Every few months, and I wish it were move often, I sit with my dear friend Peter Berryman at what used to be Cafe Zoma, and we talk. Every conversation fills me with inspiration, recognition, wonder, and reflection. And lots of joy at the connection. One of our topics is music and songwriting. He said …
Sometimes, and actually, fairly often, things just slip out of kids’ mouths. Great lines, observations, insights, and inspirations. Thanks to the teachers who notice and share. Here’s one straight from the mouth of a four year old. And it’s for all of us, though. It reminds me of Walter Isaacson’s new book about Leonardo Da …
Here’s an old song, but a song I have always loved. I wrote it for a Thanksgiving celebration many years ago, but somehow the simple story is speaking to me right now. She said, “I had a pretty rough start. My mom and my dad poked holes in my heart. They raised me on …
Galilee Baptist Church San Angelo I had the amazing opportunity to work with the choir at the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. These wonderful singers kindly agreed to learn some songs I’ve written in a gospel style. I could only take those songs so far, and the changes and ideas they brought to the music …
In my work I am very fortunate that I get to visit schools around the world. From the dirt floor school in Arusha, Tanzania to the International School of Geneva, which was the very first International School, I see something of the range of what schools offer, where they succeed, and where they struggle. Some …
Every year I write many songs for my wife Heather. Love songs. Anniversaries, Birthdays, Spring, etc. I get inspired by the love we have for each other. There are lots of songs in the archive, sort of a Basement Tapes-type treasure trove, (but without the genius of Dylan or the musical circus of the incredible …
I was talking with my friend Barbara Chusid last night. We were playing music, jamming just for joy, as we have on and off for nearly 40 years.At some point I said that there were too many songs, meaning that the world is full of amazing music, and we have easy access to it all. …
I heard Ram Dass’s quote some years ago. “We’re all just walking each other home.” It struck me then with a resonant chord, and suddenly, in the face of a conversation with my dear friend Charlie Knower and seeing Sarah Day at American Players Theater doing an amazing piece from Joan Didion’s “The Year of …
Tom Pease is an incredible children’s performer and a dear dear friend of many years. Pictured here with an equally incredible performer and dear friend, T.R. Loon. Tom’s taught me so much about singing with kids, and even though we work together somewhat often, I’m still in awe of how children just take to his performances. …