Success!!

Wow, what a worldwind this past few weeks has been! I got my CD's printed on a Friday and two days later sold them at the Belly Up! We had a good crowd, a really fun show, and the biggest news of all, they want us back! I also have an agency interested in us, and as soon as I get the videos edited I'll get to work myself on booking directly.

Video editing is an interesting task. First, Beatrice, our videographer extraordinaire, gave me the actual video. I need to make it talk to my computer, so I'm getting it converted to an AVI file. In the meantime the Belly Up also made a video, and its on their Mac computer. I need to get the data onto MY computer, so I brought my external hard drive. Whoops! I brought a PC XHD, not compatible! I returned a few days later with a 16 gig flash drive. Nope. Not big enough. I returned again with a Mac XHD, but my (firewire) cord didnt fit their computer. So I'll go back again today, with the correct cord, and try once more. THEN I have to get a program that lets my Mac hard drive talk to my PC computer so I can download the info onto my editing program. Sheesh! I thought I was just supposed to play piano and write songs and stuff! Not these days. Musicians have to be tech gurus if they want to survive in this internet oriented business!

After I finally get my video onto my computer, I will begin the editing process. Since I have two different videos (but only one sound recording) I can pick and choose what the viewers will see. If Chad played something really cool I want the video on him, not me. Its nice to have lots of choices and lots of footage. Then when I have it all perfectly lined up, three hours worth, I take a big "axe" and chop out all but maybe five minutes, taking the best of the best, the funnest of the fun, the coolest of the cool. And voila, I have a demo! No one will hire a band sitting through a three hour video. They want a ten second spot of a rocking tune, then a ten second spot of a ballad, then a moment of a latin groove, etc. And thats how it works.

In the meantime, I'm preparing for my next show, which has to be bigger, better and tighter than the last show. I may get a TV spot and radio advertising time! How fun! I'll keep you posted! I'm getting a lot of positive feedback from my San Diego song, which I'm very excited about!

High as a Kite!

Wow! Dana the sax player and Madeline the background vocalist drove with me to the rehearsal hall, where we met Chad the guitar player, Steve the bass player, and... DIGGY!!! My dear drummer friend from days of yore!

I passed out my chart books. We had a three hour show to rehearse in only 4 hours, and we DID it! THAT is why I wanted the best of the best musicians. We blasted through some of the songs flawlessly, others we'd stop and discuss. We were all armed with pens, and made logical changes on the fly, scribbling notes on the charts. We also coined the phrase "Midnight charts," meaning, ""Why is there an extra measure here?" "Oh, that must have been one of the charts I wrote at midnight when I was delirious."

We'd be playing along and all of a sudden there'd be a nasty clank of a bad note. All eyes would turn to me. "Midnight chart?" I'd laugh and nod, and out would come the pens to change a sharp to a flat. We told stupid musician jokes, and Diggy would do the "Ba-dup-chuck" at the punchline.

An oldie but goodie: "When crossing the road, be sure to C sharp or you'll B flat."

One I hadn't heard before:
"What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft?"
"A flat minor."

I came home from the rehearsal, high on music, friendship and that feeling of a job well done. I literally twirled as I walked through the door, arms in the air, to a smiling husband who actually appreciates my quirky ways! Love you, Anthony!

Today I have a rehearsal with Guy, our harmonica and flute player extraordinaire. I also need to make a stage plot, an input list, a lighting list, and choreograph the show. I also have to chart two more songs: one that Charlie and I were going to do alone, called "My Eyes Adored You." But that song is on the CD as a full band song, so we decided to all play it together.

Then, a very very special surprise addition to the show. My beautiful, talented (and very pregnant) daugher-in-law Sarah will be singing a Brazilian hit song called "O Bebado e o Equilibrista." So I need to make a chart for that as well. Wait til you hear her! She has a gorgeous voice!

Then sometime this week I actually get to go shopping! I have to wear SOMETHING interesting at the show!

Ok, back to work I go! This blogging is actually quite therapeutic. Writing has always been a wonderful relaxation for me.

BZZZZZZZZZ

Wow, I'm so tired I'm feeling very wonky. BUT-- I'm going to have all my charts done! Woo hoo! I got to cheat on a few; the songs that the band already knows.

