2011: A Year of Faith

This year has been one of transition for us. I left my position as worship leader in May, a God-assignment I had for seven years. My dad had heart surgery and came to permanently live with us in July. My brother Jon and I put dad's house in North Carolina on the market in November. All of these changes involved faith.

The opportunity to exercise faith is a two-edged sword: on one side, it's a chance to grow and go places spiritually that I've never been; on the other side, life can get tough and uncomfortable when you decide to walk out on a faith-limb. Everything--finances, timing, ministry assignments, career--is left there in the hands of God.

The decision to trust God means I cannot depend on my own sight, intuition, experience, common sense, etc.. The process is one that I wouldn't recommend to the faint of heart. The Scripture passage in Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)"

Something comes to mind when I think of walking in faith--a scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. In order to reach the Holy Grail, Indy must traverse a deep chasm. There are no stairs, no suspension bridge or ropes to help him across. His father's diary--the source from which he gathers the information on how to cross the impossible breach--requires him to take a leap of faith.

"Impossible," Indy says. "Nobody can jump this! It's a leap of Faith." "You must believe, boy!" cries Dad from his deathbed. "You must believe!"

Indy stepped forward onto an invisible walkway. Through faith, he made it across. Like Indy, God will make a way for us where there seems to be no way. Isaiah 43:19 says, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (NIV)"

In 2011, God encouraged Brenda and I to take steps toward the impossible--to places we never would have gone on our own. We have likened this adventure to packing up and taking a ship to another land. We have to believe that, as God calls, He wants us to trust. Joshua 1:9 says: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV)”

With this encouragement, we will continue to walk in faith. We have seen many miracles appear before our eyes in 2011. 2012 looks to be a landmark year for us, too. Keep reading these posts in the coming year and you can keep up with our exciting journey.

May God richly bless and strengthen you and your loved ones in 2012.

Pots, Pans and Romance

The Christmas celebration isn't over until all the dishes are washed and put back in their resting place. If you're like me, you can't even bear to go to bed with dirty dishes waiting to be dealt with in the morning. I even like the stove and counter tops to be shiny when I turn off the kitchen light. Brenda and I made a deal a long time ago: she cooks and I clean up. It has worked well for us thus far.

The problem some marriages encounter is a lack of cooperation on the husband's part to help the wife in the kitchen. I'm not saying that I am any kind of example for other guys to follow, but a slew of marital problems would cease to exist if we dudes got off of our lazy backside to help around the house. They say that romance starts in the kitchen; it's about time we test that adage!

Many times our high standards can be a hindrance, especially during the Holidays. We want so bad to impress our friends and family that we stress ourselves out of the joy of the season. This year Brenda and I decided that we would give each other a break and offer dinner in a casual way: serve-yourself with paper plates. It certainly saved me a boat-load of work after dinner. The clean-up was almost instantaneous; all I had left were the pots and pans, with a stove and counters to polish. Sometimes giving each other a break can remedy frustration. Our wives deserve to sit down and visit with company too.

So gentlemen, listen closely: be the first to get up from the table and carry the dishes and serving bowls to the sink--commence kitchen clean-up duty, and make it a nightly habit. If paper and plastic help to make the season bright, then so be it. I guarantee, married life will begin to improve....even before the New Year begins!

Southern Rock At It's Best

I have enjoyed a lot of concert broadcasts over the past few months on HDNet and the Audience Network (DirecTV). Just last night, while surfing the TV on Christmas Eve, my son-in-law, Adam, and I stumbled upon a live concert. We were pleasantly surprised by the Atlanta band, Blackberry Smoke (BBS).

These guys look like something out of California Jam, 1974--with their long hair, bell-bottom jeans and mutton-chops. Their sound is totally southern rock, and, as performers, song writers, singers and players, they are probably the best act of their kind touring today. I saw The Allman Brothers a few years ago; even with Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks on guitars, I think BBS gives them a run for their money! BBS even worked their way through an excellent cover of The Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider" during the concert last night.

I cut my teeth on the Charlie Daniels Band, The Outlaws, Skynyrd,  ZZ Top, The Allman Brothers, Great Southern, etc., and, in my opinion, BBS stands up to any southern rock outfit past and present; their status has yet to catch-up with their abilities.

As you know, I often like to recommend bands and singers here on my blog, but I do not--in any way--endorse their extra curricular behavior!

These guys have been cruising under the radar for over ten years now. I think it is time they make a dent in the music industry. Hey, if Zac Brown and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top love these guys--and you love guitar rock with boogie-woogie piano, and tube-driven Hammond organ swirl, killer songs, solos and singing--you should give Blackberry Smoke a listen.

Merry Christmas... 

from our home to yours!

Gingerbread house by my wife Brenda and decorated with the help of our daughter Betsy

Home on Christmas

Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve. I am so happy this year to enjoy the season again. In fact, I have enjoyed the Christmas season this year more than any other time. As a musician I play at every worship celebration, and Christmas is the Church's biggest celebration of the year--along side Easter.

I'm not complaining...I love the Lord, enjoy singing and playing my guitar, and I love people. But since Christmas Day falls on a Sunday in 2011, many churches are having a huge Christmas Eve service (even multiple options) as well as full services on Sunday. I guess this is gonna sound wrong no matter how I put it: I'm glad my church decided to give Sunday morning to families this year. You heard me, no church Sunday morning!  What a concept...

A lot of people have a difficult time with the notion of no church on Christmas Day. I understand. And even though I consider myself a very dedicated Christian--to the point of choosing a career as a worship pastor--I still am happy to wake up and spend the day with my family.

This past fall, one large church in California gave up a whole weekend of services to go into the community and help the needy, to make necessary repairs to the homes of widows, and to generally say to the community, "We care." The greatest part of the project was that they went out into the community and didn't ask for people to come to them.

Sometimes it's good to give our families a rest. As a church staff, we operate on the generous strength of volunteers. Many times, without doing a quick "cost/benefit" analysis on the projects our churches undertake throughout the year, we can tax our volunteers to the point of exhaustion.

I'm glad to be home with my family on Christmas morning. Tomorrow afternoon on Christmas Eve, though, I will be playing and worshiping with my church family. All of this activity reminds me of the Mary and Martha story: there is a time to work and a time to rest. I'm sure Jesus will let me stay home...just this once!

The Most Beautiful Girl

Hey, did you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world? Yep, I'm married to her!

Happy 26th anniversary! I love you!

Alyssa Bonagura: Killing Me

The Harvills and Sadlers got together last night at our place for some homemade pizza and long-overdue hang time. The natural conversational divide after dinner occurs when Brenda and Debra move with their coffee into the living room and Gary and I move up to the studio and talk guitars, music and whatever else.

Gary suggested we look at a website featuring new music from the young artist Alyssa Bonagura. I was so blown away by this new song and singer that I wanted to share it with you. This incredible artistry represents what is largely missing in music today. "Killing Me" is just the tip of the iceberg for this talented lady, who has a new pop release coming out in 2012. I am a big fan of the simple musical treatment that she and co-writer/ co-performer Tyler Wilkinson use in this video.

Alyssa plays most of these instruments, engineers the recording and even does the final mix. She's in her early twenties, for goodness sake!

Enjoy.

Walt Disney and The Sherman Brothers

The first time I saw a professional songwriter at work was in the 1961 Disney animated feature, The 101 Dalmatians. Most likely I saw it at our local Fox Fullerton theater a few years after it's original run. I watched Roger Radcliffe, the aspiring song-smith and male lead of the movie, pounding-out ideas on the upright piano in his London bachelor flat. "Could a person really make money by writing songs?" I wondered. My answer would come some thirty years later with my first published song, Ancient of Days.

(L to R) Robert, Richard and Walt

My childhood was filled with Disney music from movies like Mary Poppins, The Parent Trap and The Jungle Book. Many years later I learned that the guys behind the tunes in these three movies, as well as the indelible It's A Small World, were brothers, Robert and Richard Sherman.

