About a year ago, someone suggested that I write a song for a Florida song contest. Well, it might be a dirty little secret, but I wasn’t born in Florida. At that time, I wasn’t even living in Florida. I’m afraid I have “Product of Savannah, Georgia” stamped on my forehead in indelible ink, even though I have spent the majority of my life elsewhere. But the Sunshine State figured prominently in my childhood, if only because it seemed like an exotic destination that lay within driving distance. And when I was a kid, a driving trip involving my parents and all of my brothers and sisters, sealed in a car lacking air-conditioning, was always a memorable experience. In those days, interstate highways were rare and located nowhere near us. What seem like reasonable drives now, were then long, grueling [...]

“I know, I know, Baby. It was in the main ballroom of the DeSoto Hilton Hotel, a doctors’ convention, and you played for a standing ovation and an encore – a night you’ll never forget.” As Patty says this, I realize that once again I am recounting a musical experience I had when I was about twenty-two that left an indelible impression. And I’m recounting it to a person who has traveled all over the world, playing trumpet in Japan, in the Ukraine, and even on the center of the diamond at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Still, even now, I can’t imagine how a single performance could have been any better. But, say, have you heard the story? No? I’ll give you a very brief version. It was back in the middle seventies when an amazingly talented singer by [...]

Twenty-nine years ago today, my oldest son Gabe came into the world. Wordsworth says “trailing streams of glory do we come from God.” And he did. Gabe was talking almost immediately, forming sentences before his first birthday. His early words of wisdom are gems we all continue to take instruction from such as: “Most times farm animals don’t bite-chew.” This is translated of course as –- Most times farm animals don’t bite you. Note, he doesn’t say that they will never bite you. He doesn’t say that no animals will bite you. Rather, he says that when dealing with farm animals, you should feel pretty safe. You can take this little bit of wisdom and apply it to so many areas of life. Look at a situation. If the evidence suggests something isn’t dangerous, proceed — but maintain just a [...]

My earliest musical partner was my brother John who celebrates his birthday today. This web log is not so much about the music as it is about someone who helped to release the music in me. Happy Birthday, John…. DAYS OF THE BUTTERFLIES I guess the season might have been termed early autumn, though in Savannah autumn had little to distinguish it from late summer, or from almost any other time of the year for that matter. Most of the trees were pines or live oaks, evergreens that changed little in appearance from season to season. Spanish moss hung from the available limbs of most trees, lending a certain homogeneity to those South Georgia scenes. But in early fall, if one looked closely, there were some differences. For one thing, cleared fields were filled with flowering weeds and shrubs. In [...]

OK. I was going to write something serious about the world-changing effects of Up With People. And I will too, but not today. Today is Valentine’s Day. I started writing original songs down on paper when I was about ten years old – about the same time I started playing guitar. I’ve already written a blog about one of the first of those attempts, a song about a girl I met at summer camp. After I got more mature, probably about 12 or 13, I started writing “message” songs about spirituality, humanity, brotherhood, world peace and justice. But almost as soon as I would start one of those minor musical epics, I would again be scribbling lines about a girl who was making my heart beat funny and my head go weird. Another silly love song would find its way [...]

When people find out that I’m retired from teaching, they sometimes ask me what I do all day. I tell them that I spend a lot of time talking on the phone — no, not to my buddies or to old girl friends. I talk to complete strangers who evidently wish to remain that way. We have conversations like these: Me: “Is your booking agent in?” Person on Phone: “You want who, honey? No, I’m afraid we don’t do books here. We’re a restaurant.” Me: “I represent a musical duo called Sound Traveler. Do you have live music?” Person on Phone: “No, the weather is cold and the tourists haven’t arrived yet. You need to speak with Kirk.” Me: “May I speak with Kirk?” Pause…(mumble mumble, garble garble) Person on Phone: “You still on the line?” Me: “Yes.” Person on [...]

I don’t know how many times this has happened to me. I head to a concert expecting to hear a great group that I will have previously listened to by way of electronic media. I will have fallen in love with their voices, lyrics, and instrumental blend. As I approach the venue, however, I am assaulted with two dominant sounds – kick drum and bass. I remember a public concert in Orlando where I just turned away before the main act ever made the stage because I hadn’t come to listen to the monotonous pile-driving sound produced by those two instruments alone. This doesn’t happen all the time, and I’m here to attest that good sound reinforcement is a difficult business. I spent many years in the trade trying to help bands sound as good as they possibly could, taking [...]

First of all, let me say that this year’s Super Bowl was spectacular – the pageantry, the visual effects, and the almost frenzied activity. All who were involved did amazing jobs. I have no idea how all the non-football game production ever gets done in the first place. There is so much spectacle packed into small time increments. And the performances occur in real time – unbelievable. And yet…. Even with Lea Michele, Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Slash, and Usher performing, it seemed like something was missing. Some viewers felt vaguely dissatisfied. It wasn’t that anyone involved lacked skill. Most of us performers wish we had the smallest fraction of what it takes to be selected to present on such a prestigious stage. But with all the visual effects, the choreography, and the amazing production – we missed the [...]

When I go to the bank to get a check cashed, I get crisp, clean money. The bills look like someone’s mother took time ironing them. The faces of Jackson, Lincoln, and Washington smile serenely at me from placid surfaces. They slide smoothly into my wallet, and they usually slip right out again soon thereafter when I have to make a stop at the store. But tip money is different. Tip money, more often than not bearing the wrinkled and troubled face of George Washington, is crinkled in at least thirteen different directions. And tip money clumps together, puffing up to appear larger than the total monetary value would suggest. This is not an occasional occurrence. I remember giving my daughter money for school. She could always tell when it was tip money (which it usually was). The startled faces [...]

Sound Traveler will be one of 15 bands performing tomorrow in Wickham Park in Melbourne. Bands in attendance include Vintage, Junior Doctor, Track 7, and many more. The festival will go from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM. It should be fun!