Anthony has been a gem, he's been feeding me and doing all the dishes, and putting up with my late night frenzies when he's trying to sleep and has to get up at the crack off dawn. He did something REALLY great though, yesterday. He actually pulled me out of my cave. I didn't even think about saying no. There was a parade, and a Christmas tree lighting, in Encinitas. All three of his boys, and their girls, and the kids, were all coming. It was only for an hour. I thought, "It will cost me one chart." So what! Seeing Anthony with his little granddaughter on his shoulders, seeing my daughter in law Sarah with her perfect 8 month pregnant belly, seeing FAMILY in such an americana atmosphere, filled me to the brim. It renewed me.

And today I was in the studio again with a vengeance until I was buzzing. I don't know how to describe it better than that. I needed a break. So I remembered yesterday and the parade, and how breaks are very important, and I took a break. And the sun was setting on the ocean with brilliant silver and gold clouds dripping like a wet painting.

Perspective.

I am thankful; so thankful for everything.

Charting Like a Crazy Person, and Strange Blessings

Wow, I'm just as busy as I was while recording the CD! Getting up at 7 am, working non-stop til 11:30 pm. I'm tired but its worth it! I have half my charts done and two days to go. Some songs I can chart in an hour, and some take four hours! I have a very painstakingly slow program. It looks great but is quite merciless with shortcuts.

I have my coffee, my heater on (it's COLD in SD!!) just finished all my businessy emails I've been too busy to look at. Okay. Its 8:40 am (got up at 7 but businessy stuff takes time!) and.... WE"RE OFF!!!! Lets see if I can do ten charts today (I did seven yesterday working as fast as my fingers could fly.)

Oh, and on a personal note (as if blogs aren't personal) I sadly am not at Tuscany's weekends anymore. I was a bit shocked because I was given no notice. But things like this ALWAYS happen for a reason. Since I was informed (two days ago) I've gotten three different job offers! AND I've been able to work into the night this weekend with my charts! I never would have gotten them done in time if I'd been working this weekend. So there you are, a blessing in disguise!

The CD is being pressed!

Its been a while since I've written. First, because I hardly had time to eat or shower the last week finishing the CD, and second, because after I turned the CD in, I turned off the whole world for a couple days.

But now I'm back in the studio with a vengeance, because I have a rehearsal on Monday and I need thirty charts! Charts are sheet music. My old scoring program is obsolete, darn it. It needed to be replaced. But being that I'm on a budget, I couldn't buy the proper $500 program (Sebalius is the best scoring program.) I was very disappointed to find that my Protools program had a very weak scoring program (FANTASTIC recording program, they just throw in a scoring program as a token.) It just wouldn't do, so I bought a very affordable program called Guitar Pro, which makes good charts. Actually my hubby bought it for me. Thanks Anthony!! X0X0

I had to learn it of course. But I soon realized that though it has everything that ProTools doesn't (such as repeat bars and endings) it doesn't have a live record feature in real time (Protools does.) SO... between the two programs I think I can get it done. I just have to play it live in protools, import it to Guitar Pro and piece it together like a puzzle. Every day I have to think way out of the box to make this project happen!

I'm really behind with all the news! Charlie came over last week and sang a few gems, including a duet with me, "My Eyes Adored You" and a funny short rap on "San Diego is Where Its At." He has that gravelly whiskey voice that really works well with mine, and he's so much fun and has loads of charisma on stage. I'm so glad he'll be at the Belly Up for the CD release party December 12!

One more thing-- I sold my first CD! (And its not even printed yet!) Out of the blue, my dear, sweet friend Ann who lives in Oregon, sent me a check for $20, with a funny letter, quite formally asking to purchase a CD. My husband laughed and said we should frame it and hang it on the studio wall, kind of like the first dollar made at a restaurant. I think I'm going to do that!

Okay, I have a zillion charts to score, so "Off I go to save the Da-a-a-a-ay!!!"

The Pros and Cons of doing it "All My Byself"

When my daughter Shannon was very small, if she was proud of herself she used to say "I did it all my byself."

I keep thinking of that. Getting waves of emotion, from pride to worry.

As those who've seen me perform live are aware, I am a one woman band. I kick bass with my left hand, play split keyboard with my right, and use a drum machine on the fly (manually throwing in the intros, fills, verse, chorus, bridges and ends as I play.) I have good gear, and I'm impressed with the live feel and sound of my PSR S 900 drums.