Robert, two and one-half years older than Richard, grew up the polar opposite of his brother: Richard was outgoing and Robert, very much reserved. Their push-pull personalities served them well as a creative duo, but less so when not working. I found out much more about the brothers by watching an excellent documentary, The Boys: the Sherman Brothers’ Story. I was surprised to learn that they are basically strangers these days--Richard lives in Hollywood, and Robert resides in England. Sadly, as displayed throughout the documentary, they have little in common. Other than song writing and being born to the same parents, they don't seem to enjoy one another. As a cinematic voyeur,  one gazes through the window of this movie, never to witness a genuine exchange of warmth between the two.

The documentary starts with the Sherman boyhood days in New York City, then to their eventual re-location to Los Angeles. Richard takes the viewer on a present-day tour of a backyard garage, once owned by the family, where their collaboration started. He also scouts some of their early stomping grounds around Hollywood.

In 1958, they wrote a song called Tall Paul for Mouseketeer Judy Harriet. The song was then covered by another Mouseketeer, the popular teen sensation Annette Funicello. This caught the attention of Walt Disney. The Sherman Brothers were promptly signed as Disney staff writers. Subsequently, their first song with Disney was The Strummin' Song. Robert and Richard quickly became a staple in the company's movie production machine.

Walt Disney's favorite Sherman Brothers song was Feed the Birds from the movie  Mary Poppins. Walt asked them to perform it often at his office piano, leaving their boss misty-eyed most every time. Robert and Richard also had success away from the Disney Studios with music from movies like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

With numerous awards between them, Robert and Richard Sherman continue to inspire new generations with their songs. I am grateful for their influence in my own songwriting. My prayer is that someday they make peace with each other. Fame and fortune pale in comparison to the importance of brotherhood and family.

A Necessary Rest

In May of 2011 I left the position of worship leader at a church--a job I was blessed to have for almost seven years. For a year-and-a-half before that, I played guitar there as a hired gun almost every weekend. So altogether, I was blessed with over eight years at the church.

It was my decision to end it. Some smarter folks than I would probably stay-on because of the security factor, but I needed to close the curtain when the show was over. I was tired and uninspired. The drive was 40 minutes each way. Some weekends I had to travel 320 miles to complete the schedule of services, and then I was back in my cubicle on Monday morning to start it all over again. After eight years, I was thankful for the opportunity to serve these saints--to learn so much about managing a large congregation (7,000 attendees) and the resultant weekly ministry responsibilities. But I knew my position there had run it's course, so I put in my resignation.

The tricky part was: I didn't have any clue what was next. My greatest concern was that I get back to balance again and go from there. Because of some savings and income from songwriting and production, Brenda and I could make it through financially without the church income... for a few months, anyway. Little did we know that several months later we would still be praying for the next chapter to open up.

In the mean time, we visited churches all over the greater Nashville area, giving little thought to anything close to home. One Sunday in July, we decided to visit a church around the corner from our neighborhood. We had seen the growth of that little church from it's inception--meeting in a high school--to it's full-blown campus, beautifully crafted out of an empty Kroger grocery store. We walked in, loved the folks, the pastor, the worship, the vibe, and were generally blown away. Could a wonderful place like this be so close to home?

Since that day, Brenda, my dad and I have called The People's Church of Spring Hill home. Like all ministers, I needed a break and, for months, sat with the congregation to regain my strength. Just a month-or-so ago I started playing and singing on the worship team. I feel refreshed and energized, and am grateful to be back in the game!

Every minister needs a break. It's dangerous for our families, churches and our health to keep plodding-through without a time of refreshing. I am thankful for the break I've had, and I'm excited about 2012 and all that God is doing.

The Muscle Shoals Sound

A string of R&B hits by such artists as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Clarence Carter were recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in the early 1960s, and helped launch a phenomenon that would become the "Muscle Shoals sound." Detroit had  Motown, Nashville had country, Memphis had Stax, L.A. and New York had their signature sounds, but Muscle Shoals had a rock, R&B and soul-sound all of it's own.

Among those drawn to the Shoals was Paul Simon, who came in search of the band behind the recording that many call the essence of the Muscle Shoals sound: "I'll Take You There" by the Staple Singers. Simon's collaboration with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section produced the hits "Kodachrome" and "Loves Me Like a Rock."*

I was recording a project with my friend Lenny LeBlanc several years ago in his studio, just outside of Muscle Shoals. Between sessions, the late-great Ava Aldridge, writer of Dr. Hook's "Sharing the Night Together"--who was also singing on the session--took me on a tour of the Shoals in her great-big Cadillac. I saw the studios like FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound, where great music was made--and still is to this day. She then drove me to a small, nondescript store-front, with no more than 800 feet of space inside, and told me that the Rolling Stones recorded "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses" for the Sticky Fingers album there in December of 1969. As we peeped through the dusty window into the shadows of the abandoned store, she pointed to the back restroom area. There, Ava told me, the signatures and notes of many famous artists most likely still cover the walls. Wow--I had to stop for a moment to take it all in!

The Osmonds recorded "One Bad Apple" in  Muscle Shoals. Mac Davis recorded "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" and Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves a Woman" was recorded there, too.

When I think back to that little impromptu tour Ava gave me more than twenty years ago, I am amazed that so few people know about the city of Muscle Shoals. Just like Bethlehem--considered insignificant, yet chosen as the birthplace of the King of Kings--Muscle Shoals, though diminutive in stature. was chosen to give birth to incredible music; it's greatness is profound.

Rest in peace, Ava Aldridge. Although you've been gone for several years now, your influence will be felt for generations to come.

*Excerpts from an article by Debbie Elliott: The Legendary Muscle Shoals Sound.

What's In A Name?

For goodness sake, are you as tired of all the name changing going on as I am? Just this week the governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee, called the Statehouse Christmas tree a "Holiday Tree",  and he's catching a lot of flack for it. What's next?

My nephew Jonathan, an avid Disney aficionado, Tweeted this week that the Walt Disney Company has been slowly taking father Walt's name out of several corporate logos, to simply read--Disney. The Muppets movie, now in theaters, is conspicuously missing "Walt" in the castle logo at the beginning of the film, leaving just the founder's last name. Other Disney logos have changed over the past year as well, including Disney's California Adventure Park changed to Disney California Adventure. The names of several shops in both North American Magic Kingdoms have changed over the years as sponsorships come and go. Has this changed the perception of Disney? Does a moniker really make the product?

The Disney name game doesn't compare to the  "Christmas Tree" versus "Holiday Tree" ballyhoo. I think the tree fiasco is a game the governor of Rhode Island has already lost to the overwhelming majority. You see, no matter what one wants to call this season, everyone knows what it's all about: BABY JESUS! I think it's pretty silly that a politician would try and lessen it's importance by instituting a name change. Isn't "holiday" a contraction of "Holy Day"? The joke's on you, Mr. Chafee!

Sheepish

Random stack of ready-to-knit colors

My home is filled with color...not just warmth, love, rest and solace. All of those qualities define our sanctuary--thanks to my sweet wife. But the particular color I describe comes from all of the yarn that she spins. I'm not talking about tall tales here, but the real thing. My wife loves everything about fiber--all the way from cleaning and dying a fleece, spinning it, to knitting, what to me are, works of art.

Cleaned fleece, ready to spin

When people come into our home, there is usually a knitting project, in some stage of progress, laying in a basket, atop beautifully-spun yarn. Most of it is from sheep, but some of it comes from exotic places like the coat of a rabbit (angora), alpaca and silk, even plant sources like linen and hemp. Sometimes you have to watch where you sit around here or you'll get a rude reminder by the protruding needles to plant your rear elsewhere--this is a knitting zone!

