An Open Letter to my Audience at the Mills Seed Co. Washington, Iowa
At the bottom of it all....There's a Spirit
There weren’t a lot of us there last weekend (which is not necessarily a bad thing at an intimate venue like the Mills Seed Co.) but like the faintly perceptible light of dawn, our time together represented something very special and highly encouraging.
What we gave to each other was more than an entertainment experience; considerably deeper than just ‘blowing people away’ with my ‘awesome’ talent (stop laughing guys). It was the sharing of music and stories about Iowa history, my family, the times we live in and how all of us can relate to each other beyond titles like ‘musician’ or ‘audience’.
The songs and stories (and the great Q&A piloted by Dan Henderson) brought us all together virtually erasing the traditional space between the stage and the audience. Of course, I was happy to share my music, (a handmade effort woven over decades of life as an Iowa kid whose family arrived in Monroe County in the late 1800’s). Since that time, there has been a Thompson (mom’s side) or a Brown (dad’s side) contributing to the artistic, educational, and work life of Iowa from coal mines to the classroom to the stage.
Some things (like the relationship between the performer and the audience) should not be taken for granted. Indeed, in this age of increasingly automated experiences, I’m grateful to actually play for people I hadn’t met before and come away with such a deep, personally fulfilling experience. We owe it to ourselves to hold on to such things in heart and in memory.
Big thanks to those who were present at Mills Seed Co. last weekend June 20th. I can only hope that I, as a musician, story teller (and DJ), gave you a bit of something similarly significant.
Special thanks to our host and IWC contributor Dan Henderson for acting on his instinct to develop our relationship. Well played sir, well played.
…and speaking of playing…..
Three original compositions from different branches of my Iowa musical roots
Strength and Love, written in 1978, featured the Missouri-born Miget sisters (Marcia, and her guitarist/vocalist sisters Susie and Mimi). Recorded for my first album [Influences], Strength and Love was recorded in Des Moines at Richard Trump’s Triad Studios, engineered by the late, great Tom Tucker. It was a classic example of what the Des Moines scene was producing in those days before computers were doing all the work.
Big credit also goes to Iowa progressive radio legend Ron Sorenson executive producer of the INFLUENCES project. Today you can hear Ron’s still-impeccable instincts for what makes great radio at KFMG his online radio station broadcasting from Mainframe Studios here in Des Moines.
The Blues - [Volume Alert!] Iowa’s reputation as a hotbed of Blues and Blues/Rock in the 60’s and 70’s was always undersung. Check out Cedar Rapids native and Iowa Blues Hall-of-Fame guitarist the late Ron Dewitte as he burned incandescent on this recording from my archives. Our band (known as Wheatstraw) included Ottumwa native the late David Bernstein on drums and Marion-based Hammond organist the late Craig Horner. Yours truly on bass guitar.
Mama Loves Country Music
I decided to bring this previously posted composition forward because I’d played it for the folks in Washington last week. My mother, Rev. Mary Alice Brown was a fan of Country and Western music since her days growing up between Kansas City and Fort Dodge, IA. While I was getting into Blues, Jazz and Rock’n Roll, mom always asked when I was going to play a Country song for her. In 2010, while living and teaching in Marin Co., I wrote and produced this song for her. My students at the time, supplied background vocals on the chorus.
Thanks for readin’ & listenin’….
Cherish those moments when the world drops away and you’re alone with those stories and songs that make this world something to embrace with strength and love.
My Integrated Life Begins Here; Episode One
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….Writing all this made me hungry as hail. I’m ready for an Offenburger….
Pretty Cool, huh Shadric?
May we all be crazy, like a Fox
Oh my. Dart! Great stories & songs, the C&W song for your Mama brought years to my eyes. Wonderful!