Because I was on a tight budget, the only way to do this CD in time was to play most instruments myself, and to engineer and master it myself. I had no choice, and I did my best. With each song I gained more knowledge about what sounds great and what sounds mediocre.

I hired only two live players; Chad and Dana, and words cannot express the added depth they gave to the songs. And so I'm left thinking, "What if I'd hired a complete band? What would it sound like?"

I couldn't do that, and as it turns out, when I listen to my tracks, I smile really BIG, tap my feet and say "cool!" which tells me I'm pulling it off.

Its kind of like baking cookies from TOTAL scratch; getting the wheat from my garden, the eggs from my chicken coop, the chocolate from my cocoa beans. Maybe I should have gone to the farm with the best wheat and eggs and cocoa beans. My cookies would have definitely tasted better if I'd done that. But these are MY cookies, lumps and all. I put all my love in them, and that, at least, shows for sure.

Next CD I'll do it right, and hire more players, and it will be slicker and cooler. But this CD, simply titled "Rose Winters" will always be my first, the one I did "All My Byself."

My First Masters!

Woo hoo! Took me all day from 6:30 am to 7 pm but I got two songs edited and mastered! I'm learning alot about what NOT to do, which is always every bit as valuable as what TO do! I had a very time consuming panning session. Panning is making the music move (from the right to left speaker for example) as in trumpets, where it sounds like the sound is moving across a live stage. Panning adds depth and excitement and motion. I did it the hard way (always my downfall) but I learned how to do it the quick way, which I'll do next time.

Dana's sax came out so great in Circling the Drain, he just gave the song SO much personality! Thanks Dana, you rock! I'm sending in "Circling the Drain" and "San Diego is Where its At" to KPRI. Hopefully I'll get some airtime on a Sunday for their Homegrown Hour? They have a playlist on their website, its
http://www.listenlocalsd.com/Homegrown-Hour.html

If you look at # 200 you'll see a familiar name! (That was me last Sunday!) I'm all proud of myself, what a goof!

WOW what a day!

I learned an important lesson about sample rates yesterday! (Huh?)

Chad's guitar track somehow ended up in the wrong key! At first I panicked a little, thinking he'd have to re-record the whole thing. That's not like saying, "Can you make me another cup of coffee?" That's like saying "Can you paint me a new painting, I lost the last one."

But he is more experienced in Protools than me (my music studio program) and he said, "Check your sample rate."

Huh?

Luckily, I had an engineering tutoring course yesterday with my Protools guru Mike. He explained that sample rates have to match, and a CD has a standard 44.1 k sample rate (which Chad recorded at.) I was set at 48 (my protools default.) So I switched it up and voila! The guitar was perfect! By the way, a sample rate is how many times per second digital sound is sampled. Kind of like how many times per second a picture is taken to make a movie. The more pictures per second, the less choppy the movie, or in my case, the song.

Then I said, "Mike, my tracks aren't sizzling. In my old studio I used to have a thing called a sonic maximizer that just made vocals shimmer!"
He smiled like he had just baked me a birthday cake and said, "Maxim." He pushed a little button I'd never discovered before, and voila! Shimmers like the wind tinkling the leaves of an aspen tree! Aaaaaaah, SWEET!
Sorry if I'm getting all techy geeky but I'm a baby in the studio trying to do a grown up thing like mastering a CD so I have to do it right, and I'm all happy when I learn something really important AND cool at the same time.

THEN, off I went to do the CD graphics wih my daughter Shannon. She is a wizard! her fingers flew, she had really creative ideas, and my favorite part was when I said, "I want the font to be fun. I have no idea what that means but it has to be fun."

She smiled as if she actually understood, pulled up about ten fonts. Then I jumped. "There it is!" It was all curly and swirly and... FUN! How did she do that?

Then, with a couple hours left before work, I stopped by the hospital to check on Kathy, who was in labor. And what a wonderful, wonderul surprise-- she was delivering as I arrived! Kylie is gorgeous, perfect, healthy, and has the happiest parents in the world!!