Brenda does all of this because she loves it. Some Saturdays, when she's decided it's gonna be a dye day, the stove is crammed with kettles, boiling bright colors into the fibers of wool from average barnyard sheep. After the dyed fleeces are dried (spread out over the entire patio table and chairs in the backyard), they are somehow smoothed-out, spun, plied and formed into hanks that stack nicely into colorful rows of soon-to-be mittens--even a funky cap.

Bobbins filled with newly-spun fiber

All in all, Brenda doesn't ask for much, just a good cup of coffee and a few square yards of real estate to place all of her paraphernalia, like a drum carder (cleans the wool), spinning wheel, shelving for finished skeins of yarn and bins of raw, un-cleaned wool, straight from the naked backs of freshly shorn sheep. Hey, did I mention that she is beautiful, too, and an amazing cook?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that I've got it made around here. After all, she's been stumbling around my guitars and amps for over two-and-a-half decades now. We will celebrate our 26th anniversary on December 21st. My life is filled with fiber, and sometimes a few sneezing spells, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Foundations For Young Artists

You've probably heard it said, too: "Boy, this butter tastes better than margarine!" Some people have never tried the original, so they make judgements by the knock-offs. This is backward and, unfortunately, the way so many young artists in our culture base their opinions these days. It's true with every genre of art, and life in general.

Brenda led me to an interesting blog post recently, chronicling a meeting between author Ian Morgan Cron and the great composer/musician Rob Mathes in a Connecticut Starbucks. They were stunned when their attention was averted toward the background music coming from the overhead speakers:

“Do you hear that?” Rob said, his expression darkening. 

“Hear what?” I said. “Listen,” he said, glaring at the white speaker grilles above our heads. “Do you know that song?” 

I closed my eyes and strained to hear the music over the hiss and gurgle of milk being steamed for someone’s cappuccino. I shrugged. “Nope,” I said. “I can’t make it out."

Rob threw his hands up in the air. “That’s a cut off Miles Davis record Kind of Blue,” he said, his voice rising with indignation. 

“Alright,” I said. “Apparently this bothers you.”
“It’s Miles Davis!" he said, slapping the tabletop with his hand.

I’ve known Rob for 30 years. He’s talented. He’s smart. He’s not afraid to speak his mind.

“When brilliant compositions are used for background music it desensitizes people to their genius,” he continued.

I paused. “You mean familiarity breeds contempt?” I said.

“Precisely. If an amazing piece of music is constantly playing in the background your admiration for it doesn’t increase, it diminishes. It becomes no big deal,” Rob said, imitating someone trying to speak and yawn at the same time.

What we expose our children to, many times, is a weak (to say it mildly) version of the original. My objections to the classical education I was being fed in my first round of college became an epiphany when I started my second, more serious, round as a married 25-year-old. I saw that a classical education brought me back to the origins of great art, music and literature--with a proper historical context--to which all other great creative work is traced.

In a Fast Company website interview by Rick Tetzeli, director Martin Scorsese talks about how to lead a creative life and how to pass the torch to younger generations:

"At this point," says Scorsese, "I find that the excitement of a young student or filmmaker can get me excited again. I like showing them things and seeing how their minds open up, seeing the way their response then gets expressed in their own work."

"His biggest teaching project these days is his 12-year-old daughter, Francesca. He's trying to give her a cultural foundation that seems less readily available these days. "I'm concerned about a culture where everything is immediate and then discarded," he says. "I'm exposing her to stuff like musicals and Ray Harryhausen spectaculars, Frank Capra films. I just read her a children's version of The Iliad. I wanted her to know where it all comes from. Every story, I told her, every story is in here, The Iliad."

"Three months ago," he remembers, gesturing to the room around us, "I had a screening here for the family. Francesca had responded to Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, and to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, so I decided to try It Happened One Night. I had kind of dismissed the film, which some critics love, of course, but then I realized I had only seen it on a small screen, on television. So I got a 35-millimeter print in here, and we screened it. And I discovered it was a masterpiece. The way Colbert and Gable move, their body language. It's really quite remarkable!"

We must take our children and students back to the originals, to study them and discover what makes them so great. That's why I like to see the look on a kid's face when he hears a stellar vintage guitar though a great tube amp, or a vocalist's performance through a classic microphone and preamp. We must teach the next generation that a promising artistic future springs from an understanding of the great work that came before them--to learn from the best and stop trying to imitate the cheap, margarine knock-offs.

'Til the Next Gas Station

The melancholic afternoon shadows and crisp, cool evenings of late help create a backdrop for reflective inner dialog about the future. I had a relaxing, wonderful summer and fall, but now it's time to make some decisions.

I came upon a couple of videos today promoting a new music software that features Nashville drummer Harry Stinson and producer/engineer Chuck Ainlay. Both guys gushed about the virtues of Nashville, from a creative and personal perspective (I heartily agree!). Stinson said that he came to a place in his career, back in the mid-70s, where he felt stagnant and ready to get to a new level. He soon received a call from the folk/rock group America to fill-in for their drummer, who had an accident and needed to leave the road. Harry's name came up in conversation as a great replacement. He had 24 hours to get ready. So he gathered up all of the America records he could find, met the band in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, spent a meager hour and a half in rehearsal, did the show that night, and finished up the tour. What a cool place to be in life: ready, at the right time and place, when opportunity comes knocking!

Living in a community like Nashville, it's easy to forget that this a very special and unique place. It's also a tough place if you are here to make a living as a musician. I, too, am ready for the next season of my career. I am doing my best to stay adept at my craft, even though, at times, it's easy to get discouraged. This small bit of encouragement from Harry and Chuck today was like a drink of cold water. Sometimes I'm tempted to pack it in and try to make a living with something non-musical altogether. But really... what would I do? This is all I know; I've been playing music professionally since 1980. Sometimes it takes even a YouTube video to realize that I'm doing exactly what I should be: writing, playing, producing and looking to God for sustenance.

A musician's life is like a crazy adventure where you just start driving, don't ever look back in the rear-view mirror, and enjoy the ride until your gas light comes on. Just when it seems like the adventure's over, miraculously, there's a gas station right over the hill. You get filled up again and head back out on the highway!

Cooperation

My mother was a spoiled woman. Before she died in 1997, she never filled a gas tank or opened a door for herself, that's because my dad made sure of it!

When I attempt to open a door for a lady at the grocery store, for example, sometimes I get a dirty look, like I'm showing they are the weaker gender. I personally believe men are weaker because we don't endure childbirth and the greatest share of child-rearing like they do. Also, the challenge of dealing with the atrocious behavior of a great number of males should prove that women are superior! My opening doors for women is simply an extension of my personal respect for them.

So, if I am to show respect to women, it takes cooperation on their part. The same is true with my spiritual life. It behooves me to cooperate with God when, in His Word, He says He wants to help me; He wants to open doors of blessing in my life. By rushing through life without honoring God--not waiting for Him, and not trusting in his lead--we, in effect, miss-out on the benefit of His favor. It takes faith to cooperate. When we hang back and let Him open the doors, we partake in the great things He has for us on the other side.

Through cooperation, mom practiced a spiritual principle, whether she knew it or not.

My Summer of '82 Rock and Roll Adventure

Me and Trent Pollack on the bus, somewhere in Turkey, '82

It's hard to believe that thirty years ago next summer, Trent Pollack and I--along with four others, including my brother, Jon--were riding on a bus across Turkey, having a ridiculously great time. We were able to see ancient sites that were visited by the Apostle Paul and places where civilizations once thrived, now deserted and cluttered with decaying stone pillars.

The summer of '82 was also filled with music: the soundtrack to our dusty journey, bumping over the Mediterranean landscape, included the newly released Asia and Toto 4 albums (whenever I hear those songs today, I'm instantly transported back there). How many 22-23 year-old kids get to play rock and roll next to the Black Sea, or lay in the sun on a Greek or an Italian island, between gigs?

