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Dear Friends, We hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Hard to believe that was just last week? Things change quickly around here once the turkey is eaten. On Wednesday everything is one way, no decorations at all, and by Sunday it's all changed and, as if by magic, porches are lit and decorated with greenery and yard trees have lights in them. We're not full fledged into the house adornments yet, except for a wreath on the front door, but it's going to be a warm today with temperatures in the 60s. So if we're going to do anything outside, today's the day. We're still getting emails from folks about the Leonard Cohen shows last month. They were special nights filled with amazing songs and we had a great time working them up with Trent Wagler of the Steel Wheels and his, and now our, buddy on bass, Derrick Kratzer. The Leonard Shows sold out and there is a hue and cry to repeat them next year. Not sure if we will but the creative investment into "all things Leonard" was certainly worth the time and effort. Now we've turned to refreshing our memories of our Seasonal and Holiday songs. It's a pleasure to bring them back to the forefront and remember the occasions the songs were learned and/or written. One fond recollection is of pitching our brand new song, "Shotgun Shells On A Christmas Tree," to Garrison Keillor to sing on A Prairie Home Companion. The song, a Christmas memory from Linda's childhood, was so new we didn't even know the words. On a Friday afternoon we were playing the song with the band when Garrison walked in and asked what we were doing. We showed him the lyrics, he studied them for what seemed like an eternity and then said, "We'll open the show tomorrow with it." Well, all right!! Flash forward, 24 hours, it's two and a half hours before the live broadcast at The Town Hall in New York City, we walk off stage after rehearsing the song (we're a little more familiar with the lyrics by now), and there, in all her regal splendor, is Renee Fleming, the renowned operatic soprano. We were awestruck. She stopped us as we passed and told us how much she loved the song and how she had always wanted to learn to play the banjo. Now we are speechless. Really, her voice and the banjo? So, we'll be bringing "Shotgun Shells" and other Christmas Holiday songs from our repertoire to The Front Porch in Charlottesville, VA this next weekend. It's our third time playing there and it's good way to kick off December. And a good way of ending December will be with some Hank Williams tribute shows. This is our 22nd year of gathering with a spectacular troupe of other musicians and singing nothing but Hank songs. New members to the troupe this year include Marshall Wilborn and Pete and Maura Kennedy. They'll join us, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer and the wonderful fiddler Patrick McAvenue for what are sure to be some special nights of music. How can you go wrong? These are Hank Williams songs! What a wonderful surprise to return from a friend's birthday gathering and learn that Chris Thile, the host of NPR's "Live From Here," chose our song, "Don't Let Me Come Home A Stranger" to end last night's show. We listened to it this morning and he and Rachel Price put together a stunning rendition. We don't know where Chris heard the song, but thanks Chris for singing it. Here's the link and folks can listen to it until 11:00 pm tonight, December 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxSB06AFJac Bumper Sticker Of The Month (seen on a walk around our neighborhood): Hank if you love country. We' wish you all Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy Hanukkah and hope our paths cross soon. Go see some live music. It makes you smarter and healthier.
Your pals,
FOR BOOKINGS: Trish Galfano, trish@myriadartists.com, 919.967.8655
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/robinandlindawilliams |