Is It REALLY 2010?

Happy New Year! :-)
May you walk with Love, Joy, and a song in Your Healthy Hearts.

2009 didn't start out being so much fun! My best friend, Sherrie, died, causing me to record and release (for The Darnell Hicks Foundation) the CD, Touched By An Angel. Eerily, she had a "Farewell Open House"on Sunday, January 25th to send her son to college, then died on Monday the 26th! Many thanks to Eric Easterbrook for his assistance on guitar and vocals, and to Kenny Yarbrough (The Mix Pub Recording Studio) who stayed up all night, Thursday, so we were able to play the song at her funeral on Friday morning (in her will, she had requested I sing at her funeral service).

After the Earthday Expo April 18th (Rochester, MI) with The Valkyries (and knee surgery), we headed to Florida. First, to visit friends in Tampa and Nokomis, then to St. George Island with The Valkyries and Gypsy Jack. It was great to see friends, and even better to play violin while their children played piano, but the visit to the little church my daddy built, the walk through the Healing Garden, and remembering riding to Grandma and Grandpa's every Sunday and walking in the white sand that was my front yard (from the Wishing Well to the jetty) as a child, was the highlight of my vacation. We even visited my old middle school! What a nostalgic romp! I even got a new song out of it, "There's No Place Like Home" (look for the lyrics on Sonicbids/Marilyn). But the most fun of that Florida trip was playing with the ball in the pool with Maggie, Denise, and Dave. What a blast!!!! I think we were all nine years old for a while! Unfortunately, two weeks after we got back, Denise lost her battle to Leukemia. I'm so thankful for that time with her in Florida!

Many things didn't go as I had hoped or anticipated in 2009. One of the highlights of 2009 was the honor of performing at Detroit's Scarab Club for the Poetry and Musing Cafe. What a joy to be surrounded not only by the autographs of Diego Rivera, Norman Rockwell and many others, but to be coincidentally surrounded by a display of large murals of famous women. Thanks, Ann Holdreth.

Another honor was to be a part of not only the Farewell Tribute to both Denise Marie Stein and Pamela Campau at Mama's Coffee House (Birmingham, MI) where we raised over $5,000 for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, but to be a part of the very personal CD release party (post-mortem) for Pamela Campau at Friends Meeting House (Ann Arbor, MI). Pamela was also featured on the compilation CD (as was Denise with Foxfire on "Tide And The River Rising") for the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society with her song, "Simple Pleasures". Pamela's CD, Work In Progress, was produced by Steve Deasy (who asked me to help with "Simple Pleasures" and "I'm Fine"). The experience gave me two wonderful songs, "Guardian Angels", a tribute to Pamela, and "Faerie Nights", inspired by Pamela. It was such a special privilege to have been friends with such wonderfully talented and truly Beautiful Ladies.



THEN THERE WAS 2008:

The question of the year seemed to be, "Where have you been; why hasn't everyone heard that voice?" Well, I was busy being a teacher! To be an effective facilitator of learning with a quest for knowledge takes a bit more than putting the day's date and the page number to be done on the chalkboard - - you know! You know what didn't work - - what doesn't work. But what does work takes a great deal of dedication. Thankfully, I was a successful teacher. It took me no less than sixty hours each week. And, for some strange reason, the housekeeper, gardener and cook never seemed to be around! Does that answer the question?

The highlight of the year? Well, the surprise CD from Tom Mansell, Ann Arbor Alive (from our performance together on A3 radio, May 1st) was certainly among them! And there were so many, I don't want to leave any out (all the gigs)! Annie Capps and SongAnon produced a compilation CD, Songwriters Anonymous volume 1, which included my song, "Tryin'" and SongAnon's showcase at Trinity House (Livonia, MI) with Tom Mansell was so much fun! David Nefesh and I were privileged to not only perform together at The Barking Spider Tavern in Cleveland, but to be featured on the radio station, 93.1 The Summit with Twistin' Tom!

In the spring, with the help of Kenny Yarbrough's assistance, a limited edition of GREEN was released. It features me singing alone to my daughter, some of her favorite childhood songs, and some I wanted to leave with her after I'd gone. A CD release/birthday party at Memphis Smoke (Royal Oak, MI) was her surprise (Thanks, John D. Lamb). Tom's son, Chris Mansell provided necessary graphic assistance. Thanks to you All!

The CD, LOVE, was produced during the summer; Kris and Don Paul asked me to sing "I Wish You Enough" at their wedding; Jackie and Eric asked me to sing "The Rose" and Paul Stookey's "Wedding Song" for their wedding, and, at the reception, Maggie Ferguson and Denise Marie Stein (of Foxfire) asked me to join them and become The Valkyries. I felt like I'd died and went to Heaven and became part of the Angel Choir! We performed at one of my favorite spots, The Barking Spider (Cleveland, OH) and LOVE was released there, in August.