The most indelible memory is from the first day of our USO tour, just after we landed in Turkey and settled into our hotel. Staying in a small town, close to the main square, Jon and Trent--ready to party at the drop of a suitcase--made their way to the outdoor market to peruse the local ladies, and grab a snack before dinner. Ignoring the USO lecture we received back at the hotel, warning us to wash raw fruit before eating it, the guys were up for scoring anything remotely edible. While buying a few "harmless" pieces of fruit, Jon and Trent--draped in long, blond tresses, donning gaudy Hawaiian shirts and brightly-colored Spandex pants--created quite a stir with the local young ladies and soon in their digestive systems.

After the guys arrived back to the hotel, they told me where they had been. As the manager of this motley crew, I was trying to recover from the long day of travel and didn't really care where anyone with the band went as long as they made call-time. Jon and Trent then proceeded to tell me about the unwashed fruit they just purchased and consumed. Needless to say, they quickly began to feel the rumblings of their error, deep within their bowels. It took a few days, but the two were soon back in commission,  frequent bathroom visits notwithstanding!

All in all, we had an unforgettable time. We saw Naples, the Isle of Capri, the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum,  Pompeii and Sorrento in Italy;  Istanbul and cities mentioned in the Bible such as Ephesus while in Turkey;  Zaragoza and Madrid in Spain; Athens and the Acropolis in Greece--just to name a few. We even had time to play concerts for the American soldiers stationed in these areas!

Wow, it seems like yesterday--I actually wore Spandex pants back then, tied my sparkly-red shirt-tail around my waist and primped my 80s hair-band blonde mane. No wonder the soldiers made fun of me as I walked around the base on my off-time. I would, too, if I saw a clown like me back then. But, oh, what a summer that was!

All I Really Need To Know in Life, I Learned In A Band

Well, now that I see the title, the subject really seems a little provocative. I didn't mean for that to happen, but if you have have been reading this so far, maybe it was worth the miscommunication. Of course, not "all of life" is contained here, but it's a good start.

I spent six years, non-stop, on the road. All during that time I never unpacked my suitcase completely. Even when I went to my parent's home on a break, I kept everything in my familiar traveling box. The tough thing about traveling in a band are the tight quarters and lack of privacy. Because of this challenge, I learned the art of getting along with people--all kinds of people. To survive, I had to surrender and give up my way to make way for the group. Yes, I had to compromise. I want to humbly share a few nuggets of wisdom I learned while rolling down the endless highway and traversing the airways around the globe, playing in a band.

1. Be kind

Understanding, grace, forgiveness and patience, among other virtues, all come to mind while living close to others. Most days in a band are cool. But when it's your turn to have a bad day, you want others to show you kindness. Honor the personal space of others.

2. Go the extra mile

Help carry the luggage for the girls in your band; open doors for them. Keep extras in your gear box for when others are in a fix, like extra picks, strings, batteries, etc. Volunteer to do the dirty work like stacking gear in the equipment truck and loading luggage under the bus.


3. Be on-time

The chronically late disrespect others with their behavior. They lose trust and it impacts relationships. Show the rest of the band how important they are by respecting the call-time. Be early!

4. Always tune-up

I think I spend more time tuning than playing. In life it's important to always be tuning-up our relationships (be aware of my surroundings and the people in them). My relationship to God is most important. If everyone tunes to the same pitch, life is so much better in a band!

5. Hang out with the crew

The crew is your greatest ally; they can make or break you in performance. The best friendships I ever made on the road were with behind-the-scenes people. After a show, ride the bus with the crew. It'll be hilarious and you'll always have folks watching out for you. Dis the crew and you'll soon be out of the band!


6. Be the person others want on their team

Be a person others are grateful for--thankful for the excellence you bring with regard to playing, singing and performing.  You help take the band to the next level and you're a joy to be around.

7. Know your limits but always strive for improvement

Don't drag the band down by promising what you can't deliver in performance. Always be learning new things (listening to new sounds, styles, gear, etc.), Don't settle into stagnation, Grow, grow, grow!

8. Learn the importance of deodorant

Practice good hygiene. Learn how to dress for success in the band. Most social situations will have an unwritten dress code--learn it as fast as you can. Don't totally "give up" on off days. Others still have to live with you in close proximity.

9. Be a giver

Be on the look-out for ways to bless others. Don't be the jerk who always lets someone else pick up their tab. Look for ways to anonymously make someone's day. It'll be a double blessing.

10. Respect the road manager

We may not always agree with the decisions of our bosses, but be the one who makes their job a little easier through compliance. They have responsibilities and commitments to people and things that don't always flow into our personal orbit. So understanding goes a long way with them. Don't sit back and watch injustices pile-up, either. Respectfully and privately convey your grievances, and don't be a chronic complainer.

11. Know when to leave the band

We all come to the end of a job. We either outgrow the band or the band outgrows us. Maybe it's just time to move on to a new place. Bring it to an end gracefully. If you are a valuable team member, the news will always hit hard. Give proper notice, speak judiciously to others about it, don't burn bridges, and, if at all possible, create a lasting legacy that will dispel negative talk after you're gone.

Christmastime: Music To My Ears

I have to admit it: I'm a sucker for  all things Christmas. I always look forward to the day when Sirius XM starts-up their dedicated holiday music channels. I pick the traditional station out of the several offerings--the one that plays the standards with singers like Perry Como, Nat King Cole, and all of the fare that I was raised on.

Now that the Christmas holidays officially start the day after Halloween, on November 1st (that's what Wal Mart wants us to think, anyway), we are now given permission to have two full months of Holly, Jolly Christmas and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree to enjoy. I'm not complaining. Even though the leaves are still stubbornly clinging to the trees (it's November 21st), and I haven't put my warm-weather clothes away because the temps are leveling-out at 65 degrees here in middle Tennessee, I love listening to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, pretending that the "weather outside is frightful" as I cruise up I-65 toward the mall.

I also love to haul-out all of the holiday movies, dust them off and make plans to upgrade them from DVD to BluRay. Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, The Grinch, and Elf--I named off movies that are fairly new, even though I still love to watch It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol in black and white on Christmas Eve. It seems that everyone loves Christmas or they wouldn't put those Christmas scenes in non-Christmas movies to make us feel all warm and cozy.

For me, like many adults, I harken back to the day when I could fall asleep in the back seat of my parent's '57 Chevy, on the way home from a family holiday gathering; when Dad would lift my half-asleep body out of the car, carry me into my warm bed and tuck me in for the night. I must say, I loved doing that for my own kids.

The one holiday event that I refuse to join is getting up at 2 AM to stand in line at Best Buy or Target on Black Friday. I'll let my kids do that. Other than that exception, I'll take everything that Christmas has to give. And it all starts and ends with the music--at least for me.

Songwriter Wisdom, Part 2: Residual Income

What a blessing it is to create something once and receive residual (passive, or recurring) income from it for years to come--even while I am sleeping! If you can score a song on a record, or even better, a hit record, you can make money sitting at home. You may need to keep your day job for a while, but if you have true writing talent (no, your mother's opinion doesn't count!), patience, willingness to network with other writers,  can live lean and have a little faith, you, too, may someday make a living...making stuff up! I have so much to be thankful for, including my more than 20 years as a professional songwriter. I want to explore the residual income sources available to folks like me!

Broken down into three main sub-categories, here is an example of my own income stream:

BMI (ASCAP ; SESAC)
Each writer (or administrative agent, if contracted to do so) must register his/her works with one of these three U.S. performance rights organizations. It's their job to keep track of performances throughout the world, and to distribute income quarterly on behalf of the writer and publisher (separate entities), from radio, TV, movies, etc.. BMI says it best about themselves:

BMI is committed to protecting copyright to ensure that its songwriters, composers and music publishers are fairly compensated for the use of their work. BMI also values its relationships with those businesses that use music, offering access to the world’s most popular music for hundreds of thousands of licensees throughout the United States.

