Bill Payne: News

Musical Bud, Billy Joe Chambers has put up his first music video on YouTube. It's a doozie, too - one of his compositions he performs with Al Coffey (yes, our own Swiss Army Musician) at a fair in Wythville, Va. Check it out here:
http://youtube.com/countrymusic0

My great friend, Barry "Byrd" Burton flew the coop last night, passing as a result of leukemia. In the words of John Belard (Flying Burrito Brothers), he was one of the great ones in the world of guitars and music. I have so many great memories of the times we spent together since 1965. Byrd had promised to do a few lead tracks for me on my new album but has been too sick in the last year to attempt it.

Whether you've heard of Byrd Burton or not, I'm sure you've heard his music. Visit his web site for further details:
http://www.byrdburton.com

Before this brief word, let me say on behalf of Byrd's family and friends, thank you all so much for your contributions and your prayers. It has made this recent tough experience a little easier.

In Byrd's sister, Luan's words:
It is in sight, but not over yet.

As many of you know, Byrd was put in ICU at 3:00 am Friday morning when his blood pressure went down dramatically and heart rate went up significantly as he was fighting what e-coli infection after completing his chemo last week. They have not been able to maintain his blood pressure w/out medicines. He was put on a ventilator Sun. He also has acute pneumonia. His condition has continued to decline overnight and we have been told he is in kidney failure, as well as damage to all major organs. The doctors have told us they are doing all they can for him, but don't expect him to pull out of this.

Mickey, Tara, Jake and I have remained by his bedside to support and comfort him (and of course I CAN'T stop taking care of him). The medical team will not allow visitors in his room.

He is in a coma, but not in pain. He is the strongest person I have ever known and he is still fighting. They will keep him comfortable to the end.

We haven't made arrangements yet, of course, but a memorial service will be at Hendersonville Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. When the time comes I'm not sure I will get word to all of you. I'm not expecting to hold up very well.

Thank you for ALL Everyone has done...thoughts, prayers, donations, kind words. I have loved to read how he has impacted people's lives. Please keep sending me stories. I want to keep a scrapbook.

Thanks to all the folks who have come to the aid of ailing guitarist, Byrd Burton. A new web site has been started in an effort to help him through his troubles. Visit http://www.byrdburton.com for details.
And, did I say thanks?

I got the following e-mail from a friend named Luan, who is the sister of Byrd Burton, a long-time friend of mine (we go back to the mid-60s) and one of the finest guitarists in modern times.

Byrd was one of the founding members of the Amazing Rhythm Aces ("Third Rate Romance", "The End Is Not In Sight" and "Amazing Grace (Used To Be Her Favorite Song)", among many others. I knew Byrd when he was in a Knoxville, Tn group called The Loved Ones.

Anyhoo, I see Byrd a couple times a year (the last time in July last
year, and he was pretty sick then). He's really sick now, as explained in the following letter. There's not much I can do from my fiscal perspective to help. So, I'm appealing to all who read this to help round up some assistance for a guy who still has some hope.

Please check out the following letter from Byrd's sister and see if perhaps you can help or maybe know someone who could:

Good Morning.
My name is Luan Smathers. I know some of you may not know me, but I am Byrd's sister. I got your e-mail address from his contact list.
Some of you may not know, Byrd was diagnosed with Myleodysplastic Syndrome in May 2007 and informed this month the leukemia has returned. His only chance for survival, even though a slim chance, is induction chemotherapy
to try to get the leukemia in remission, followed by a stem cell
transplant. He will be at Vanderbilt Hospital approximately 6 months.

Many of you who knew he was sick have asked what you can do to help. We have been reluctant to ask for anyones help until now, but as you can imagine, his medical bills are astronomical and we are still trying to pay for medical expenses from 2007 and find ourselves in a new year, with
co-pays starting over again. He has no prescription medical coverage and Vanderbilt has told us we need to have $35,000 deposited with them to cover his prescriptions for the 6 months following the transplant before they will begin the process.

A fund raising account has been set up at First Tennessee Bank for people who would like to make tax deductible charitable donations to help with his medical expenses. If you know anyone that has been asking how they can help and want to make monetary donations, here is the info:

Name of Account: The Barry "Byrd" Burton Benefit Fund

1. Go into any First Tennessee Bank across the state to make deposit into the fund
OR

2. Mail checks to: First Tennessee Bank
429 West Main Street
Hendersonville, TN 37075

Contributions are tax deductible. Please keep copies of canceled checks for your records when filing 2008 Tax Returns.