The funniest memory of 2008 was just before Halloween. We were practicing for The Blue Note (Pontiac, MI) at Denise's house, when she mentioned something she'd found at a garage sale, to which I responded, "Oh, that reminds me - - if you should be at a garage sale and you see a cello, please call me!" I'm sure Maggie and Denise must've shared looks when I wasn't looking - - garage sale? (It WAS October!) A cello???? (At a GARAGE SALE???) Well, five days later I received a call from Maggie who was laughing so hard I could hardly understand her ask, "Are you still interested in that cello?" STILL???? (It had been less than a week) Of course! The goal is to add violin, cello, keyboard and vocals to GREEN and re-release it for marketing.

Then, there was the delight of being featured at Paint Creek's Tin Whistle with Jere Stormer and our new CD as a group: QUENCH. Just before the show (you can hear it on-line on Matt Watroba's show on 11-15-88), I was privileged to perform live on WDET and debuted my new song, "Faerie Nights" and shared the air with The Bushwackers, Drew Nelson, and Jere Stormer. Now, there was a birthday surprise! Oddly, there was no mention of my birthday, and many of my friends were not there (it was a full house - - they wouldn't have had chairs!). But, the next night, when we went to 'pick up my sister to go out for my birthday dinner', my husband insisted we go into my sister's house for a minute to visit. My daughter agreed we should go in for a quick look at the things she'd done to help my sister finish her game room. Inside, there were all the friends missing from the night before, and more, with a BIG "SURPRISE!" birthday party (you can join us on my myspace/momair) and song to help me "Down The Road" to another year of celebration. Thank you All, for Your Love, Support, and opportunities for such a wonderful year!



Whew!!! Well, 2007 WENT SO FAST! It was filled with one special event after another: the Pureheart Songwriter's Showcase with David Nefesh, featuring Michigan songwriters: Annie and Rod Capps, Jan Krist, Luke Sayers with Mark Iannace, Ben Cyllus and John Howard, Jud Branam and Kevin Brown (of Corndaddy), Drew Nelson, Ben Hassenger, Jon Latini, Jill Jack, Susan O'Rourke with Zig Ziegler, Jo Serrapere and John Devine, Liz Larin and Leslie Frederick (before it's sad ending in March :-( AND! There was David Nefesh, Jeff Reynolds, Jere Stormer, Don Gulish and me, in The Astronauts of Love. David released his CD, Pureheart, which I am honored to have been a part of. A personal highlight for me, was dancing with Keb Mo on stage at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor while the band played "She Just Wants To Dance" (Sherrie made me do it :-). Another, was not only the live performance on Ann Arbor Alive (A3) Radio with Tom Mansell, but the consequential live mini-CD. Tom and I were fortunate to have been able to perform at many wonderful places, including the Jazzy Java, which became our 'home away from home'. Unfortunately that ended with the death of the owners' father in October (our condolences to the Nguyen family).

I was also honored to be a part of a Tribute To Neil Young at Trinity House Theatre with David Nefesh, Billy Brandt, Nolan Mendenhall, and Jeff Fowlkes as the house band, with featured performers: Jill Jack, The Hummingbirds, Billy Brandt, Jan Krist, David Nefesh, John Latini, Jere Stormer and Brigitte Knudson and me (my cousin, Diane, was up from Florida for her birthday and was present for that one!).

AND, as if the year wasn't exciting enough, what with the engagement of Don & Kris, who, on July 27,2008 will become Mr. & Mrs. Paul (I‘ll be there singing), and Eric and Jackie, who, on August 8, 2008 will become Mr. & Mrs. Easterbrook (CONGRATULATIONS!), there was my CD Release Party at Trinity House Theatre! WOO HOO!!!!! GEE - - I didn't have to wait long for that to happen! :0) ALL of you were there! Thank you SOOOOOOOOO much! Thank you for driving all the way to Trhinity House Theatre, and thank you for helping me have the best birthday EVER!!!! Even CHARLIE MARTIN (of Bob Seeger's Silver Bullet Band was there!!!!! (on his best friend's birthday! - - THANKS, CHARLIE). If you weren't there, you missed all the wonderful friends with whom I've ever played (except for the one's performing elsewhere/out of state). First, Co-President of the Detroit Folk Society (along with yours, truly) the truly timeless Ted Berlinghof, then Ted & me with the ever extraordinary Eric Easterbrook (from our former group, Cydonia) augmented by the sweetly sewn notes of Ever so Wonderful, Larry Everhart on harmonica followed by songs with The Astronauts of Love including the magnanimous Jeff Reynolds on bass (thanks for all the important attention to sound), danceable Don Gulish on drums (be sure to catch him in his new band, Chrome Folk BBQ), hot chops, dandy David Nefesh (in a suit!) on guitar, and 'just turn me loose!' Jere Stormer ripping off those leads and enhanced by the blues harp played by the ever-on, Larry Everhart. After the break we came back with the dandy Don Gulish on drums, jumpin' John Finan on bass, and the divine David Nefesh on guitar, embellished by Larry Everhart, and. followed by the terrific Tom Mansell< /B> accompanying me. And after I did a solo number, everyone joined me on stage for the final number, "We Are One" (to be included on both Scatter and Little Blue Sphere). It was decidedly the best birthday present ever!