Record Companies/ Independent Projects
When I establish my own publishing company--in my case through BMI--I either manage the work by myself, or work with an administrative person or company to take care of that on my behalf. As my self-published songs are recorded by record companies or individuals, they come to me or my "admin" person for a use license. All subsequent income from those sales are funneled through my publishing company and paid to me quarterly. If I sign my publishing over to another publishing company, in whole or in part (forfeiting all or a portion of the ownership of my songs), I will receive only my publisher's and writer's share--divisible by how many publishers and writers are on the song. The publishers of the song are responsible to collect the monies related to the song's usage and to send a royalty check to me each quarter.


CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International)
As a writer of Christian songs used in worship services and various religious events throughout the world, I give consent to my copyright administrator to register each of those applicable songs with CCLI. CCLI (similar to what BMI does for me with radio, TV and movies, etc.) keeps track of the world-wide song performances of my songs through the reporting of thousands of licensed users. When I sign-over my songs to another publishing company, they are responsible to register, administrate, receive and distribute CCLI royalties on my behalf (CCLI royalties are distributed twice per year). CCLI can be quite beneficial since a song, especially in the worship music genre, can potentially amass greater income through live church-service performances, increasing revenue beyond the normal shelf-life and commercial sale of a recorded song.

I don't pretend to qualify as a one-stop information source for songwriters and residual income. This list is, by no means, a complete one. I have only delved into the more general aspects of earning income as a songwriter. However, I do have friends (believe it or not!) who have extensive practical, legal, procedural knowledge and information. These experts can help you--as an individual writer, church, or organization--to find answers to your particular copyright query.

Copyright Solver
ICS Law Group

Remember, each small tributary, or even trickle of income, can together flow into a combined income stream that, even in my case, adds up to a sizable, significant living. The secret is to have many songs working for you. Keep writing, keep the faith and keep in the game--even when it seems that the stream is running dry. Pray for rain!

My Guitar Pick Odyssey

What a seemingly benign subject: the guitar pick. Most of us kept on using the same type of guitar pick that we were given as kids, along with our first pack of Black Diamond guitar strings and our handy Mel Bay Guitar Method book. Somehow we adapted to a certain comfort level, and that first pick developed into a habit, then an unconscious part of our playing experience.

I started out, like most kids in the 60s, with the teardrop-style Fender medium pick. (It was so cool that Fender was building all of that cool gear in my hometown of Fullerton back then). My favorite was a Fender medium, because it worked well with  acoustic and electric. I later moved to the Herco Gold because it had the teardrop shape and the medium thickness, but it also had a raised pattern that doubled as a "slip-proof grip", with a great surface to grab the strings for those "Billy Gibbons moments". You could also break strings if you dug-in too forcefully!


To this day, I like to use thumb picks for finger-style playing, and I am still resorting to the Fender medium flat-pick for everything else. Sometimes, when I play my high-string or my 12-string acoustics in a recording session, I will use a thin pick. They create a more percussive sound--kind of like that of playing cards in the spokes of your bicycle wheel (remember that?).

I purchased some equipment lately from Fat Tone Guitars. In the shipment I found a complimentary guitar pick, emblazoned with the Fat Tone logo. They call it the Plexi Guitar Pick. I took it out of the package, grabbed my Les Paul, and was surprised how much I loved the feel, even though it was at least a millimeter, or more,  thick. The smooth, rounded ends made it feel at home and familiar at my fingertips.



Because of this revelation, I am going to do more guitar pick exploring. I will start by getting this new plexi pick into rotation, and I will also pay a visit to V-Picks here in Nashville to demo some of the other available "thick pick" options. After all, that first Fender medium was given to me in 1967. It's about time I pay attention to this rather diminutive, yet important part of my playing!

Tonya Cowart: Safe In the Harbor

It's always a shock when you hear that a friend has died. It's especially so when that friend is your age, because you realize how fragile life can be, and that tomorrow isn't promised to anyone, regardless of age. In the case of my friend Tonya Cowart, I heard about it through a Facebook message from a mutual friend in Mobile, Alabama, where Tonya lived her whole life.

(L to R) Scott, Tonya and Danny

I'll never forget the generosity that Tonya and her husband, Danny, showed me over twenty years ago when they asked me to produce their vocal group, Last Light Band--which also included Scott McLeod--in the studio. They gave me a lot of space to be creative and, basically, kicked me off into a career of producing and recording my own projects. My work on their first record gave me the confidence to head-into a very fulfilling songwriting career with Integrity Music, right there, nestled in the cozy Christian music community of Mobile.

My songwriting with Integrity drew me away from working with the Last Light Band and, eventually, my family moved to North Carolina and then to the Nashville area, where we have been living for the past ten years. A mutual friend from Mobile, who now lives in Murfreesboro, TN, and attends a church I served recently, walked up between services and handed me a cell phone. I was delighted to hear , "Hi Jamie, this is Tonya!" That was a year ago. Since then, I haven't seen or heard about Tonya, Danny or Scott until the awful news that she had passed on November 9th.

I don't know yet how she died; it doesn't matter anyway. Her voice, sweetness, vulnerability and love for God and people resonate in my memory. As a teen-age mother, she struggled through many difficulties, and even throughout her life--filled with loving family, friends and a devoted husband--the bruises from that tough journey were never far from the surface. I believe that is why she connected so well with her audiences, and that she could sing her songs with such commitment and authenticity. I am forever grateful that she recorded a song I co-wrote with Nancy Gordon called Belle of the Ball. The many awards the Last Light Band has garnered over the years publicly confirm that Tonya, Danny and Scott have touched countless lives with their music.

After hearing the sad news, I watched a video of Tonya singing Safe In the Harbor. It's spine-tingling to hear her sing those lyrics, knowing she is now in Heaven and safe there in the arms of her Savior. I'll miss you, Tonya.

Full Number-Ones

Yesterday, after jumping out of the shower, the clock read 11:10. I had to wait a minute to solemnly celebrate the moment of full number-ones on the clock to match the the 11-11-11 on the calendar. Just like when the Millennium came and went--11 years ago--I felt nothing!

Tom Harvill 1944-'45

I was fully aware that it was Veterans Day, though. 67 years ago, on 11-11-1944, my dad took a bus to somewhere in Los Angeles and, along with his other teenaged comrades, joined the Navy for the final year of WWII. Dad not only served the remainder of the war, but was called back to serve in the Korean War, too. I am very proud of him.

My mom and dad were only married a short time when he had to go back in to the service. I can't imagine the horror of many a young bride who suffered the news of losing their loved one on a foreign battlefield, or anywhere, for that matter. Thankfully, my mom never had to receive that news. Dad came back from two wars and, as a result, I was born in 1960.

Thanks dad, and all of the other veterans who served our country bravely and unselfishly. God bless you all!

It's Not Too Late

The recent news of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno's alleged involvement in a terrible controversy is proof that it's not too late, at the age of 84, to suffer the consequences of a bad decision...if that's what the evidence brings to light.

Some people make their big mistakes early in life, and the painful experience creates an indelible impression that helps them steer-clear of controversy later on. Some folks, like a few Presidential candidates of late, and within the past decade, have tried to hide bad behavior, only to have to answer for it when they become a public figure.

I am amazed that Billy Graham, who celebrates his 93rd birthday this week, has been able to uphold his good reputation. I read somewhere that he would have an assistant search his hotel room for female stowaways before he entered for the night. He would also cover the hotel TV with a face towel, weighted by his Bible, to avoid the temptation to make poor viewing decisions.

We all do stupid stuff as kids. I have said things to people (or have not said things I should have) that I regret to this day. I have taken the easy-route too many times. I have sought God's forgiveness more often than I can count for unacceptable behavior which, in most instances, was done while I was fully aware of it. God's patience with me is amazing!

