Music
Here is a sampling of some of the recording I've done over the years.
This song is one I originally wrote after seeing the Subdudes play at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. It was originally recorded by an all-women funk group called Zeala. When I moved to Colorado in 2011 I met John Magnie and Steve Amedee of the Subdudes and I asked John to produce a handful of demos for me. This session was one of the musical highlights of my life!
John Magnie - Keyboard, Background Vocal
Steve Amedee - Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal
Cary Morin - Lead Guitar
Todd Silas - Bass, Background Vocal
Me - Guitar, Lead Vocal
I recorded this song after the election of 2016. I used to be worried about offending my more conservative friends with my liberal views. That isn't the case any more. I want them to be offended. Not by me, but by what they are enabling to happen. We have to be better than this, at every place on the political spectrum. I believe in basic rights for all humans. I am appalled that children are being kept in cages. And I don't think it's the property of any religion to determine the morality of anyone besides its own members. That said, I also think our taxes should be used for better things than military spending. We have more than enough ways to kill each other but ask for money to educate or provide better opportunities for all and you'd think someone farted in the elevator. We have to be better than this.
This song was originally written back in the mid 90s when I lived in the Nashville area. I had just heard that my Uncle Charlie had lost his job on a ranch and couldn't find any other work besides driving the HeadStart bus. He was a genuine cowboy who had a lifetime of experience. I also looked up to him as a boyhood hero. He was strong and funny and treated me like I counted. I was honored to sing this at his funeral in 2015. Sales of this single support one of my favorite causes. Hearts & Horses is a therapeutic riding center here in Loveland, Colorado. The full EP is below.
This is my only full length album. Falling All the Way was released one week after the terrorist attacks in 2001. We weren't sure we were going to be able to have the release show, but it did happen. The album was well recieved in folk circles up and down the East Coast. It was nominated for a few awards by the Washington Area Music Association. I won the award for Traditional Folk Instrumentalist that year. Though I've written a lot of songs since then, I haven't had much occasion to record them. I aim to correct that.
Here's the Songs for Hearts & Horses EP. Proceeds benefit Hearts & Horses therapeutic riding center in Loveland, CO.
In 2015 I auditioned to join Paul Chet and the Whiskey Chickens. It had been a long while since I had played in a band. These guys are all top-notch players and I enjoy this gig very much. Even though I'm largely retired from my own music career, playing with these guys is still on the list of things I enjoy. We released this album in 2019. It was recorded at Stout Studios in Fort Collins and mastered by Airshow in Boulder.