Please forward this e-mail to anyone you know that might be willing to help. Also, I am trying to compile a list of e-mails of people that want to be kept "in the loop" of what is going on with his health. If you know anyone I need to include, please let me know.

Bubber (Byrd) and I CANNOT TELL YOU how much we appreciate the out pouring of care, support, phone calls, e-mails, cards, letters and prayers for him. It has truly been AMAZING!! (Now there's another meaning to "The Amazing Rhythm Aces" for me.)

Love to you all!!
Luan


Just wanted to add a footnote to my e-mail. I am receiving responses from some of you that haven't talked to Byrd in a while. I wanted to also let you know that Candy left him in May 2007, just when he was going through finding out about his terminal illness. His divorce was final in Nov 2007.
This almost killed him before the disease did, but he is finally getting over that.
Many of you probably don't know what Myleodysplastic Syndrome is. It is a rarer form of blood cancer with very little available to treat it. He has already been through the only treatment, which is chemo, and a clinical trial of growth inhibitors to try to get his marrow to produce. Basically,
his bone marrow just doesn't produce blood anymore. The doctors feel this is a result from the chemo he had when he had leukemia in 1999. Just to
give you an idea, he has been in the hospital 30 times since August 2007 and received 59 pints of red blood cells and 165 units of platelets. He goes to the doctor every week and now, seems to need a blood transfusion every week. The doctor says they will continue to get more frequent and
eventually won't work without the stem cell transplant.
Please keep him in your prayers.
Luan

But, I guess it's inevitable at times. My great friend, Lillian Banks (see pic on the photo page under Buds & Babes) died on December 30. She was such an inspiration that I wrote what became my number-one song about her. I'll miss her wit and her cooking as well as doing her grocery shopping for her. The best of memories, for sure. See her obituary at: http://www.legacy.com/roanoke/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=100456086

HEY!

Well, here we are with Christmas upon us, another trip around the sun almost completed and our lives different in many ways while unchanged in many others due to the things that occured in the last year. Funny how easy it is to reflect on a year as a slice of time out of the pie of life. Funny how I think of a year as a pie in itself, progressing counter-clockwise from January 1 at the 12 o'clock position, February 1 at the 11 o'clock spot and so on, around the dial. But then, I was 50 years old when I discovered I was parting my hair (what little I had) on the wrong side. 'Course, I did write the song, "Life Is Backwards", too.

I hope the season finds you satisfied with your accomplishments in 2007 and in happy anticipation of the year to come.

Departments:

WELCOME
WEB SITE NEWS
RECENT TIMES
FUTURE TIMES
MAILBAG/FEEDBACK
THE INDEPENDENT MUSICIAN CONNECTION
FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE MONTH
SALES DEPARTMENT

WELCOME
Thanks for reading the Love Dummy Times to all new and existing subscribers to this newsletter, a monthly update on the life and times of Bill Payne and friends and the album (CD), "Naughty And Nice", which has taken on a life of its own.

I'd like to take a moment to recognize a friend, fellow musician and songwriter whose album, "Far From Home" is always a pleasure to crank up on the stereo. Angelo M is his name, and I met him in Shepherdstown, WV at the 2006 Mountain Stage Newsong Festival. After helping him guide his motor home into a slot at the woodline of the campground, I warned him of the snoring habits of his next door neighbor (she sounded like Larry, Curly and Moe all at the same time).

Having discarded 30 years of my life by not playing music, I identified with Angelo's song, "Thirty Years", and it remains my favorite on the album. The title song and and "Running Late" are close behind. Angelo plays a lot of slide guitar and is one of the few slide players I've heard that doesn't have to wiggle the tube to compensate for intonation inaccuracy. He's right on pitch consistently and causes absolutely no "listener fatigue". I'd recommend a listen - check it out at
http://www.angelom.com/index.html and at:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=134598655

WEB SITE NEWS
http://billpaynemusic.net has been up now for 3 years, and I'm real proud of the site and its appearance as well as the amazing response I get to it. My host is Hostbaby - a division of CD Baby, and I use their "wizard" software to design and maintain it. It's a little bit more expensive than most do-it-yourself sites, but it's very flexible and easy to use and maintain. It's also very, very secure thanks to the geniuses at Hostbaby. I'd be real pleased if you paid a visit, and even more pleased if you'll sign my guest book. Your e-mail address will not be displayed or shared with anyone. You won't receive any spam just because you signed my guest book. Also, check out the links page if you're interested in some other local/regional performers' sites.

