It's shaping up to be a great New Year. I wish you all
happiness and prosperity. I know it's bit shaky now but I have faith that, despite those jokers in Washington, we Americans
will rise and overcome as we always have. I urge you all to get involved and find out who best represents us and is willing
to defend our constitution as we move towards the mid term elections.
Enough about that. I'm very excited about several things regarding my music.
First, we have two new regular members of the band. They are Darin Graves on fiddle, banjo, mandolin and backing vocals and
Trina Schyhol on whistle, flute and backing vocals. They both bring so much to the mix! In addition to keeping up with our
previous repertoire, Darin and Trina have been able to spend alot of time with me and we have developed some great new material
including some very nice three part harmonies. I've always wanted to incorporate more of this and now we have a great group
that rises to the challenge each and every time. We're always happy to have Seamus join us whenever his very busy schedule
permits and Marty's recovery is coming along well and we look forward to seeing he and Paddy Stout with us from time to time...
maybe even a tune or two on the whistle or flute. So when the schedule says "with the Fellas" that means we should
always have myself, Jimmy, Darin and Trina and maybe a visitor or two. Very exciting. Be sure to make these dates especially!
Next, I'm more and more excited about my children's music.
The public librarys in Pinellas, Hillsborough and, I'm hearing, Polk counties are bringing me in more and more and I couldn't
be happier. I've started work on a children's CD that, though it will be a while in the making, will make a nice addition
to "Among Friends" because it is less children's music than it is family music presented for children. I know everyone
will enjoy the selections of traditional American folk music. I'll keep you posted about developments.
And then there's the venues. A few changes as is always the case. Last year I
added O'Keefe's in Clearwater to my circuit and I look forward to more there as the year progresses. Also, Peggy O'Neill's
in downtown Palm Harbor has started bringing me in on Wednesdays through St. Pat's and we'll see where it goes from there.
I'm hearing there might be some new things happening in Punta Gorda and will keep you all posted about that as well.
On a different note, My lovely wife, Beryl, has
recovered incredibly from her fight with breast cancer. Indeed she participated in The 3Day Walk in St. Petersburg last fall and is looking forward to raising sponsors and participation again
this fall. I will be forwarding and posting any news and links about this to you all as the time gets closer. Thank you all
who helped her raise the minimum of $2300 required for her participation.
Well, that's my update.
I hope to see you out at some of the many places I perform either by myself or with the band. And if you'd like to get
an email reminder about an upcoming performance just email me and let me know where you live or where you travel and I will add you to the reminders for that
area. Have a great day, be well and God bless you!
Hello Friends, I've been pretty busy
with playing, getting the guys our with me and going to new venues. On, the Celtic Crossing in Wauchula and the other in Punta
Gorda, The Icehouse Pub. Both are great, warm and have wonderful staffs. Please make the effort to support these new venues
though they might be a drive, you'll be happy you did. July 3 my beautiful wife Beryl was diagnosed
with breast cancer and the past few months have been taken up with surgeries, which went very well, healing accompanied by
medications and now chemo, which is more preventative as the surgeries were so successful. We are extremely grateful to God
and to all of you who have kept us in your prayers over the past couple months. Thank you. Next week will be the halfway point
for the chemo and we are gettign very anxious to put this time behind us. Last week Beryl's hair started really coming
out so she made the decision to shave it which I did last Thursday morning. Our 4 year old son took it in stride but was less
happy about daddy follwing suite. So it was Sunday before he decided it would be OK if he could help do it. So thank you again for your warm wishes and prayers and please be sure that you or the women in your
lives are current with their mamograms. Just a cfew months late can make the difference between a moderate inconvenience and
a life-changing event that stays with you for the rest of your life. So be well and God Bless!
Hello my friends, Thank you again for coming by.
A few months of craziness I'm afraid. Music's been great. New venues in Wauchula, The Celtic Crossing and in Punta
Gorda, The Icehouse. Both great places. I really urge you to make the trip and see these new places. Great places, food and
wonderful staffs. I've been getting the guys out with me alot. Seamus was home for the summer and we
had some great nights while he was local. We're all looking forward to November 9 at 3 pm when we'll be recording
a live show at the Seminole Library in Pinellas County. Please, please, please make it out to lend your voices and hands to
help make this a great CD that we can finally get out. I'll send emails and post directions on the "Schedule"
page. Personally, I've been running alot lately. July 3 my beautiful wife, Beryl, was diagnosed with
breast cancer. And now after several months, two surgeries and nearing the halfway point with chemo, we're very excited
to have this part of our lives behind us. Last week Beryl's hair started coming out and so she made the decision to shave
it which I did last Thursday morning. Our 4 year old son took it in stride but was less excited about daddy following suite.
Only when I told him he could help did he decide it would be OK. So mine went Sunday when we got back from Gainesville. We have really appreciated all the prayers and warm thoughts all of our friends and families have been
sending our way and are now just getting through one day at a time until this is behind us. I really urge all you women out
there and all you men who have mothers, daughters and sisters to be sure to stay current with your mamograms. A checkup, even
a few months late, as we found out, could make the different between a minor inconvenience and a life-changing event
that forever leaves its mark on you. Please be well and take care of yourselves and don't be too shocked
when you see me and my bald head over the next several months.
Well now, I hope you all have been doing
well. St. Patrick's was fantastic. Great fun up in Gainesville with Marty, Jim and Seamus, who, it seems, has become the darling
of the pub. He was really something to see that weekend. We all sounded great! Nothing but fun all day and night. Thank you
to all who made it out to Nelly's. I'm looking forward to three weekends in a row with the
guys. Melbourne, Lakeland and then Melbourne again with the fellas joining me on each Friday. Not Seamus probably though he'll
be back around for Cocoa on May 17. Summer will be a lot of fun and we are making plans to do some recording in several months.
I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for stopping by and seeing what's happening. I look forward
to seeing you soon at some venue around Florida in the not too distant future.
That's right. St. Patrick's Day is this coming
Monday. After a number of private affairs I'll be off to Gainesville this Saturday morning to start the fun. Music starts
at Durty Nelly's about 5:30 and goes till 1:30 with Seamus joining me
around 9:30. Sunday will be an open jam and then for Monday, Jim, Marty and Seamus will be joining me around 5:30 until
1:30. I hope to see you out. Have a great week and be safe.
