Well, happy New Year to you all. 2010 was challenging
to so many of us with the tourism industry suffering from the gulf oil spill and the national economic crisis still ongoing.
And yet, it was a good year for me and my family. My wife, Beryl, is healthy and happy and looking forward to getting her
new business well and truly zooming. Our son, Christopher started 1st grade and is the source of our continued enjoyment and
amazement. Beryl was able to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk in Pinellas County again this year. Thank you to
all who contributed to her fundraising goal.
Music too, was good this year. Some continued news about "The Fellas". Marty has been recovering well, albeit, with
a few "speed bumps" in his own words and has managed to start a monthly session at McKay's Pub in Daytona.
I was able to attend early last fall and had a wonderful time with some great players and wonderful energy. It was also a
treat to do a few tunes with Marty again. If you're ever over that way on the 3rd Saturday, be sure to stop in.
In Marty's absense, Darin Graves and
Trina Schyhol Barksdale have done a great job getting into the groove with Jimmy and I. Lots and lots of new material and
arrangements of the old with much more vocal interaction. What a treat it is for me to share the vocals and work harmonies. I
get to have them with me in Lakeland, Melbourne and Tampa and some of the library shows. I've really enjoyed how the
band has grown and each and every member, past and present, has brought a whole new dynamic to the mix and I am extremely
grateful to them all.
This year is a little slow coming in some respects. The economy still has a pretty tight grip on our industry but I'm hopful
that as we settle in, new venues and opportunities will bring us all together to celebrate music in our own way. Already,
I've added a pub in Columbia, SC called Delaney's Music Pub and hope to add more as the year progresses. I'll be sure to keep
my schedule up to date and accurate so I hope you'll manage to come by some night for some music. Please come by and introduce
yourself and let me know that you found me online. I'd love to add you to my emailing lists for future performances.
On YouTube, I got a real surprise. The
"Whiskey in the Jar" posting has climbed over 11,000 viewings and still climbing. Also, "Killkelly"
has taken off in a big way. Nice comments and it's nice to see the interest out there. Thank you again to my good friend Cheryll
for all her hard work in filming, editing and posting all these videos to YouTube. I'm hoping to make some new videos soon
featuring Darin, Trina, Jimmy and myself. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
Well, that's all for now. I wish you all the best of everything
this year with many blessings and the chance to make happy memories. Be well, enjoy your families and friends and keep loving
the music!
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.