My web site has several "pages" (or rooms, as I like to call them). The main page is a short welcome page and has a "navigation bar" that enables you to easily click on a desired location within the site to visit the different areas. For example, click on the "news" link, and it will take you to a fairly long page with news in reverse chronological order. The first bit of news will be this newsletter, which I usually post there a few days after I send it to you (you get the sneak preview). If you're interested, there's a short biographical page too - just click on the "bio" link in the navigation bar.

The "shows" link will take you to my performance calendar, which at present is quite bare. I didn't book anything during the summer while I was sick, as I didn't know when I'd be well again. I'm working on that now. Meanwhile, you can check previous dates by clicking on the appropriate link on the "shows" page.

The "music" link is the busiest one on the site. It is here that you can listen to samples of all the tunes on my "Naughty And Nice" album and usually some other recordings I put there. There's always at least one free download there too. Details later in this issue.

The "photos" section is also very busy. There are a LOT of pictures there - many of performances and some funny stuff, too. Check 'em out. You can go there directly by clicking on this link:
http://billpaynemusic.net/photos.html

The "store" link takes you where you can purchase my album, either from CD Baby or directly from me using PayPal. There's other stuff there, too. For example, if you have a cell phone (who doesn't), you can get a FREE RINGTONE of the intro to my song "Springer" for it. I carry some CDs around to give to people when I hear the Springer ringtone. When you click on the link to get it, it takes you to a page with very specific, easy-to-understand directions. In just a few minutes, you'll have a unique ringtone for you cell phone that sounds like the intro to "Springer". Cool, huh?

There are other pages that include my full contact information - phone number, e-mail and even my street address in case you want to snail-mail me.

There's also a "links" link (huh?) that takes you to a page where you'll find more links (hehehehe) to other performers or sites of interest.

Finally, the "forum" page is where you can sign my guestbook and leave a comment about the site or anything on your mind. You can also read all the comments since the beginning there.


RECENT TIMES

It's always a pleasure to play with my trio, WOODY - especially at Edinburgh Square Retirement Community, where the audience is just fantastic. We played there on November 14 and had a great time, despite the absence of our great friend, Lillian, who has been quite ill lately and is now in a rehab center. We're hoping she'll be well enough to go home soon instead of heading to a nursing home.

Lillian, who is the subject of my number-one-selling digital download, was 80 just the other day and has been a source of much joy and enlightenment for me.

Another recent highlight for me was a house concert featuring Pops Walker, in memory of Samuel Thomas Mann. Samm loved Pops and his music, and he was not alone in that respect. Also paying their respects with their music were Bob Casey, Steve Virts and Travis Steele Nevels, among others. Samm was there, too - we all felt his presence.


FUTURE TIMES
I'm making plans to be at several major festivals in 2008. The first 2 that come to mind are the Mountain Stage Newsong Festival (www.newsongfestival.com) and the Nashville Songwriters Festival (www.songwritersfestival.com). Newsong is usually in August, and the Nashville festival is in June. They are both wonderful events. This will be my 4th time at Newsong and my second time at Nashville. Also on the "probable" list are Roanoke's Festival In The Park (Memorial Day weekend) and Chattanooga's Riverbend Festival, right after that. It'll be a busy summer, much of it on the road.

MAILBAG/FEEDBACK
Thanks to everyone for the feedback I get from you via e-mails and at the guest book area of the web site. I assure you that the comments and suggestions are all taken to heart and are very useful to me.

Brother Bob Payne writes: "Well, I have heard just about every song a few times, both live and on CD. I have finally decided that "Life Is Backwards" is the best! Love it!"