I just couldn't get myself to leave, so I joyfully manned the video camera. Soon the rest of the gang arrived. I stayed til the last split second, skipped a shower and just threw on some lipstick and went to work, high on baby love.

I'm so tired and so happy!!

I am seeing cross-eyed I'm so tired. But so many things are happening that are validating this journey. I mixed down a couple more songs today, organized rehearsal schedules and worked on my CD graphics, and Dana came over and played saxophone on Walking Shoes and Circling the Drain. WOW!!! He made the songs so energetic and gave them such a fun personality, JUST what I was hoping for!

I worked till the last possible second (I'm averaging ten hours a day in the studio) and then I had to go to work. This CD is making my finances all wonky, but I just close my eyes and plow on forward. Sort of the "If you build it they will come" thought. Only instead of a baseball field I'm making a CD, on a shoestring budget. And you know what? I just keep on having a balanced budget, though extra unexpected work. People have been coming out of the woodworks with their talents and my low budget, to the point that I could cry with gratitude. But instead of getting all blubbery I'll just say THANK YOU to all who are helping me make this happen!

Tomorrow after my engineering crash course, I meet my graphic designer extraordinaire, my own daughter Shannon, and we're going to design the album cover. Then the biggest news of all,

MY STEP DAUGHTER IS HAVING A BABY TOMORROW!! Kathy, I wish you love, a safe and easy delivery, and I can't wait to meet little Kylie!!! XOXOXO

I'm On The Radio!! THANK YOU KPRI & KATHRYN BEEKS!!

Woo hoo! Last week I sent my song "Lo Recuerdo Todo" to KPRI (102.1 FM, "Rock without Rules"), for Kathryn Beeks' "Homegrown Hour." I emailed her today to follow up, and she said "I played it last night! Check the playlist!" Sure enough, there I was!

COOL!! Too bad I didn't hear it, I was in the studio recording. From now on I'm tuning in!! Thank you Kathryn Beeks! Thank you, KPRI!!

Today I mixed the guitar for "San Diego is Where its At" and "Walking Shoes". Chad Quist is such a talented guitar player, I'm so lucky and proud to have him on the album!

Tomorrow Dana Garrett (Kid Tater) is coming for a sax session. He's phenomenal! And Charlie is bringing his gravelly, golden voice for a session too! LUCKY me, this is going to be a killer album, and a killer show at the Belly Up!!

Juggling, Juggling

You know how a dog chases his tail and whirls in a few circles before laying down? Thats me right now. I think, "I have to get another song done today! No wait-- I have to do the CD cover graphics and pick the photos! No wait! I have to chart the music for the rehearsal! No wait! I have to book radio time and put up posters! No wait! I have to practice for the rehearsal Tuesday!

Think I'll go sit in the sun and have a cup of coffee with my baby. Five minutes can mean a magnificent, romantic vacation. A kiss, a chat about relaxing things, a warm hand to hold, a beautiful view of the ocean. See? Thats what I need. A vacation. I'm going to savor those five minutes. Then I'll be refreshed. And I think I'll do another song today, because thats the biggest, most pressing task. See? Even the thought of a five minute vacation clears the mind. I'll be right back (in the studio that is) and I believe "Corazon Espinado" gets recorded today. That's a really cool Mana tune. Maybe I can get it to a latin radio station, along with my song, "Lo Recuerdo Todo." Who knows? A girl can dream; that's the only way to get things done, to start with a dream and say "Okay, I'll give it a try."

Wish me luck!

My Eyes Adored You

Cindy from Red Tractons likes this song, and it was my favorite back in the day, so I decided to record it. Its sounds cool so far, but wait til Charlie sings it as a duo with me-- WOW it'll be amazing!

I'm midway through my vocal tracks but I'm getting sleepy (burning the candles at both ends= sleep deprivation). NEVER FEAR, "Power Nap" is here! (Here I come, to save the da-a-a-a-ay!!"......zzzz

I'll be back in the studio in 20 minutes. Yes, STUDIO, not blog! I have a CD to finish in less than two weeks!

Having a Peri good day!

I just did a rough mix of my original, "Infinite Patience." My friend Glenda likes that one so I decided to put it on the CD! Thanks Glenda! And peri peri peppadrops are awesome (Glenda just gave me a jar.) They're just spicy enough to get my nose sniffly, that's the perfect amount of fire! Maybe I should write a song called "Peri Peri Peppadrop" -- I think its catchy, don't you? (Knowing me, I WILL write it!) Oh goody, a CHALLENGE!! Mwa-hahahaha!)

