We are not alone. No silly, I don't mean aliens are among us. I mean there are many of us whose brains are clogged with curious lyrics, tunes and images. While it would be great if the world sought us out and paid us handsomely for every word, note or photo, it ain't gonna happen.
And it's not why we do it.
We do it because we feel and hear words, stanzas and melodies constantly. We gotta gently hold them, savor the moments, and then release them again in the form of music. We scribble their visions onto paper while driving, commit them to memory, then pretend the shower head is a microphone and the tub is the stage of Carnegie Hall. Our dog howling in the background is our adored fans clamoring to get closer to us. Hmmm...Okay, forget that one.
We see worlds within worlds through our camera lens or the naked eye. More visions to mix with the music! Our brains are crowded with the stuff. It all comes to us so quickly there is scarcely time to process and regurgitate it all. But we try. And in the trying, life flies by and somehow it all comes together for us. It just don't get no better than this.
Sometimes it's more fulfilling with only us as the audience. Until you show up. Come on in. I'd offer you a seat but it's standing room only.
Music Slideos
My videos below are a little rough around the edges, but then again, so are all my friends and a few family members.
Before watching them, a little prehistory is in order. In 1984, I hitch-hiked to Nashville to become the next Kris Kristofferson or Willie Nelson. Only no one told Nashville's producers and music publishers I was coming. I shouldn't have been surprised since nearly everyone I encountered was more talented, including a busboy where I ate and an elevator operator where I slept.
During my first week, I bumped into San Antonio's Jim Chilcoate, who was also looking to take Nashville by storm.
On one of our lengthy downtown walks, I spit out a few lines of "Everything's unfolding in its time". Jim wiped them off the sidewalk, took them home, and worked them into a fine piece of art. We went on to co-write another song called, "I wish I was a tear", inspired by a French poem a girl gave to my brother Pat when he was in sixth grade.
We jump to 2005, and Jim has laid down some vocal/guitar/harmonica tracks for the 2 songs, plus 8 others, for which I wrote the words and melodies. The CD's title is, "Song Drifter". I'll be adding those songs to this page as I can.
In 2010, I began to add other layers (my original nature photos) and converted the songs into Youtube videos. A talented Port Charlotte musician/singer named Dusty Frank (DustyFrank.com) recorded new songs (two are below) I wrote for another CD called, "Evolution of the Heart", and superbly creative Annette Abbondanza (Painted-Raven.com and Ashes2Phoenix.com) began recording a wildlife series, many of which are below.
The songs are currently not for sale as they are presented here, but may be soon. In the meantime, I am content to share them with appreciative ears and eyes.