Thanks, Bubba - that's encouraging! It seems that a lot of folks think the same about "Life Is Backwards", yet it stands in 4th place, quite a distance behind "Lillian", "Mornin' Wood", and "Work Is Just A 4-Letter Word" in digital downloads. I've taken in almost $8 from "Life Is Backwards" and almost $100 from "Lillian". Maybe it has something to do with the title, although I think the title is fine. I don't know what I'll do with all that money.


THE INDEPENDENT MUSICIAN CONNECTION
This department is directed at independent musicians in the hopes of providing resources for those of us who are "out of the loop" as far as the major record labels are concerned. Watch out, majors! There are a bunch of us out here, and we're comin' at ya!

One of the best resources anywhere for songwriters and musicians is Just Plain Folks. The founder's name is Brian Austin Whitney, and he is one of the most enlightened individuals I've met in the music industry. If you're not familiar with it, please visit:
http://justplainfolks.org/home.html
and sign up FREE as a member.
I know that Brian would be OK with me quoting him from the most recent "Just Plain Notes" from December 13, the periodic newsletter sent to members. So here goes:
Just Plain Quotes:

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing." -Benjamin Franklin

"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." -Napoleon Bonaparte

"Let us take things as we find them: let us not attempt to distort them into what they are not. We cannot make facts. All our wishing cannot change them. We must use them." -John Henry Cardinal Newman

"In the end, success is atoning for the errors in your life, being at peace with yourself when your time has come, and having your achievements speak for you after you're gone." -Brian Austin Whitney

My (Brian's) Take:

As I was working on this newsletter tonight I got word that Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and JPF Member Ike Turner passed away at 76. Mixed with your shock if you haven't heard is probably also some mixed feelings on the man and a mental effort to balance the good and bad in his long career in the music industry versus his heavily publicized personal life.

Ike was born November 5th, 1931 in Mississippi and got his first taste of the music world when he was 8 years old and got to spend time playing records at the local radio station while the DJ went for coffee across the street. He was already hooked on music. Meeting his favorite piano player Pinetop Perkins, who taught him boogie woogie piano, set him on a life as a musician.

In the late 1940's, he created the "Kings of Rhythm" and in 1951 he recorded the first Rock and Roll record "Rocket 88." As would be the case during much of his career, the music wasn't credited to him alone, but rather to the singer Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats. Brenston, the bands Sax player and lead vocalist, was also incorrectly credited as co-writer on the song which was actually written soley by Ike. The recording featured the first distorted guitar, which was simply the result of a broken guitar amp dropped on the way to the session.

Ike and the Rhythm Kings became regular fixtures in the St. Louis music scene and Ike himself became a talent scout for legendary Sun Records where he helped launch acts like Elmore James, Otis Rush, Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy WIlliamson. He frequently acted as side man for other acts and perfected his use of the "whammy" bar. It was during this era that he met Anna Mae Bullock, who would later become Tina Turner, the source of his greatest fame and his greatest infamy. Together with the trio "The Ikettes" backing them up, the Ike and Tina Turner Revue had a slammin' stage show and a string of hits including "A Fool In Love," "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," "River Deep, Mountain High," "I want to take you higher," "Proud Mary" and "Nutbush City Limits" named after Ida Mae's home town in Tennessee.

Their big successes led to Ike launching an LA based recording studio. But things started to unravel when Tina left him after a particularly bad fight in 1976. Without Tina, and with drug use and bad publicity from the violence and infidelities depicted later in Tina's autobiography "I, Tina," Ike's life and career spiraled downward to rock bottom. He was convicted of drug and weapons charges and went to prison.

Ike would say that he told God that he would stop taking drugs and clean up his life if he could just get 3 days away from drugs. He couldn't achieve that on his own, but prison did it for him. After he got out of jail, he got back into his music, winning awards and accolades all the way up to this year when he won his first Solo Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album for his album "Risin' With The Blues."

Most folks today base their opinion of Ike Turner from the depiction in the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It." The stigma of a drug abuser and wife beater will unfortunately be paired up with his creative achievements. Without excusing it, it's important to note that Ike maintained his sobriety after he left prison in 1993 and resurrected his career on his own and in his own name. He was deeply flawed, but he worked hard for redemption and by most accounts, he achieved that in his personal and professional life.

