a new page - february 11, 2004
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Hi and welcome to my website. Thanks for dropping by. This is my very first entry in what I hope will be a continuing journal that I share with visitors to my site.
First off, I want to talk about my new record deal. My signing with Severn Records, and the release of my Severn debut Did You Ever Wonder?, turns a new page for me as a singer and performer. I am excited about finding out where the next chapter will lead me and I have some great people who will be going along with me on various aspects of the trip.
The Severn Records team, led by company president and founder David Earl, is a beautiful and supportive group. I feel really fortunate to have such a crack team of dedicated pros in my corner as we embark on promoting this disc.
my Severn debut - 'Did You Ever Wonder?' - turns a new page for me...
I'm in such incredible company on this label. I have long admired the recording and performing careers of Sugar Ray Norcia and Darrell Nulisch, to name just two of Severn's stars. Those guys are such smooth performers and make it sound so easy when they sing and blow harp. To borrow a phrase from the great bass player of the Aces, Dave Myers, these cats are no "Johnny-come-latelys"; they have worked at honing their crafts and perfecting their personal styles and have graduated to a point of artistry that few singers currently working on the blues circuit have attained. I can only aspire to sing at that level one day.
The cats on the record: Alex Schultz, Harlan Terson, Marty Binder, Kevin McKendree, Benjie Porecki, and Willie Henderson have also been a great team to work with. All these guys are heavy, and I am blessed and humbled to have been touched by their musical gifts. They all played beautifully on the record and helped mold the sound of my songs and the personality of the disc. I am looking forward to doing dates this year that feature all or some of these guys beginning in March when I do record release parties in clubs in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. Check my calendar for details.
A good portion of the year I work in my home area of Indiana with my local band which features Paul Holdman, Kevin Anker, Jamie Reid, Jeff Stone and Scott Herider. These guys are all ready for prime-time and they have helped me interpret my songs and bring them in to focus as we perform them together.
I am really looking forward to the shows with my Italian friends.
I am getting ready to do a short tour in Italy with a great organ trio led by virtuoso B3 man Alberto Marsico. I have worked with Alberto and his band twice before in Italy and I love hanging with them and making music with 'em. Alberto is a great player and friend and he challenges me musically and brings out aspects of my singing that I didn't even know were there. I am really looking forward to the shows with my Italian friends. Besides, they do all the driving and they let me sleep in the van. Plus, I can always count on Alberto to hip me to the best regional dishes and the corresponding correct wine as we make our way around his country.
I will have more to report later. Stay in touch and come back soon.
TR