My daughter, Chelsey, and my husband, Dave, colluded to present me with a huge round beautifully decorated birthday cake AND a congratulatory cake with a cropped version of the picture on my CD of me atop the sheet cake. WOW!!!!! The Montgomery's, July's and Becca gave me the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. If you weren't there, not only did you miss the absolutely Delicious cakes from Holiday Market down on Main Street in Royal Oak (check out the new changes! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY different since I was 14!) - - the best cakes this side of the Mississippi - - but you missed all the local celebrities in the audience, too! : Sonya Mastick & her husband (she's the drummer on my CD, along with Don Gulish on "Born In A Manger"), Jo Serrapere & John Devine with baby, Stella (who joined me in harmony), author/songwriter/performer, Dennis Sinnett and his family, including his famous granddaughters, NORA (songwriter/perf ormer on JOE REILLY Children of the Earth) and DYANI (Illustrator of same), along with Steve Deasy, Billy J, Hank Zappa, DW and Ron Ellman of Synthony Arcato, Linda Beech (the Brit from Boston) and all the rest of my famous friends who just yet haven’t been discovered. Thanks to all who helped make it so special, including Kathy Kitzman (Trinity House Theatre AND Chrome Folk BBQ) who found vases for all the flowers coming in and arranged them on stage so nicely for me. But I couldn’t have done it without all the performers on my CD (including Pete Peltier of the Regular Boys, on bass, who couldn’t attend) and the man who produced it, Mr. Ken Yarbrough, nor the man who produced the graphics for me, Mr. Chris Mansell, and his brother, photographer/engineer, Mr. Thomas Mansell AND their mother, the wonderful Ms. Beverly Mansell, who took pictures of my guests at the afterglow, and my cakes and all the fixin‘s so her son could present me with my very own edited edition of my CD release party for the holidays. Thank You! Thank you, ALL.

And, as if it wasn't enough fun to play in groovy little places like The Steak Hut (Detroit), Live! From the Living Room (Pontiac), and AJ's Cafe (Ferndale), there was the Detroit Yacht Club, Waterside Park (Walled Lake - - with Acosta' Kimbo), Goodison Good Tyme at Bear Creek Nature Park and fundraising for Trevor William Johnson's Good Neighbor Garden (Ferndale) and the magnanimously successful Christmas Benefit Concert for OCEF & Love INC. at SLUMCity Coffee House in Oxford, with the likes of Bob Marshall, Tom Mansell, Will & Ann Rowland, Foxfire, Robert Marr, Dan Hazlett, and Robin Moore and The North Stars.

Then, there were the holidays. We always have an open house on December 24th at our house, and the family gathers and greets any who’d love to join in. Merriment was provided by The Princess, Penelope (who sparkled glitter everywhere she went), and Freddie Whipple, my granddog (who got a new ball that lights up and makes noises). A quietly lovely time was had by all, with the wonderful guests who attended leaving well fed and smiling. Those of you not there were missed. Though Sister, Dorothy, beat us all in SCRABBLE, a good time was had by all.

WELL! As if that’s not enough! The ‘icing on the truly fabulous cake of 2007’, is that I was privileged to finish the year with a gig in Cleveland at The Barking Spider Tavern with the ever delicious guitar playing of David Nefesh. I love to play violin and sing harmony to his songs and hear him back me on mine, and in Cleveland, that’s just what we did. I think it can safely be said it was a fun evening for all. The audience included the first performer of the evening, Harry, and his friends, college students, and local friends of Martin and the Spider. AND, friends I met at FARM in Chicago (Folk Alliance Regional Midwest), members of the band, Flip Side (www.myspace.com/hearth flipside). They not only came out to see us, but when the batteries in my camera died, Brian Baddour went to the store, bought more, changed them for me, then volunteered to take pictures for us (What a nice guy!) Be sure to catch them when you can. They’l l be having their CD release party in the summer of 2008, in Cleveland, so plan a stay to include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and some other fun in Cleveland, Ohio. Maybe even catch me at the Barking Spider Tavern in Cleveland in 2008 . . .



2008 is going to be GREAT!



Well! As if 2006 wasn't exciting enough, with that WONDERFUL trip planned by Linda Beech to New England: Alice's Restaurant (there's really a Garbage Trail Tour every May in Stockbridge! And, You, too, could re-enact that fateful trip one Thanksgiving Day), The New Bedford Folk Festival, Mustard's Retreat, John Gorka, Cliff Eberhardt, Eliza Gilkyson, Chris Flisher, horseback riding, a "Three Hour Tour" on a whale watch (wherein we actually witnessed and photographed a nursing mother and calf). We pedaled on a bicycle built for six, and had a fabulous tour of town all topped off with a trip to the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, Massachusetts (ala Linda and Chris, thank you very much) where Tom Mansell and I each sang at the open mic run by Geoff Bartley (What a THRILL!!!) and just by happenstance, were able to witness Women In Docs (an Aussie group) perform on part of their American Tour! And then, ALONG CAME 2007!