I was fortunate to have been invited to spend Ike's 73rd birthday with him when we were out in LA for our 2004 JPF Music Awards. The event was held at the same club the night before our Pre-Awards showcase. I happened to have my camera with me and when the hired photographer didn't show up, it turned out I had the only photos of the event. Ike had offered to do an interview with me for the JPF newsletter, but like many things in life, it remained on my "To Do" list for the last 3 years. Ironically, when we recently got back from Europe, I came across the photos I had taken at his birthday party and realized I hadn't sent him a copy. I emailed to see if he'd be interested in doing an article for our December newsletter. I never envisioned that article would turn out to be his obituary. It's weird how things work out sometimes.

In the end, success is atoning for the errors in your life, being at peace with yourself when your time has come, and having your achievements speak for you after you're gone. On that note, Ike should be considered a success on anyone's scale. How many of us will be able to say the same?

The last words I spoke to Ike were "Thank you Ike for inventing Rock and Roll."

Thank you Ike indeed.

Here's some photos I took from his 73rd Birthday Party:
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=567153&page=0#Post567153



FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE MONTH
I've started this department in order to offer a special service to those people who would like to have MP3 copies of "Naughty And Nice" tunes on their computer and/or iPod.

Once again this month, I'm featuring a song written by my cohort, Sonny Campbell. The last time you heard a new Christmas Carol was.....when? Well now's your chance to check out this fine example of holiday songwriting by one of the best. It's called "Christmas Thanks (A Christmas Carol)", and we recorded it in the "stone room" of my home with Sonny's wife Annie, his son Jake, daughter-in-law Shiloh, Patty Luck and yours truly. It's meant to sound as if your friends showed up at the door while caroling in the neighborhood. I'm sure you'll like it, and I hope you'll take advantage Sonny's generous offer of a free download by clicking on the following link and selecting the download:
http://billpaynemusic.net/music.html


SALES DEPARTMENT
Only 999,621 more sales before "Naughty And Nice" goes platinum!

Thanks to everyone who has bought and/or listened to "Naughty And Nice". The countdown to the break-even point stands at 21 to go. You know what to do! Digital distribution approaches 5,000 now - another milestone (mostly listens, of course - they net me anywhere from .01 to .09 each, depending on the source). There are links below that will take you to digital music sites, many of which offer free sample tracks. I hope you'll check them out and feel compelled to support independent music by making a purchase of a single track or whole album. Thanks!

I'm pleased to have my music offered at PayPlayFM, a new digital download site offering over a million independent music tracks. Mine are easy to find at:
http://payplay.fm/billpayne

Also new for me is BROADJAM, a popular digital download site for independent music. Check it out and search me, too:
http://www.broadjam.com/

I'm fortunate to be included on a compilation CD
released by Catawba Records, titled "Blue Ridge
Music Today - The Whole Caboodle". This is a
fantastic collection of 21 songs by Catawba Records
artists and those who have recorded at Catawba
Sound Studio. There are tunes by Steve Virts,
Donna Pearson, Samuel Thomas Mann, Al Coffey,
Heather Berry & Virginia Carolina, the Bluegrass
Brothers, Locust Mountain Boys, and a bunch of
other artists, including WOODY! Check it out at the
CD Baby site, and buy it there if you like, or order a
copy from the Store page at my site:
http://billpaynemusic/products
http://www.cdbaby.com/catawbarecs

