My Gift To You
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Sweet Redemption
I attempt to convey the feeling that as we go through life’s challenges, we tend to dwell on the current problems or situations, feeling like we can’t handle the pressure, and don’t see any solution to the current problem…..then comes the “epiphany” on how to get through the dilemma or situation (you’ll hear the “epiphany” come through with the high lead…like a ray of sunshine or a light bulb going off). Then comes another difficult challenge to face, followed by another “epiphany,” and so forth and so on. The point of the song is that no matter how hard life gets, there’s always a solution to the dilemma or problem….that each challenge makes us a stronger person for having endured it.
This song is played in drop D tuning with BreedLove guitar.
Today Is Just The Beginning
I wrote this song for our son Blake and his wife Diana, prior to their wedding in 2011. The song reflects about the future of all the wonderful things to come, in a more blissful, positive manor surrounding marriage. Most newlyweds are not very realistic in what is about to come their way as they navigate through issues of raising kids, jobs, money, relatives, and anything else they may have to deal with that will test their marriage down the road. But at the moment, they’re blissful…
Played with McPherson guitar.
Lonely Thoughts
Rory Walsh is a movie producer from the LA area that has started his own movie company called filmFuture, Inc. Rory heard my first cd and liked the playing style and feeling it conveyed, so he contacted me asking if I had anything “dark & dreary” for an upcoming movie called Lesser Miracles. I told him that I didn’t have anything currently recorded, but that I could compose something for his movie. So it took me two months to compose, record, edit, and ship off three new songs that have been included on my second album labeled “My Gift to You.” The song titles are: Lonely Thoughts; If Only I Could Have; and What Do You Know About Me? All I knew about the movie was the main character (a woman) kills another woman to protect her family because of ‘voices’ she hears.
This is the first song that I composed to depict the main character’s struggle throughout the movie. I tried to put myself in her position of having committed the act of murder, reflecting back on just what occurred, not being able to talk to anyone to figure out her next move; and how does she move forward to protect her husband and baby daughter from the “perceived” threat that she feels is real.
Played with Breedlove guitar.
Change of Seasons
This is the last song that I created before cutting this new cd. The intent of the song is that we’re going into winter where the outdoor scenery has become grey and dreary with colder, shorter days ahead. As I stare out over the landscape, I’m thinking back to all the good times I’ve experienced during the summer months with family and friends…and then I’m pulled back to reality with the grey scenery outside my window, though looking forward to the next year’s summer activities.
Played with McPherson guitar.
If Only I could Have
This was the second song composed for the movie Lesser Miracles. My thought process for this piece was “how would things be if only I hadn’t committed the act of murder….If only I could go back in time and undo the horrible act, how much simpler my life would be now.” But for now, I must live by my actions and protect my family at whatever cost.
Played with Breedlove guitar.
Attix’s Safari
Attix is my fourth oldest grandchild, born to my middle daughter Brittany and her husband Brenden.
While attending a soccer game for Attix’s big sister Alexa, we walked over to the jungle gym to let him play and not interfere with the game. I’m always observing the grandkids when I’m with them, and on this occasion, I was whistling the Disney tune “Robin Hood” while walking over to the jungle gym. I noticed that when I whistled at a faster pace, Attix picked up his marching pace…and conversely, he would march slower when I whistle the tune slower. What struck me most odd is that he would march in perfect time to whatever speed I whistled to. Hence the thumping bass beat as the main background track for the song. The original song title was “Attix Anthem” because of the marching beat, but after completing the song, we (my daughter Brittany and I) decided to call it “Attix’s Safari” because of the “jungle” gym he was playing on that day; his father Brenden was born in South Africa; and because it has that African safari feel to it. Overall, it’s a cool song.
Played with McPherson guitar.
What Do You Know About Me?
This is the third and final song for the movie Lesser Miracles that I worked on. So now she has committed the act of murder, and those that are close to her are trying to understand what is going on with her thought process because of her actions around them….not knowing that she has already killed a woman who was trying to steal her husband away. She is feeling like no one understands or “sees” the perceived threat, and she feels that people are judging her for something they have no idea of what she is dealing with…in her mind. My favorite part of the song is about half way through the piece, around the 2:34 mark, the bass background falls away to a high, haunting melody that I really like.
Played with Breedlove guitar.
Ellis With An Attitude
Ellis is my third oldest grandchild, born to my oldest daughter Natalie and her husband Paul.
Ellis is the middle child who is fearless in trying anything. Not only is she cute and smart, but she’s tenacious as well. Her older brother Harrison is quite the pistol, and is always on the go, but Ellis is always up to the task of doing whatever her older brother can dish out…and better. Her song is very typical of her sassy, but very strong willed attitude. That is why this little cowgirl song really captures her cute personality.
Played with Breedlove guitar.
Lonnie’s Beautiful Journey with Loved Ones
Lonnie is my step-brother, who has always had a very loving, positive attitude throughout his entire life, even though he has had so much adversity being born with spina bifita. Lonnie lives in a home in downtown Sacramento that tends to his daily needs, but he hardly ever complains about his situation. Lonnie is now in his early 50’s….largely due to the loving and watchful eye of our step-mom Gloria. Because of her specialty training over the years in the medical field, she has been able to set the course of direction for Lonnie’s medical needs throughout his life.
So, what does this have to do with my music? After I had just finished creating Ellis’s song “Ellis with an Attitude,” Lonnie asked me “how come I hadn’t composed a song for him yet.” So, at his prompting, I started thinking about the flow and melody that would best depict Lonnie’s life.
After I completed composing his song and letting him hear the end result, I asked him what the song title should be. He had like fifteen words for a song title…listing all of his past, present, and future girlfriends within the title. I told him that I had very limited amount of space to write his long song title on, so this is what we both agreed on in the end….”Lonnie’s Beautiful Journey with Loved Ones.” This is for you buddy!
Played with Breedlove guitar.
Papa’s Lullaby
This song was written for all of my grandkids to listen to when they go to bed. Hopefully, it will make them fall asleep into wonderful, imaginative and happy dreams… and not give them nightmares :>) I’m not sure if it works like it was intended to, but it’s a relaxing melody none the less.
Played with McPherson guitar.
Peaceful Thoughts
This was the second to last song created in this cd that has rich tones throughout the piece. It’s a song that makes you feel very relaxed, and makes you want to daydream the day away in far off memories and places……
The song is played with drop D tuning.
Played with McPherson guitar.