Countdown to CD printing!

Just mixed down my first CD tune! Wait til you hear the guitar! Song # 2 gets mixed down today. November 26th it goes in to be printed so off I go to pillage and plunder! (Actually off I go to edit and mix!) I emailed KPRI today, I'm hoping to get some radio time before the Belly Up December 12, or maybe they'll do a Homegrown Hour Dec 12? Here's hoping!

I had SUCH a nice time Friday, my last night at Albies (I'm at Tuscanys starting this weekend) There was so much love I even got flowers and a card! I was a sentimental sap, but I held it together. I MISS my Albies buddies already! If you're reading this, BIG HUGS TO YOU!!!!!! X0X0X0

P.S. I think the title of the CD will be "San Diego is Where its At" in honor of the song I wrote about this AMAZING town that has been so welcoming to me!

I'm all mushy today because I'm SO excited about my CD! AND on top of it all, my sister in law just walked in and handed me a blueberry coffee (only the best flavor there is!!) so Tonights gonna be a Good night....

By the way I'm at Casa Blanca tonight. Ok, done blathering. X0X0!

My Roots, my Heart, My Parents

Last night my parents came into Tuscany in Carlsbad and listened to me play for a couple hours. Its very rare to be able to play for them, since they live in another state. They enjoyed their linguini pescadori as I played them their song, "Victoria," about their lives together and the full circle of meeting in Victoria and returning many years later.
Then I played a bunch of eclectic stuff, from Lady Gaga's Alejandro to Besame Mucho to Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog, because my parents were very open minded about music when I was growing up. I remember hearing everything from Roger Whittaker (the whistler) to nose flute (which as you can imagine totally cracked us kids up at the time), from Bolivian school girls' haunting yodeling to Opera, from Zorba the Greek (dancing required) to the Beatles (also dancing required.) I can still hum the whole Blue Danube Waltz, and Louie Prima's Winnie the Pooh was a singalong that cracked us all up. They had an Eagles album (cool) and a Mary Poppins album (cool because how DID she get all that stuff out of her bag?)

I am so grateful to my parents. They taught me about love, hard work, honesty and loyalty. And they taught me about music. Thank you Mom and Dad, I love you!

A Little Break

I worked like mad in the studio last week so I could have a week of down time with my parents for four days, then my sis, then a family reunion, then a baby shower/engagement party-- phew!! Just went for a nice walk on the beach with my mom and dad. Precious moments! I love them so much!

Killer guitar!

I just recorded the guitar on Lo Recuerdo Todo, with Chad Quist playing. Absolutely blew me away! He'll be playing with me Dec 12 at the Belly Up-- he's phenomenal! Can't wait for the CD to be released (on Dec 12 as well), but I have to finish it first, so back to the studio I go!!

On a sad note, I'm playing my last night at Albie's November 5th. I'll MISS that place! But David Smith will return to his rightful place (he was there 11 years before I came along!) Welcome back to the weekends, David, I kept your chair warm for you!!

As for me, I'll be at Tuscanys Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting Saturday November 13. Hope to see lots of friends there!

Balance

I'm trying to get a CD done and printed by Dec 12, but my hubby asked me to go to Malibu with him while he's working there, and I said yes. Balance is so important. Sometimes Nose to the Grindstone is necessary, and sometimes putting it aside for a quiet moment, a car ride, a conversation, and a glass of wine at dusk on the shore, is worth its weight in gold. The studio can wait til tomorrow!

BELLY UP!!!!!

I'm very excited, I am officially booked at the Belly Up, December 12, from 7:15 pm til 10. I have an all-star cast of players including Charlie Overbey from Deadbolt, Rich Sumner, Dana Garrett, and more!!

I'll have lots of originals, plus a swinging Christmas show in the middle, from 8:30-9 pm!

I'm in the studio right now, trying to get my tunes done so I can make it a CD release party as well! Hope to see LOTS of friends there!!

OK, back to the studio!! My song, "Lo Recuerdo Todo" is on the building block today. Habla Espanol?

San Diego Song!