"Naughty And Nice" is also available by purchase or download (use your credit card if you like) at my site and a number of internet locations (about 64, actually):
MY WEB SITE: http://billpaynemusic.net/products.html
CD BABY: http://cdbaby.com/billpayne
PAYPLAY; http://payplay.fm/billpayne
MP3TUNES: http://www.mp3tunes.com/BillPayne
BROADJAM: http://www.broadjam.com/
GROUPIE TUNES: http://www.groupietunes.com/artists/BillPaynea7c
iTUNES: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=47230895
GREAT INDIE MUSIC: http://www.greatindie.com/ipnmusic/store/list.php?item_number=634479047213
MUSIC IS HERE: http://musicishere.com/artists/Bill_Payne/Naughty_And_Nice
TRADE BIT: http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/155518
CHONDO: http://chondo.net/cnd/viewArtists.do?artistId=2480
CHONDO also: http://chondo.net/cnd/viewAlbums.do?albumId=4729
WAL-MART: http://musicdownloads.walmart.com/catalog/servlet/AlbumServlet;jsessionid=Dj6j7dIJaDuPOySYgcJt96jV32ggaKGGQeQCthxS9wMGR2qdq1ef!-989341252?id=121581
MYSTRANDSs: http://www.mystrands.com/album/499975
INTERIA: http://www.melo.pl/album/aid/55497
AOL MUSIC: http://music.aol.com/artist/bill-payne/112956/album/naughty-and-nice/747910
RHAPSODY: http://www.realmusicservice.com/aid-70804-bill-payne.htm
AUDIO GALAXY: http://www.audiogalaxy.com/list/artistInfo.php?&r=25280735
YAHOO SHOPPING: http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Naughty%20and%20Nice:1922119549;_ylt=AgCuHidePTIP6VElZRK.wnhUvQcF;_ylu=X3oDMTBzZTVhM3RqBF9zAzk1OTUxMTEzBGx0AzQEc2VjA2FydHByb2Q
ARTIST DIRECT: http://store.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/listenwatch/0,,477679,00.html
MP3.COM: http://www.mp3.com/bill-payne/artists/92559/songs.html

At any of my gigs. The gig price is now only
$8 and, of course, I'll be happy to sign them for you.
By mail: you can send $10 (includes postage) to the
address below and specify how you'd like me to
personally sign it for you. I'll send it out the same day,
if possible.

Bill Payne
3637 Grandview Ave.
Roanoke, Va. 24012

Other contact information available at
http://www.billpaynemusic.net/contact.html

Bill is a member of Just Plain Folks Songwriter and
Musician Network Organization
http://www.jpfolks.org

and the Southwest Virginia Songwriters Association
http://www.svsa.info

and the American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers (ASCAP)
http://www.ascap.com

Thanks again for reading! Your interest and support are gratifying and appreciated.

Yours in tune,
Bill

here 'tis: http://www.myspace.com/indexcfmfuseactionusermytokene701112fb79541

What determines a successful road trip? In this case, hitting the break-even point is the ticket. April 20 and 21 offered me that opportunity, and I took it.

On Friday, I traveled from Roanoke to Chattanooga to play at the North Chatt Cat, a little hamburger joint/pub with a friendly owner (we'll call him by his real name, Dennis) and a patio that overlooks a river park. We were blessed with great weather, so I played to an enthusiastic audience outside.

Many thanks to my Brother, Bob for laying the groundwork and for giving me a comfortable place to stay!

On Saturday, I trekked to Knoxville and the New Knoxville Brewing Company for an event to benefit friends and compatriots Red and Plebian, who were burned out of their home in late February. I was honored to be among some great local and regional artists, gathered together to help these fine folks get a new start on things.

It was a fun day, with proprietor Brett providing food for everyone, cooked outside on a wonderful grille. The comaraderie was tight, and I know everyone had a good time while contributing to a good cause - that being assistance to musicians in need.

When I got home, I had almost exactly the same amount of money I had when I left. Thanks to all who made it happen, and especially to Ranse Whitworth, who actually showed up at both events!

Click here to download your new ringtone, featuring the intro to "Springer". IT'S FREE!

Springer

Buds, Bill Hudson and Al Coffey, along woth some new compatriots, recently visited the hurricane-ravaged New Orleans area once again. Thay took more instruments with them for the school kids and had a very productive trip. Check out the 6-minute Google video at the following link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9076703829500317927&pr=goog-sl

Also, check out the blog:
http://feelgoodtour.blogspot.com/

Me, either. That's why I checked out BigCrumb.

Check out this new site I found that let's us save cash when shopping at cool places like eBay, iTunes, Gap, Old Navy, Circuit City, Target and many more.

So, if you ever buy or sell anything on eBay or shop online for stuff like chocolate, computer stuff, clothes, contact lenses, printer ink, toiletries, pet stuff, books, kitchen stuff, rental cars, toys, flowers, travel, jewelry, magazines, food - well, you get the picture - almost anything, then you owe it to yourself to sign up at BigCrumbs.

We can also earn extra cash each time thousands of people shop online!

I signed up myself, and it is REAL. I can't find a bad thing about it.