The problem is, and I say it again: It's not too late to mess up a life filled with winning streaks. One bad move and past triumphs get eclipsed by a single error in judgement. It would be wrong to play the judge and jury against head coach Paterno, but it is a warning that each of us should heed: It's not too late...

When You Feel Stuck

Brenda and I were talking this morning over coffee about the Godly way to approach life, especially when we find ourselves in difficult situations, feeling stuck in a rut. Even in the idle points of life we must be active in heart, constantly making decisions on how and where to walk in our journey. Moving forward is the key. Keep walking and find the way out of that stifling chasm!

Psalm 34 is a chapter in the Bible that is rich with answers for almost every area of life. I know it's tempting sometimes to stop walking, count our grievances, seethe in bitterness and attempt to get even with the people who have hurt us. But the wisdom contained here would encourage us to move on.

Psalm 34:12-22
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Here are a few things I take away from this powerful chapter in the Psalms:

1. Be quiet (Proverbs 17: 28- even a fool seems wise when he keeps his mouth shut!)
2. Pursue things that promote peace in your own life and in others--in thought, word and deed.
3. Remember that the Lord keeps an eye on His children and, like a good parent, rescues us from bullies in this life (maybe not when we want Him to, but in due time. See #5).
4. God's kids will experience troubles in this life, but He protects us and leads us successfully through them.
5. God will show justice to our enemies. We must keep walking, and place our trust in Him to rescue us and take care of our foes.

If we keep walking, even if it's in total faith, we'll one day come into a clearing on our pathway and realize a whole new universe of opportunities, just waiting on us to arrive.

Danger: Leftover Halloween Candy

We are still devouring the candy leftover from Halloween. We only had about 20 kids come to the door this year, proving that the local churches have done a good job stealing the Trick-Or-Treaters from the streets to partake in community fall festivals. The problem with leftover candy is that I just can't walk by the candy bowl without giving it a stir and snagging my favorite sweets--a billion times a day.

My dad, who is living with us now, admitted to me this morning that he and my mom rummaged through our candy sacks as kids, the night of each Halloween, to confiscate the more desirable delights for themselves. The next morning, neither me nor my brothers ever had a clue that we'd been bamboozled!

My favorite Halloween fare these days is candy corn. My daughter-in-law, Amber, has

upped the ante and added peanuts and candy corn together to make a delectable and deadly mixture of sweet and salty. I am two-thirds through the plastic container she sent over via Josh, and I just can't say "no" to that pesky, delicious concoction.

The  problem is that, as soon as Halloween is over, Christmas is upon us. Christmas candy is the toughest to avoid, not to mention the seasonal supply of eggnog and boiled custard winking at me from the grocery milk section. What to do?

Even though I feel guilty as the Halloween candy is being consumed, and the fallen sugar-high leaves me lifeless and sprawled-out in the recliner, the guilt of not eating the leftovers proves to be a more formidable opponent. So we just resign and pick through that blasted bowl of goodness till the very last wrapper is tossed. After all, we need to make room for the peanut brittle Betsy's in-laws have promised us before Thanksgiving!

Home Studio Nightmares

As I have written before, we live in a city (county, region, etc.) where you can throw a rock from your backyard and hit a musician with a funky, starched "keith urban" hairdo. You might even break the window of a home studio after it bounces off the musician's noggin! You see, there is a studio in every other bonus room or basement in our city of Spring Hill, Tennessee. You can count me in that home studio demographic, too. (You wouldn't believe the artists who are cutting records in home studios!)

With this in mind, I want to pass-on some sage advice by fellow studio owner, Joe Gilder, from HomeStudioCorner.com. It's well worth the re-post.

 ______________________________________________

3 Home Studio Nightmares to Avoid

You know I couldn’t let Halloween go by without some sort of Halloween-themed post, right? Right.

I’ve had plenty of “scary moments” over the years in my studio. After all, you put your blood, sweat, and tears into the thing, an it definitely hurts when things don’t go exactly as planned.

If you’re just starting out, here are a few things you want to avoid as much as possible. If you’ve been recording for years, you should read this too and make sure you’re not getting lazy. Any of these can happen, and most of them are avoidable.

Losing Your Work

This is one of the scariest scenarios. You’ve been working for months, maybe even years, on a project. You’ve logged countless hours putting together this masterpiece of audio glory.

Then one day it happens.

You walk into your studio, fire up your computer and your hard drive and…nothing. Two hours later you have come to the horrifying realization that your hard drive has crashed, and your data is lost forever.

Now, there’s a good chance the data can be recovered, but it’s not unheard of for the drive to be damaged too badly to recover anything…or the data could be corrupted.

I’ve had this happen to more friends than I can remember. It’s not as “rare” as you might think. The truth is that your hard drive IS going to fail…one day. Are you running your entire studio off of one hard drive? If so, you need to stop what you’re doing right now, find a separate drive, and back everything up. Seriously.

Nothing demoralizes you more than losing something you’ve worked so hard on. The chances of you being willing to start over from scratch are slim.

Always, always, ALWAYS back up your projects. Some folks would say back them up to two different places. At least back it up once.

I’ll be honest, I go through spells where I’m lazy and don’t feel like backing up. But I remember how horrible it would feel to have to do that work all over again, and I start backing up.

There are lots of solutions for backup — automatic backup (Time Machine) and automatic online backup (services like Carbonite). I usually just drag and drop the files to a separate hard drive. Whatever you do, have a system in place and BACK YOUR STUFF UP.

Losing Your Gear

If your interface dies, your studio is dead in the water. Same with your computer. Are you doing everything you can to protect these important parts of your studio?

Taking care of your gear could be as simple as not letting it sit in the back seat of your car on a hot summer day, and making sure you put your condenser microphones back in the case when you’re done with them.

However, there are a couple extra things you can (and probably should) do.

Power Conditioner

If you don’t have a power conditioner in your studio, you should start budgeting for one. You can get a decent one for under $200. I’ve told you before why you need a power conditioner. Power surges are a fact of life. Electronic equipment doesn’t respond well to these, and that little $3 plastic power strip you just found in the closet won’t do much to protect your gear.

You need something that will withstand a powerful surge. I think of it as life insurance for my equipment. And it’s completely worth the investment. There are other benefits to power conditioners too, which you can read about here.

AppleCare and Warranties

If you’re a Mac user like me, then seriously consider buying AppleCare with your next purchase. It extends the warranty coverage out to 3 years, which is a really long time in the life of a computer. I don’t like warranties, and I don’t buy them…except for AppleCare. It could save you thousands if your computer decides to die on you 18 months after you bought it.

Also consider buying more gear from Sweetwater. They’re awesome (and here are a bunch of reasons why I think so), but they also have a free 2-Year Warranty of virtually everything they sell. That’s a big deal. All you have to do is buy your gear there, and it’s included. Very cool.

Losing Your Time

And finally, if losing your work and your gear isn’t a nightmare enough, it can be just as painful to lose your time. What do I mean?

I’m talking about those projects that you are so excited about at first, but then they take you months and months to every complete…or perhaps you never complete them. There are two reasons why this happens:

Poor Planning

If you don’t finish a project, it’s probably because you didn’t plan it well. Perhaps you got so excited about having that first recording session that you decided not to actually listen to the song and do some pre-production on it beforehand. This is by far one of the biggest time-wasters in the studio. If you spend 10 weeks on a song, only to realize that you wish you had rewritten some of the chords, added a bridge, and recorded it 5 bpm slower, you’re stuck. It’s nearly impossible to go in and make those changes after you’ve recorded a bunch of parts.

Take the time to plan out the song. It doesn’t have to be a big, complicated process. Just take a half hour to make sure YOU know how you want it to sound in the end. That way you can work towards that goal.

