Greetings & Music News
Hello friends!
January started with a big sound for us at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville, FL for the art walk. We were joined by some incredibly talented friends, Philip Pan on violin, Darren Ronan on bass and Charlotte Mabrey on percussion. The place was packed, the space was really inspiring and we just had a great time! Can't wait to do it again!
We spent all day with band students at Suwannee Middle School as part of our residency through the State Tour Program and the Live Oak Music and Art Foundation. The goal was to get the students to expand on their idea of what music is and how it gets made. We did some demonstrations, and then turned them loose to explore and create! It's always a joy to see kids find something in themselves they didn't know was there.
Our final show for the month was in Sugarloaf Key, not far from Key West. We played for a great group of people, the kayakers with the Paddle Florida kayak group www.paddleflorida.org. Poor us.....had to go to Key West for a concert. We can hear everyone's collective murmurings of sympathy! The weather couldn't have been more perfect! We enjoyed the audience the night of our show, then spent the next day in Key West, saw a spectacular sunset and re-joined the Paddle Florida folks for the inspiring songwriter, Rod MacDonald's concert the next night. Can't wait to do all of that again, too!
Please join us as a fan on our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Tammerlin/ We'd love to hear from you, your thoughts, your photos…
We appreciate your comments. If you haven’t taken a look at the website, check it out! You can download a couple of songs, learn more about our music and our travels, and see lots of photographs. If you have questions about anything, please e-mail us at tammerlin@bellsouth.net. Thank you for your friendship and your continued support of our music. Lee & Arvid
Upcoming Shows
Remember, all dates are subject to change, so you should contact the venue to confirm.
FEB 3 - School residency, Columbia County, FL sponsored by the Florida State Touring Program and the Live Oak Music and Art Foundation - Link to our page @ Florida State Tour
MARCH 22-25 Suwannee Springfest, Live Oak, FL - www.suwanneespringfest.com
MAR 30 - School residency, Putnam County, FL sponsored by the Florida State Touring Program, the Putnam County School Board and the Arts Council of Greater Palatka - Link to our page @ Florida State Tour
Arvid's corner
Far from being the hip wiggling troublemakers portrayed in 50’s teen movies, the stars of Rock’a’Billy were genuine innovators that typified the American experience. One seems too far removed in today’s world from the time when the hybrid of black R & B and white hillbilly produced the sound that changed the world. It also re-introduced the word “well” to the lexicon of rock’n’roll. “Well” is defined as :
1) a hole sunk into the Earth to obtain a deposit such as water, oil, gas etc. A source of supply.
and:
2) Better, in a good manner, excellent, in good proper manner, desirable, fortunately, completely, fully, exactly, abundantly, intimately, without trouble, pleasing, in satisfactory condition, worth the price, recovered from infirmity ----
These aside whither the term’s near constant use as an introductory blast off to the greaser’s verse form?
“Well…they took some honey from the bee, wrapped it up and they called it me” from ‘Everybody’s Trying to be My Baby’ byCarl Perkins
“ Well it’s one for the money , two for the show” from ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ also by Carl Perkins
“Well, I got a gal as mean as she can be” from ‘Mean Woman Blues’ by Elvis
“Well, my gal is red hot” from ‘My Gal is Red Hot’ by Junior Parker
“ Well , I got a gal who’s a rhythm machine, when it comes to rockin’ she’s the queen” from '20 Flight Rock' by Eddie Cochran
“Well , I heard the Flyin’ Saucer men are all around” from ‘Flyin’ Saucers Rock and Roll’ by Warren Smith and His Little Green Men
“Well I dreamed I saw the knights in armor come and sayin somethin’ about a dream”..from 'After The Gold Rush' by Neil Young
WAIT! THAT AIN’T ROCKIN’
Peace and be well
Lee's Corner
What a satisfying month of making music! From playing with Darren, Philip and Charlotte at MOCA, to working with the students at Suwannee Middle School, to performing for a wonderful audience in the the Keys, it just makes me glad to have my job!
Michael and I took advantage of the Paddle Florida Keys gig to enjoy one of our favorite places. On the way to Key West, we stopped for a meal at our traditional spot in Key Largo (I'm not telling). Then it was on to the sights and sounds of Key West, breakfast at Pepe's, sunset at the Pier House, searching for roosters, eating oysters, picking up some coffee beans at Baby's Coffee and all! Loved every minute of it!
I'm looking forward to some quiet, outdoors time this month. There's a camping/canoe trip planned with some dear friends, and the boat engine is just about good as new, so hopefully, we'll get in some sailing time! I'm ready!
I heard this poem the other day. It was a long ago recorded radio interview with the author, poet John O'Donohue, who is now, sadly, no longer alive. He read the poem himself. It's called "Beannacht", Gaelic for "Blessing". It was so beautiful, I scribbled down the information and managed to find a copy of it. Here it is:
"On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble, may the clay dance to balance you. And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window and the ghost of loss gets in to you, may a flock of colours, indigo, red, green, and azure blue come to awaken in you a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays in the currach of thought and a stain of ocean blackens beneath you, may there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours. And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life."
Blessings to all!
Tammerlin Recordings
Roll Down Thy Window (1995) Binky Records (recorded as Tory Voodoo)
Third Weeks A’Lightnin’(1996) Binky Records
Wind Horses(2002) Binky Records
One Kind Favor(2005) BirdsTale Records
No Small Thing(2008)BirdsTale Records
WinterSong(2011)BirdsTale Records
There are a number of ways that you can purchase Tammerlin’s music. All of the information is on the “discography” page on our website.
www.tammerlin.com/buymusic/buyMusic
Let Us hear from you
You can reach us through our web site at www.tammerlin.com or by mail at PO Box 37574, Jacksonville, FL 32236. You can e-mail your comments to tammerlin@bellsouth.net We would love to hear from you.
Rolling over any of the photos to reveal the complete photo
Entwined in the sculpture at MOCA
Philip Pan saws them strings!
Charlotte Mabrey sets the groove!
Darren Ronan rounds out the perfect rhythm section!
Arvid mesmerizes the band students at Suwannee Middle School
Let's make some music, some LOUD music!
Key West rooster
Key West sunset
(L-R) Bill Richards of Paddle Florida with Rod MacDonald , Lee Hunter & Arvid Smith
Arvid at the Riverside Arts Market
Where it all began, yes, that's Arvid on the left!
A cold boat day! But the teak looks great!
