figure out how to put a website together.) There's something more important here. Music is a temporal art, as one of my former choir directors used to say. It is about being in the moment, experiencing the colors and shades of sounds in connection with words and phrases and concepts. The poetry and wonder of a simple song can lead to so many different interpretations and musical presentations. This is what I'm about.

So what am I doing now? Aside from attending to developments in my technical career, I have stepped back to take a fresh look at my songlist and to think about the next step in terms of performance. So out of some 650 songs, I am taking a closer look at about 140 of them. Sometimes it's good to slow down and focus. And I continue to work with other musicians to develop a particular "sound", or should we say different "sounds" depending on the ensemble.

So what can you expect from me and my friends in 2008? How about:

• rich and varied vocal music, duets, trios, quartets, from some great singers
• the arrival of a "rockabilly" sound with the music of Cash, Elvis, Everly Brothers, and more
• the addition of more recent pop and rock songs to the repertoire
• some more exploration of other traditional musical cultures (Irish, African, etc.)

And how about you? Would you like to get involved? It would be great if you could help get the word out. In fact, you could let me know by going to the site www.reverbnation.com/davidscottbrown and finding the right tab to join my "street team". (You could also find html code to put on your website that would help people find this website.) As a street team member, you could join in to help invite people to attend concerts or join this site as a fan. You could join with me in planning events and putting concerts together. You could hang out at rehearsals and let us know what kind of music suits your fancy. And you're always welcome to offer advice. When you become involved more closely with sharing this music, then you will see how far we can go in enjoying these musical experiences and bringing people together.

As the Mac Davis song "I Believe in Music" says: Music is the universal language and love is the key. Hey, drop me an email and tell me what you think!

See you at a concert soon!

-David Scott Brown
http://www.reverbnation.com/davidscottbrown

It's been a great ride so far

The past year has brought some very interesting and exciting musical experiences! I've been doing lots of new material, and my songlist is well over 500 songs now. In the spring of 2007, I performed a few concerts in Frankfurt, Germany, with some great musicians. Over the summer months, while spending time with family in the U.S., I rubbed shoulders with some of the best musicians in bluegrass and country music. And then in the fall, I found myself in northern England and Scotland performing in hotels and restauraunts.

With newfound confidence and a broader repertoire, I returned to Frankfurt and hit upon an ambitious plan. I wanted to explore music -- lots of music! So I set up a series of concerts and got to work. In just over three months time, I performed ten concerts and worked with fourteen different special guests, singing a wide variety of styles. We did music from the fifties and sixties, rock, country, blues, jazz, pop, bluegrass, classical, broadway, and more. The songs included covers of Sinatra, Elvis, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, The Everly Brothers, The Platters, Buddy Holly, and Simon and Garfunkel, to name a few. We've had several configurations of musicians and bands, and we've covered lots of music.

It's been a great adventure so far! Thanks for joining me along the way. The repertoire is continually growing. I keep working with new songs, styles, and musicians. Every musical engagement is different. And we keep making new friends along the way. Come see for yourself!