CD Release Party Wrap Up
So, the CD Release Party is history. I can’t believe it’s already over, but it was such a fun night. It was such a treat to play with such talented musicians. And the audience was very attentive and very fun. I loved hearing you clap and cheer after the songs, I loved hearing you laugh (particularly during “Big Man On Campus”), and I LOVED watching you dance during “Sweat.” I have to give special props to Candace, who came up to the front to dance! Loved it! So thank you for being such a great audience and cheering me on the whole way…even though I forgot part of the words to “Stupid Stuff Like That.” I HATE forgetting words to songs, particularly songs that I wrote (!), but that’s all part of being human, right?
There were a few people I forgot to thank from the stage and I want to make sure to recognize them now.
First, the photographer who took the amazing images used in the SWEAT artwork, Jay Rickard, came down from Indianapolis for the show. As background, I found Jay online a few years ago. He’s from the general area where all my dad’s family is from – plus he looks a LOT like my grandfather, so I wrote him a few years ago to ask him if we were related. We haven’t done the family search yet, but we are certain we’re distant cousins. We’ve become friends over the years and he told me he wanted to do the photoshoot for the new CD. Anyway, Jay stayed with us during the weekend and it was great catching up with him. Words can not express how grateful I am to him for his love and support, and it was a horrible oversight not to publicly recognize him from the stage. When I saw him at home after the show, my jaw dropped when I realized my mistake and I immedialely apologized. So Jay, I am deeply sorry. I’ll share more about Jay, as well as outtakes from the Sweat photoshoot, very soon.
I also had several other folks from out of town – my cousin Karen came from Augusta, Dave came up from Ft. Lauderdale, and Ricky came all the way from Minnesota. Thank you for making the trip, for spending time with us at the house, and for making my CD Release extra special.
Danita’s mom also made the SWEAT pins that we gave away that night. That was an unexpected surprise, so I just want to send out a big shout out to them.
Finally, I have two friends who I shared my lyrics with during the writing phase and offered a lot of encouragement - and both of them were there that night. Janice and I have been friends for 13 years and she has been a constant supporter and encourager. Cathy, used to work in the office next to me before she became a mommy. I miss seeing her every day a lot, but am so happy for her. They were both sounding boards as I was in the writing process.
To wrap up this post, I thought I’d recap the setlist and list the amazing musicians who supported me that night. Oh, and be sure to check out the Pics page. There are a LOT of pictures from the CD Release party, with more on the way.
Set List
Wild Blue Beautiful
Anything Of Nothing
Just Like New
When The Hot Cools Down
Only Love
Stupid Stuff Like That
Crawling
This Time Last Year
Forgot To Forget
Big Man On Campus
As If To Say
Natural
Who I Am
Lucky
Goodnight
Sweat (Encore)
Finally, here are the talented musicans I shared the stage with:
Dean Quinter – Drums
Michael Steele – Bass Guitar
Lee Davis – Keyboards
Peter Vogl – Electric Guitar
Dionne Osborne – Vocals
Carmen Ford – Vocals (It was Carmen’s first time EVER singing backup and she did a great job. Happy belated, Carmen!)