Just use the link below to take a look! If you decide not to sign up, lemme know why so I can refine my referral letters.

http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/frontpage.jsp?r=musicmaniac

Lets use BigCrumbs to save some dough and make some dough.

Good Luck!

The memorial show for Sam, held at the Green Dolphin Grille in Roanoke, was a huge success! We managed to raise a significant amount of money for Sam's favorite charity (St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital) while honoring the man who was everyone's brother with the music he loved so much. Anyone who experienced "The Road Goes On Forever" had to feel the vibe that Sam projected so effortlessly by himself.

5 days later, I'm still recovering.

Sonny Campbell, bassist and vocalist for WOODY and Bebop Hoedown, and his wife, Annie have blessed us all with the birth of their daughter, Kaye Marion. Mother and daughter are both fine, Sonny's a mess, and everything is just great!
We're all glad to have such great news after the passing of our great friend and musical brother, Sam.
Congratulations to Sonny and Annie!!!

Much bigger than life he was. Samuel Thomas Mann was a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, he was a friend, a brother, a soldier and a guide. Born of experience, his wisdom was even bigger than he was.

Sam died last night, November 10, 2006, and I'll be among those who miss him the most. R.I.P., my brother.

His obituary may be seen here:
http://www.legacy.com/roanoke/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=19911065

I recently attended a concert featuring Denise Jordan Finley, whom I'd seen before and thought enough of to go again. I'd recommend that experience to anyone. The following day, I went to a workshop Denise presented which turned out to be an excellent exercise, worthy of attendance by any guitar picker from beginning to expert.

Denise's playing style includes a number of different alternative guitar tunings, and what I learned was to "follow my ears" instead of conforming to established guidelines. I have a good enough ear to distinguish between outright dischord and extremely close harmonies, so her method, titled "Organic Guitar" was very helpful in bringing out a too-seldom used creative side in me.

Thanks, Denise! I'm sure my originals repertoire will expand thanks to you.

Three Cds ago, I thought this guy was great! Of course, I had the pleasure of hearing Clinton Collins in person, both on stage with sound reinforcement and around the campfire. His friendly, yet quiet and unassuming manner belie the passion with which he writes and performs his music. His first two CDs, Fragile Little Humans and Everything Is Possible were efforts that included several talented musicians and full instrumentation on many songs. His third release, Creek Boy Blues, comes on the heels of much encouragement to produce an acoustic-based album that highlights Clinton’s smooth guitar work and that distinctive voice of his that brings to this writer’s mind a cross between Don Henley and Kenny Loggins.

But, make no mistake - Clinton Collins is an original. West Virginia-raised, this Appalachian native recalls many experiences from childhood on, writing about them with the voice of reminiscence and reason; sometimes happy, sometimes melancholy.

The opening song is Cross The River, sung with a hand-picked “choir”, and it sets the tone for the rest of the album. Acoustic guitars, fiddle, mandolin, bass and the great harmonies. I like it! Later, you’ll also hear banjo, resonator guitar, tambourine and harmonica - all terrific for augmenting acoustic music.

Black Walnut Stain is arguably the most thought-provoking song. The visuals are intense and clear, and Clinton’s voice leads the way. The title song, Creek Boy Blues, is my favorite, and again, the imagery is wonderful. I can picture a 12-year-old boy, fresh from church in his Sunday best, traipsing through the creek in his “new church shoes”. We really don’t get to choose where we’re born - we just carry that weight like the creek boy blues. Great stuff!

More highlights for me include We’re Watching Home And Garden, the tune chosen as a co-winner in the 2005 Mountain Stage Newsong Festival and Appalachian Way, which won The Next Great West Virginia Song Contest in the same year. Ghost In My Home Town is another favorite of mine. I first heard Clinton play this song at my campsite at Newsong in 2005.

And so, you have two assignments: add Creek Boy Blues to your CD collection, and go out to see Clinton Collins in person. Get all the info you need at http://clintoncollins.com

I’m in a strange town, en route to somewhere I’ve never been. I’m running a little early, just in case I have trouble finding my destination. I don’t want to be late - especially since I’ll be paid for my activities in the next few hours. People are counting on me. We have an arrangement, and a number of people have planned their evening around the house concert at which I will perform tonight between 7 and 9.