Poor Goal-Setting

Speaking of goals, you need them in your studio. Another word for goal? A deadline.

Deadlines force you to finish projects. Without them, you’ll just click around the screen, night after night, until the next thing you know it’s 5 months later and you haven’t finished a dang thing.

Set a deadline and go for it!

Pumpkins, Funnel Cakes and Elvis

For the first time in 10 years, since we've become residents of Williamson County, I was able to stroll unhurried Saturday afternoon with Brenda, my daughter Betsy and her husband Adam at the downtown Franklin, TN, PumpkinFest.

It reminded me of the days, 30 years ago, when I was on the road. We played many outdoor state fairs and festivals where the sweet smell of fried funnel cakes and smokey barbeque floated on the crisp autumn breeze. Many children and pets alike were in full Halloween regalia last weekend--even some crazy, gutsy adults.

At the music stage, right in front of the newly-restored Franklin Theater, we stopped for a moment to watch a group of dancers, dressed as zombies, interpret Michael Jackson's famous moves from the Thriller video. Also taking the stage was an Elvis impersonator, decked out in an iconic high-collar, one-piece suit emblazoned with a "Waste Management" logo, singing to the tune of C.C. Rider: "Oh, re----re-cycle. Re-cycle...when you are done!" It seemed to fit the laid-back family atmosphere, even in it's over-the-top corniness.

Betsy and Dad at the Franklin PumpkinFest, 2011

The time I spend with my family is truly precious. I'm thankful that our schedule this summer and fall has been fairly open; we haven't had this opportunity in many years. I know this relaxing time may change at any moment. But while I can stop and smell the barbeque, eat a fried turnover, and peruse local arts and crafts displays along Main Street on a lazy Saturday afternoon, I'm gonna do it-- because fall is my favorite time of year. Happy Halloween, everyone!

Shaw Retro-Mod 15 Combo

I love the speaker porthole!

Kevin Shaw, the maker of this new amp, is gonna be mad that I'm showing it here. He prefers to create amplifier heads with separate cabs, and doesn't want anyone to get the idea that he's getting into the combo business. I have three other Shaw amps, including a Shaw Retro-Mod 15 in the piggy-back configuration, but I really wanted a grab-and-go amp that works well with pedals, for when I get out and play live. When I asked him to consider making me a combo version, he grit his teeth, shook his head and said, "Just this once!"

The economy has messed with everyone's finances, so getting a new amp without trading or selling other gear was impossible. I had to let go of some of my much-loved stuff, but this black beauty seriously eclipsed the gear I sold to obtain it.

L to R: power, light, standby, tone, volume, boost, input

I appreciate the simplicity: volume, tone and a boost switch. Of course my favorite speaker, the WGS Reaper 30, is part of the tone I love in most all of my amps--and here, it's no exception. The beautifully clean chassis contains new parts along with rescued pieces from a "mojo-soaked" Hammond organ (thus, Retro-Mod!). I love that Kevin has taken the low-end flub away from the typical 5E3 circuit, Tweed-type tone, so the dual 6V6 Fender-esque vibe shines through in all of it's glory. Again, the front-end takes pedals extraordinarily well. But get that volume cranked-up to eight and nine, with just a guitar plugged in, and the amp gets crunchy, creamy--and loud! The guitar volume can be adjusted to create the various tones needed for an entire gig!

WGS Reaper speaker! Notice the two mid-60s RCA 6V6 power tubes.

So many manufacturers add extra buttons, knobs and dials, but the tone has a tendency to suffer as it gets pushed through all of those sonic trails. This simple yet elegant combo makes the great tone I get in my studio, with the head and cab version, possible. This way, I can carry that killer tone wherever I go.

Sorry, Kevin. I spilled the beans!

Paper or Plastic?

It used to be a standard question at the grocery store: "Will that be paper or plastic?" I always liked paper bags because they smelled so good and you could cover your school books with them in the fall. Plastic is handy, but it just isn't the same. In it's "shininess" it can also be cold. I will attempt to compare paper and plastic to some worship experiences I've had.

Paper is organic. Sometimes we witness a worship experience that is so down-to-earth and simple--just like a paper bag. Many times the musicians and singers don't perform up to professional standards but, for some reason, it generally works. There's much room for improvement, but the overall feel of sweetness and connectivity is present. Many churches fall into this category; they can use a lot of work in the presentation, but they get an A+ in authenticity.

On the other hand, there are churches who have rushed into the "plastic" mode where the presentation is slick but the "heart" is missing. I am a big proponent of excellence (notice my many "Great Moments In Worship" blog post series). I prefer preparation to just "winging it". I like to think through the stage moves, conduct a thorough rehearsal, and coordinate with other aspects of the service and the hospitality teams. But at a certain point, we must learn to relax and connect with God and the congregation. I think it's more helpful for a worship team to be at rest, instead of a team who are trying to put-on a show.

Preparation and planning are the roads to the ultimate destination: a one-on-one, personal connection with God. No one wants to come to church and experience a bunch of puppets-on-strings lead us in worship. If I had my way, I'd choose the down-home method, including mistakes, intonation problems and a set that doesn't quite flow, over fake or forced (it pains me to type that!). I believe that in our race to create great worship presentations, we can make the mistake of rushing right past simplicity. I always try to shoot for a balance.

So what will it be this week, paper or plastic?

Unclaimed Baggage

My brother Jon and I took the long way to my dad's place in North Carolina over the weekend. We zoomed right past signs to the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, where lost luggage and other unspoken-for items from the airlines are sold. I've never been, but my son, Josh, tells me it's full of cool stuff to be had at a fraction of the retail price. Too bad it was closed when we flew by Friday night, but the phrase "unclaimed baggage" really got me to thinking...

Isn't it true that if everyone owned up to their part in family problems, we could actually make things easier for future generations? I remember quizzing my grandmother years ago about a touchy subject relating to persons in our family tree. She shut me down so fast, I was sent away with nothing more than, "We don't talk about that!" I remember being furious but respectful at the same time because grandma was, well--grandma. To this day, the questions go unanswered and are buried along with my  deceased relatives.

I think Brenda and I have been pretty forthright with our kids. In fact, it's no secret to them the many mistakes we've made as parents and, generally, as ignorant folks. We certainly have made some clumsy choices along life's way. I think it's good to own-up to our failures and ask for forgiveness sooner than...never.

I wouldn't want to perpetuate any secrets, but would rather expose poor human behavior to my children, even if it involves highly respected family members. I still feel the rejection and remember being angry when grandma turned me away all those years ago.

As long as the baggage stored in dark corners of our personal and family's lives go unclaimed, we will continue the streak of failure, loss, disappointment, shame and fear, until we deal with it once and for all before God. Lord, help us.

Coffee Strategery

I know I am a complex person; it's evidenced in my coffee snobbery. When I go on trips, like the one I'm taking this weekend, regular McDonald's coffee won't do it for me. (a Starbucks drive-thru is hard to find in rural North Carolina!). I know I've written about this before, but as I prepare for the trek to North Carolina this evening with my brother, I have to think about coffee as seriously as my other travel items. Underwear: check. Socks: check. Medicine: check. Shaving kit: check. Cuban coffee, sweetener, creamer, Melitta cone filter coffeemaker: check!

This summer, as I traveled back and forth to help my dad with his surgeries, I took my Keurig "rig" with me in a cooler that was the perfect caddy to pack all of my coffee supplies. It was a breeze to roll everything from the car to the hotel room. None of that stale hotel room coffee for me, no sir! I didn't miss a great coffee opportunity if I could help it.

On this weekend's trip, it's no exception. Instead of carrying my cafe on wheels, though, I've decided to pare down a bit and simply bring an old-school drip coffee maker. No, not the Mr. Coffee variety, but a drip-system that goes back to the middle ages: hot, boiling water poured over fresh, dark-roasted coffee into a simple, 10-cup glass carafe.