I was working at Albies in Mission Valley last weekend when a man asked me to play "All the city songs, and then a San Diego one!"

I laughed, and played "New York", then Chicago" then "San Francisco." Then I announced, "Sorry, I don't have a San Diego song yet. But I'm going home and writing one."



So I did! I'm just polishing it up in the studio and deciding if its a swing or a boogaloo. Boogaloo is winning I think. Its a cute song and its a true story-- MY true story of moving to this magical place four years ago.

I LOVE SAN DIEGO!!!!!

Speecy Spicy Swing CD wins!

Looks like i'll be doing a show at the Belly Up in December, so I've decided to make it a CD release party if I can get it done in time. I'll have a big band, with lots of swing and fun torch blues, and a touch of spicy latin. Also, since it will be near Christmas I'll see about making it a Swinging Christmas show as well! Looking forward to an all star cast in the band! I'll keep you posted with the date and time!

My husband and his son own a surfboard company called BYB-- check out their website!

Back Yard Boards, or BYB, is a San Diego based surfboard company featuring hand shaped custom boards. Our team rider, Sunny Garcia, rode our boards to win the Triple Crown an unprecedented six times!

New Song!

I'm back in the studio! So far I've recorded my originals:
"Circling the Drain," a Louis Prima type fast swing
and my brand new song, "Lo Recuerdo Todo" (I remember everything) a Santana type feeling

As for covers, I've also recorded the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt" (alternative)
and the old torch blues songs "Why Don't You Do Right" (Yes, the Jessica Rabbit song) and "One More for the Road."

It feels good to be moving forward again! I just had a great tutoring ProTools session yesterday with guru Mike Krewitski (thanks Mike!) so things should speed up now.

We're also moving forward on our home; we're getting a new roof as we speak! So no recording today (unless I do a nine inch nails song-- ha ha!)

My criteria for recording a song has been: When I'm playing live, if I sing a song and I feel the "Magic" and the audience does too, then that's the next one that gets recorded. Its been working really nicely, and I am no longer fretting about which direction to go. I can make ten CD's at a time if I want to!

I guess so far I've got

One song recorded for a Christmas album
One song for a Halloween album
Three songs for a blues/swing album
One song for a world album
One song for an alternative album
Seven songs for my family album (acoustic, kind of folksy)

Ok, so thats six albums! First one to get ten songs gets the first actual hardcopy CD printing!
When I first started this blog I said I wanted a hundred songs in one year. That is no longer even remotely my goal. I may even get to a hundred, but that's not the point. The point is to finish some albums I'll be proud of, and that I can market via my website, the internet, my live shows and other places I haven't thought of yet. Wish me luck!

Bon Voyage to me!

I'm off to Europe for a couple of weeks. As soon as I get back, I'm getting in the studio with a vengeance! I just went to Oregon to help my parents move into their new home. Wow, what a roller coaster of emotions. I didn't know there were so many layers of happiness/sorrow/gratitude/worry/joy. The five of us siblings all together under one roof to do something monumental and loving for mom and dad, left us all closer, even if there was a tiff or two (frayed nerves will do that!)
What a precious family I have. I am so grateful!
I want to do a video of Victoria when I return, then I'll post it.
See you in a couple weeks!
Ciao! Au revoir! Tot ziens! (Clues as to the countries I'll be in!)

Oh, I get it!

OH, SO THAT'S how you get a video on Blogspot! Share it via You tube! Okay, I've been doing it the hard way (very typical of me to do things the hardest way possible!)

I'll be able to post lots of videos now. Yay! This one is just my demo, I put it on this Blog for practice.

Rose Winters

Beatrice Ring, photographer extraordinaire!

How could I not mention my incredible photographer Beatrice? We had such a fun day together, doing shoots for the album cover. We started in a wildflower field in Carlsbad. I brought a few props as well; a photo album (since the CD is titled "Family Album,") a picnic basket (in the lyrics of "Victoria,") a map (in honor of my swashbuckling vagabond side) and a wine glass. That session of photos turned out very sweet, and exactly captured the mood I was hoping for.

Then we took a few pictures with my motorcycle (a beautiful metallic red Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD, for you riders out there.) The last thing I wanted was a bunch of "biker chick" pictures, and Beatrice captured the "Me" very well-- the girl that simply likes to get a little wind in my hair now and then, in a quiet way.