I think about what my hosts, the Johnsons, are doing at this moment - probably arranging chairs, clearing a stage area, putting out snacks and glassware and doing some last-minute cleaning. Most house concert hosts are very considerate of their performers and guests, wanting all to be comfortable in order to maximize their enjoyment of the live music experience. It’s an effort not wasted on me, as I’d much rather perform a house concert than any other venue.

The following Information is taken from a couple reliable sources: Pops Walker’s House Concert paper and “Producing House Concerts” by Glen and Cheryl Duckett.

What is a house concert? The short answer: it’s just that - a private performance by a performer you really like, in the comfort of your own home. You, as the host, invite some family and friends to your home for an afternoon or evening of live acoustic music. You ask your guests for a small cash donation - usually, $7 - $15 each - and after your set-up costs, the money goes to the artist(s).

Generally speaking, live music doesn’t mean loud music. Unless needed for large rooms or large audiences, sound reinforcement equipment is a rarity at house concerts. In most settings, the audience has the pleasure of listening to the instruments and voices in pure and natural tones - up close and personal. It’s understood that while the artist is performing, the audience provides the performer with attentive ears. There will always be time for socializing and talk during intermission or after the performance.

I find my host’s home with no problem and am welcomed enthusiastically by them, their 2 adolescent children and even their dog, a beautiful, well-behaved golden retriever named Wish. I’m told there is also a cat lurking somewhere. The Johnsons are putting me up for the night and show me the room they’ll have me use. I leave my bag in there and retrieve my guitar, autoharp and stands and proceed to the doorway between the living room and dining room, where I’ll be setting up.

We’re expecting about 15 guests tonight, and the Johnsons’ living room should accommodate them easily. I set up my stands and tune my instruments and check the lighting. We have about an hour before guests will start arriving, and I’m offered hors d’eurvres, which I gladly accept. The graciousness of my hosts belies the casual atmosphere of the concert setting - a couch, love seat, several chairs and some large pillows strewn about the floor. Wish has claimed her spot on her personal pad near the front, nose between her paws, watching everything.

Preparation is an important aspect of hosting a house concert. If yours is to be a one-time or infrequent event, the concerns are simple: parking for guests, food and/or beverages, lodging for the artist, artist fees, seating, e-mails, reservations for guests, an area for intermission or party time afterward, audio and/or video recording setup if desired, turning off the telephone ringer, and other details. Keeping it simple makes it less work.

There is a lot of information available to prospective house concert hosts, much of it online. I will be happy to provide the necessary details to anyone interested in hosting. Just call or e-mail for info.

After an introduction from my hosts, the 18 audience members (not counting Wish) settle back, and it’s not long before I have a good rapport with them. After I play 12 songs (about an hour), we all retreat to the kitchen area and deck for a break. Several guests purchase CDs, and I take the time to personally sign them, grateful for the opportunity.

My second set lasts about 45 minutes and gets livelier toward the end. I’m thrilled at the enthusiastic response and calls for an encore. After my last song, the Johnson family cat finally appears and nuzzles my ankles. Wish comes to my rescue, and the cat retreats to its hiding place. I meet with the guests again in the kitchen, sell and sign a few more CDs. Some of the guests make their way to the door to leave, but some want to talk a while. That’s fine with me, as it gives me a little winding-down time. Finally, I offer to play one last song so I can help the Johnsons clean up a bit while the rest of the guests leave.

It’s been a very nice evening for me and, judging by the reaction of the audience members, for them also. I’ve added many names to my e-mail list and expanded my fan base to include a number of people from this friendly town. Tomorrow, I’ll be off to another house in another town, making my way through life as a performing songwriter and loving every minute of it.

Two fellow musicians, Bill Hudson ( http://www.bill-hudson.com ) and Al Coffey, are headed south to Mississippi and Louisiana to help with the rebuilding going on since Hurricane Katrina.

The plan is to hook up with local projects and lend a hand in construction and repairs. Both musicians are accomplished carpenters. They will also provide free music and entertainment in order to provide some emotional relief to those affected by the disaster.

They are posting a daily blog that promises to be informative and entertaining. Please visit the blog and track their activities while they're gone. The URL for the blog is:
http://feelgoodtour.blogspot.com/

9/25: The FGT is getting interesting! Read all about it at the blog link above. I've posted some of the pictures on the photos page (link at left).