On the eve of the mini-Scottish tour……I sit here with so much on my mind. The day Buddy Holly died was 57 years ago tonight. Dad passed away at 77 a couple of Decembers ago. I think a lot about death lately, and the fleeting time we have on this earth, and what it all means.
The things I felt important as a young man hardly even have relevance to my current life. I feel guilty at times that I don’t desire the things I lived for in my youth. Maybe I’ve let life beat me down and I’ve given up, or maybe i’m just in another phase?
As I write this…..I’m listening to “Late for Your Life” by Mary-Chapin Carpenter……..beautiful. Fitting. Found it while searching for the duet Chapin and I did on Dad’s song “Wishing”…………
So, my “career” and my website mostly went dark over the past year. I had some things I needed to attend to.
I’m back now……and ready for the next phase…………….whatever that will be.
Last week, well, I found myself taking a train from London to Sunderland to deliver a car for a used car dealer on tuesday, and then while the train grime was still on my boots, being given a guitar commissioned by the Buddy Holly Foundation at the behest of Maria Elena Holly and Peter Bradley Sr and Jr. The ceremony took place at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, and “oh, by the way, would you like to join some other writers in writing songs with this young Irish duo on Sony Records?”—-uh, yes, thank you. Whispering Bob Harris from the BBC presented me with a beautiful guitar called the “Flower of My Heart” by Alister Atkin from Atkin Guitars. I’m in love. It is beautiful. I’m honored. And……well….I almost wrote a song with Graham Gouldman from 10CC, but the lineup changed at the last minute and I ended up with Gary Clark from Danny Wilson’s “Mary’s Prayer” fame……….and I think we wrote a hit song with the boys from Ireland.
Life is funny sometimes.
In the morning I will drive myself from England to Scotland to begin a three day tour with dates in Kinross on Friday night, Glasgow on Saturday, and Yarrow in the Borders on Sunday at 3pm. It will be so good to see my Scottish friends again.
Bristol, England on Feb. 27th is already sold out……….and I’ll be back in Cardiff, Wales on March 11th. Wales…….so beautiful.
The Emerald Isle is on the horizon…….booking that now.
I’m looking at life like this……..the future is wide open. The coming months will see o new cd of some sort, and a smattering of house concerts. I’m always open to house concerts. If you’d like me to come play a house concert………….just get in touch. Actually, I prefer house concerts to “regular” gigs. So intimate.
I will be traveling to the US in July……..so, US house concerts? Australia?
Ok, I better go to bed. If you can send some folks my way…….please do. Oh, and if you want to follow me in realtime on tour……this is where I am. Wave and say hello if you see me!