Then we went to the beach in Encinitas, and Beatrice used the low afternoon sunlight against the stairs and the golden sand cliffs for some really great lighting. My new Facebook picture is from the beach shoot. THANK YOU BEATRICE RING!! If anyone needs a great photographer, her website is:
www.rossiniproductions.com

Happy Birthday, Dad!

This CD was first meant to be for my Dad's birthday, but I decided to call it "Family Album" at my husband Anthony's suggestion. It freed me to choose songs that were important to many people I love. Bobby McGee was always Mrs. Dawson's favorite. Mrs. D is my "second mom"-- her daughter Liz and I were joined at the hip by the tender age of 5! Mrs. D, with her Aussie accent, always told me to record Bobby McGee, and I never did-- until now. Guy Latham came to my studio and played "harpoon" (harmonica,) and it turned out great! I told him he forgot to bring his "Dirty red bandana" though.

Then Charlie came back from his Euro tour. He was only home for a few days and off he went for a USA tour. But he kindly came over in that small window of time, and sang beautiful vocals on "You Don't Bring me Flowers." THANKS CHARLIE!!!!!

I also recorded an Edith Piaf song that my husband always requests-- "Non, Je ne Regrette Rien." (I regret nothing). Amen. What a great message. It was fun to record, I got to do a powerhouse french song. I think I might add a tuba! I've NEVER recorded a tuba on any CD before, but it just needs a little bit of oom-pa-pa to push it right over the edge.

Then there's Walter (hi Walter!) from Albies where I work. He said, "Rose, you have to learn "Winter Light." I'd never heard it before. I instantly fell in love with the song and recorded it too. Walter's cool. He gives me dragon movies and wears a red knit hat.

I had never done a CD before where I was recording songs that I didn't write. So I simply HAD to do at least ONE original! So now I have to tell you a story:
My Dad is from Holland, and my mom is from England. They are both swashbuckling adventurers, and they both moved to Canada in their twenties. My mother was hired as a nurse at a hospital in Victoria, BC. My father was an intern, and the day he was hired at the same hospital, and laid eyes on my mother, he asked to drive her home. Six months later they were married, and they moved to Oregon.
This January, Anthony and I took my parents back to Victoria for a visit. To my surprise, my mom's old house had been restored to a "Heritage House" Bed and Breakfast. We couldn't resist taking a tour, and my dad smiled and said, "I remember knocking on this door to pick up a certain young lady for a day at the beach!"
That image stuck with me, so I wrote a song called "Victoria," a love song about my mom and dad's life together. My husband says its the best song on the CD, but he's biased I think!

Try as I might to get the CD done by my Dad's birthday, I was only able to record seven songs. So I simply burnt a CD, printed a CD cover and dedication, and sent it out to him. He was very happy! And now I have house guests, so I've been putting off the churney burneys and the CD to concentrate on helping my Brazilian step-daughter-in-law and her six year old Enzo, adapt to their new country! Welcome to America, Sarah and Enzo! Welcome back Andre!!

On a personal note: I leave for Oregon this Sunday, to help my parents move out of their home of 47 years, to a smaller home in a retirement community. All four of my siblings will be there with me this Mother's day, and we will say goodbye to our childhood home. I sang about this home in my song "Victoria." I am happy that my parents will not have to work so hard trying to keep up with such a big place, but my heart now has a hollow spot that will have to be filled with treasured memories.

Woohoo!

Wonderful wonderful, wonderful!
I'm back in the studio and its actually sticking this time!

I've decided to make my Dad a birthday present and record a CD of his old favorites. I'm on my third song and his birthday is in a month (April 25th.) Its a surprise, but I don't think Dad knows what a blog is so my secret is safe! (Watch, he's a closet programmer and I never knew.)

I've recorded "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez, "Halleluia" by Leonard Cohen, a I'm working on "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (tho my wish list duet partner is in London-- sniffle! Charlie, I'm blogging about you! You're awesome!)

I'm doing a photo shoot soon thanks to my extraordinarily talented friend Beatrice! Yes, I KNOW my current picture on facebook is way outdated! SOON TO BE REMEDIED! Oh yeah, oh yeah oh yeah...