New CD ready for Tucson Folk Festival

Talk about cutting it close! 

I should receive the first batch of my new “Plain & Simple” CDs from Kunaki on Wednesday, just days before the big Tucson Folk Festival.  Rick Heyman and I worked relentlessly to get his bass tracks recorded and then the mixing, and re-mixing, fell on my shoulders.  It has kept me quite busy.  

The NEW Folk CD

But we have a product!   There are 13 original songs performed “plainly and simply” with only acoustic guitar, bas, and voice (and a little harmonica).  And you can see the album (inside and out) and buy it on-line at Kunaki – just click the links on the right hand side of this page. 

Or you can come see us at the Tucson Folk Festival!  We’re playing On theMuseum Stage (behind the Tucson Museum of Art on Alameda St.) on SUNDAY, 3 MAY, from 6:00PM until 6:25PM.  It would be GREAT to see a bunch of my friends in the audience.

I want to thank Rick Heyman for being a musician’s musician.  What a bassist!  His acoustic upright bass adds such body and richness to my songs that I don’t know how I ever performed without him!  And on the tunes where he plays electric bass, the bass line makes the music dance in your ears!

I also want to thank Rick’s wife Holly and daughter Katrinka for the hospitality of their home to accommodate some recording sessions

And of course, Thank You Deb, my bride, for encouraging me to keep going even when I thought I would not finish in time.  You’re the BEST!

///Darrell

 

Darrell Elmer Rodgers                                             

Singer, Songwriter, Performer, Humorist

http://darrellsongs.com  

Gettin’ Ready to Get Ready

We’ve been working hard around here the past couple weeks.  Deb and I are in the process of buying a house in Casa Grande, AZ and it’s almost ready to be a done deal.  We’re trying to get the gas company to turn on the gas but the technician couldn’t understand why there was no gas coming from the gas fireplace feed and refused to turn on the service.  Apparently, the shut off valve is electro-mechanical and controlled by a wall switch that looks like a light switch.  I didn’t know that, but then neither did our highly trained professional from the gas company.  We’re going to try again tomorrow.

Saturday night we attended a house concert in Oro Valley by Grammy award-winning musician, and friend, Red Grammer. 

Deb, Red, and Me

 Red is renown as a children’s music performer, but this was a show for us grown-ups (even though we all sang a few kid’s favorites!).  Red lost his dear wife, and co-songwriter, Kathy to cancer just three months ago.  And even with over a year of preparing for the end, I guess you’re never really ready.  But Red is healing the best way he knows – by writing songs and performing. I’m so glad I got to see him perform because his healing process helped me cope, a bit better, with Kathy’s passing.  Red made it all right.  

By the way, Red’s son Andy Grammer is “cookin with gas” these days himself.  A great songwriter-singer in his own right, he has been performing regularly at the House of Blues in Hollywood.  I understand he just knocked ‘em dead at the NACA regional conference in Minnesota last week (that’s National Association for Campus Activities).  Check him out at www.myspace.com/andygrammer   
Andy – if you see this post – know that your dad is quite proud of you lad!

On Sunday, we went down to “Old Town Artisans” in downtown Tucson for the fund-raiser concert for the Tucson Folk Festival.  We ate some lunch at La Cocina restaurant while we enjoyed performances by several area musicians.  My favorite show was by my friend, and TKMA Board member, Eb Eberlein and his group “Eb’s Camp Cookin’ “. 

Eb's Camp Cookin' = fantastic sound.

 They did some original tunes and some covers and all of it was delightful.  Watch for them on the program at the Tucson Folk Festival and be sure you catch their show.

Rick Heyman and I have recorded a few more tracks for the new CD.  I’m beginning to doubt that we can get it done in time for the Tucson Folk Festival.  We may have to content ourselves with performing and having a good time jamming with other musicians.  And that ain’t a bad way to spend a week-end either!

///Darrell

Darrell Rodgers                                             

Singer, Songwriter, Performer, Humorist

http://darrellsongs.com