Melitta drip coffee: boil water, pour over fresh coffee, enjoy!

My friend Debra Sadler showed me this process, and when we make coffee for more than one person, especially in the morning, and to save $$$ on K cups, this method of brewing creates the best coffee I've ever had outside of Europe and, closer to home, New Orleans.

Don't ask me why I complicate my life so much. I can only shrug my shoulders and roll my eyes--mostly because I don't want to explain myself. And, as a warning, please wait until I've had my coffee before spewing forth your criticism. You'!l regret it!

The Great Exchange

This week an Israeli prisoner of war was released in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Outside of the way-too-early presidential campaigning, and continuing reports of the dismal economy, the news of the exchange almost eclipsed the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, but not quite. Shouldn't this news rule the airwaves?

I am so utterly floored by the fact that a country would deem a person so valuable, they would send over 1,000 enemy combatants back to their homeland in trade for the life of this one man. As an American, I have to ask: "Am I that valuable to my country?" I don't think so. All I know is that, to God, I am that valuable.

The Bible says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (NIV). God gave his only Son (one solitary person) to free us (the whole of humanity) from death, to spend eternal life in His presence. God exchanged his Son so that I would go back to the place I came from, not to re-arm and become a soldier fighting against His kingdom, but rather to tell others about His love and this wonderful gift of freedom.

I know its obvious but, in today's news cycle, the comparison probably won't be made. I'm thankful that today I can benefit, too, in a greater exchange. Our value, according to God, was well worth the trade for His Son's life. I am blown away by that generosity!

Real Friends

I saw this photo last night and immediately posted it on my Facebook wall. According to the "likes" and the comments, it was a big hit. As I looked at it again this morning, it reminded me of the value of a good friend.

You know when you do something unaware, like leave the house without zipping up your pants, or you still have evidence of breakfast on your face when you get to work?  Hours later you realize you've been the office idiot. Well, its so true: humor is usually found in someone else's misfortune...until we're the brunt of the joke.

A good friend will always rush to our rescue, albeit after a few chuckles. Brenda is my best friend and has saved me from countless embarrassing moments, most recently, by telling me I shouldn't write a certain something in my blog. My daughter is my friend, too, because she is quick to say, "Daddy, are you really gonna wear that?"

Sometimes I am quick to  point out what I think is wrong, when its not the best time or thing to do. Thank God for my wife, she will jump in front of a bullet for me like a Secret Service agent shielding the President of the United States. Again, she has saved me numerous times.

Back to the photo...Poor Ray Charles was stuck out there in an embarrassing situation for who knows how long. Probably, the photo was altered. But in any event, everyone needs a friend to get us out of awkward situations. I'm sure Mr. Charles had stagehands to make the fix in a nano-second!

My goal this week is to be a true friend and run to the rescue when a pal needs me the most. It could be mustard on the chin, toilet paper hanging out the back of their pants, or any number of humiliating situations. I can't guarantee my friend's loyalty, but I can certainly be there to help steer them out of social danger during a clueless moment. As the Sicilian proverb says: "Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty."

Magazines

Magazines have been an important part of my my life ever since I was small. My dad always had a shelf filled with National Geographic magazines that came in handy for school projects. I don't know if he ever found out that we would cut and paste the pictures into school reports. Highlights and Boy's Life magazines filled my life as a child. I remember collecting Reader's Digest magazines one Christmas because my scout troop were folding them into little Christmas trees and giving the painted and glittered beauties away as gifts. (I still get Reader's Digest, albeit the Kindle version).

The thing about magazines for me is that they smell so good when you open them. My magazines of choice today are usually music oriented. So when I crack one open, the ink whiff starts it all, and then the thought of very cool music gear inside, waiting to be perused, is exciting (I know, I need to get out more)! Mix Magazine, Vintage Guitar, and Premier Guitar are the magazines I will stand at the curb and wait for. I instinctively know when one of those choice mags are coming my way: something in the wind tells me and, lo and behold, a few days later, one of them will appear!

I have a secret magazine subscription. No, it's not the illicit types you're thinking of. I love Reminiscence Magazine. It contains writings from regular people who share their memories of the good ol' days. It is an old people's magazine, supposedly, but I have seen articles by folks around my age in there. So, technically, I am of the appropriate age to read it. My dad had some of his writings published in Reminiscence, so he usually had stacks waiting for me to devour when we'd visit him in North Carolina before he moved in with us. Now his subscription comes to my door and I love it!

People magazine is another fave. Everyone in my family devours it, except for Brenda. She has her own set of magazines that she reads, mostly of the knitting, spinning and book review variety. Needless to say, we are sufficiently magazine-d at the Harvill house. I bet if you come over, and when you feel at home, before you excuse yourself to use the restroom, you'll look around the room and ask with a hushed voice, "Where's the new issue of People?"

Songwriter Wisdom, Part 1

I have been blessed for the past 20 years to make a living as a songwriter. I always felt I should be paying to write songs because its such a blast. Don't get me wrong, its hard work; its a skill. I've always said, and I'll say it again: "A great song isn't written, its re-written." Great songs with killer lyrics are not spit out in 15 minutes. Yes, the first draft may have taken a few minutes. But by the time you have shaped and re-shaped it, its kinda like making pasta the old fashioned way: you roll it out, fold it, run it through a "truth press", fold it again, run it through a "cut-the-fat press", fold it again, run it through a "just an acoustic guitar press", then cut it into the sumptuous strips that are the beginnings of a tasty Italian dish! Great songwriters don't settle!

I have been asked by many a first-time writer for some guidance in what to do if their song is chosen for a recording. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Jump for joy! You are about a fraction of a percentage of the population of the world who will ever have that opportunity. Treat the "first time" wisely and you will have a better chance at making songwriting your career. That leads me to...

2) There is no such thing as a "standard" publishing deal. The deal will be as good as you are valuable to the artist, producer, record company, etc. The "standard" spiel is given so you'll give up valuable income to others in the food chain. My feeling is that the writer should own as much of the publishing as possible and, of course, the full percentage of the writer's share, according to the number of writers on the song. There are times, however, when sharing is wise...

3) Sometimes giving up a percentage of publishing is wise when: a) its your fist cut and your willingness to share gives your song a fighting chance to stay on the song list; b) you are a new writer and have been invited by a producer or artist to write songs for a specific project; c) you're new and have a better chance of your song making more income with a major label and great distribution. (my first cut and my subsequent 8-years as a staff writer with Integrity Music meant I gave-up 100% of my publishing, but they sold a bunch of records...I still make a great living on those songs I signed 20 years ago. Since 2000, I've been independent and rarely split publishing).

4) Not all cuts are the same. In other words, just because your song gets on a record doesn't mean you'll make any money. In Christian music, from which I hail, a single CD may have the shelf-life of a year, maybe two. If a record doesn't fly, you may only get a few bucks out of it, if you are fortunate. Seasonal projects, like Christmas records, are only alive for a few months at a time. Choral music, or what the industry calls "print", doesn't always bring a windfall. If your song was previously recorded for another project and you get a "print" cut, then that's better. You have to be smart and know where the original song placement will be because, after you sign the publishing away, its next to impossible to adjust it, outside of a skilled lawyer and a bunch of legal fees So, decide the fate of your song and its future by the quality of the cut.

Everyone in the music business knows that everything rises and falls with the song. The song is what's valuable, not necessarily the artist or band. Remember, a song can be recorded an infinite amount of times, and the subsequent income streams can feed you and your loved-ones for years. This is all part of the wisdom a songwriter must apply in order to succeed.

Next time, I will discuss income streams and the many ways a song can potentially generate revenue. Remember: Not everybody can write songs--its a God-given skill; songs aren't written, they're re-written and you gotta know the business to make a living in it. Be wise, always be a learner, and stay humble!