Absolutely FANTASTIC day today! I've been having a lot of pain again in my tailbone 'cause of the funky spinal cord thang I got going on. This morning I went to see my dear friend, Dr. Leslie Gurr, who's not only a surgeon, but a master level acupuncturist. She's been treating me free of charge for months now. Amazing, eh? I mean, who does that? And I've only known her a short time. She stuck me with the needles and as always, magically took away all the pain. It's incredible how powerful those needles can be when wielded by the right person. She's also a two time Olympian in swimming. I only hang with superheros, haha!! Then I went to Linda Taylor's and we worked on the chants all day. Tonight our chanters came for the last rehearsal before we start tracking this weekend. They totally ROCKED, best we've sounded!! I'm so proud of them for how far we've come and for their dedication to our project. All of this and I only slept 2 hrs. last night, but I'm still wired up!! I'm one blessed dude!!
I've resisted being in Calgary since I came back here in December 2009. I've always felt most at home in Los Angeles. I'm not sure what happened, but since I did Landmark in November so many amazing things are happening to me. Nikki Barran and I are producing our new album, "Prince and the Gypsy", with Dave Percy who is a brilliant producer/engineer, I'm building several websites for clients, photographing their products and producing Linda Taylor's "Chants for Everybody" CD. And all this is happening right here in Calgary. Who'd have though that I've been right here, where I'm meant to be, with the right people in my life?
Man I'm bummed. On Wednesday night I was supposed to join my friend Maryanne and some other musicians to perform for her dear friend Darrell who was in hospice. Just found out that he made his transition peacefully during the night. We were all really looking forward to sharing some music with Darrell during his final hours here. Reminds me to never wait to share your gifts/love with someone as you never know how much time you/they have. Sending lots of love to Darrell as he makes his transition and lots of love to Maryanne as she goes through the loss of a dear friend. ♥
I am feeling so at peace right now. Since that gig last night I feel so validated that I've done the right thing staying on this sometimes incredibly challenging journey as an artist for the last 23 years. I know it's all been worth it when I see how my my music effects people. Thank you for allowing me, supporting me in fulfilling my life purpose: "Inspiration, transformation and joy through music ... the universal language of love."
Man, the home concert last night at Michael's was awesome! We had a super turnout, full house. I was so relaxed, sang with total looseness, no concern for how I was or was not performing. Just in the groove, having fun, letting it flow, letting it go. That's how to do your art, with reckless abandon, straight from the heart.
Off now, trudging through the falling Canadian snow, to sing with my sis at Joy of Life Centre, then this afternoon we'll be tracking some voice overs at FreakQuency Studios with producer/engineer extraordinaire Dave Percy, and then I sing solo at Centre for Spiritual Living Discovery Ridge in the evening. The only thing better than doing three gigs in one day would be...well, four gigs in one day! ; )
Recoding all day with Super Dave, engineer/producer extraordinaire!
Natasha and I will be playing with Hard Drive at Studio 82 here in Calgary April. 3rd. The concert shall be entitled, A Night of Magic. You gotta come check out John Johnson, this amazing harmonica player coming all the way from San Diego to perform with us! Rodney Derksen is the brains and passion hooking up this awesome gig!!
I'm watching Whitney Houston's funeral live from Newark, New Jersey. So sad. Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys gave an amazing musical tribute. Many friends and family thus far have spoke so reverently of her. Clive Davis gave such a moving tribute to his wonderful protégé. She was such a dearly loved woman. The common thread in everyone's deeply heartfelt words was how much love she always gave to everyone she came in contact with. She truly loved. And I guess that's the whole point.
I'm on such a sweet trip as of late. I don't have a girlfriend/significant other right now, been single for well over two years. But yet I have so much love inside of me it feels like it's bursting out. I'm in love with so many dear friends and family all over the world. I'm even in love with my hoodlum of a cat Gypsy, haha!! And the awesome blessings inundating every area of my life...raining down on me, pouring down on me...I can't even begin to fathom. This is the best Valentine's Day I've ever had, the happiest I've ever felt on this day. I'm truly in love...
Spent 12 hrs. in the recording studio with my new superstar engineer yesterday putting "If You Loved Me Enough" together, as it was in serious pieces. It's sounding awesome, and the really cool thing is that he's teaching me to engineer as we go. So many cool new things I'm learning to do. Our new CD is on the way! Now I'm driving my father 2 1/2 hrs. to Stettler, AB for a biz appointment. Gorgeous day out there, ROCK ON ya all!! ; ) Oh ya, shoot Nikki some love as she's got a sweet Murder Mystery gig this week out of town that she's lovin' and kickin' ass at!
Was going through my lines today for my character "Merab" in the Elton John/Tim Rice musical AIDA. I am totally gonna do this, I can do this! I was so bummed for a time coming back to Calgary after the extension on our Artist Visas for the U.S. were denied. But now it's so clear to me why I am meant to be here, for so many reasons. I'm open to whatever the next adventures are! Bring it on life! ; )
You know, it's so cool to see them do this song (Stand By Me) as I have also covered it for a long time. Jon Bon Jovi was one of the major inspirations which got me into music when I was almost 17. Ironically I was recovering from a another very serious accident on snow, that time skiing. A friend of mine tricked me into singing.
I had no musical background, grew up in a totally unmusically family, and had no aspirations whatsoever to do anything artistic. After my accident I could no longer ski race and win a gold in the Olympics, which was my dream since I was 6yrs. old. So my friend Jason asked me to come see their music rehearsal with their band. I get there and they handed me a mic and pleaded with me to sing as they had no singer. They totally punked me, ha ha! So after an hour of them harassing me I caved and sang.....or tried to sing anyway. And it was a Bon Jovi song I sang, which was the 1st of many, many more songs of theirs that I covered. The rest is history so to speak. Thank you Jason, Jon and the Bon Jovi boys.
Had a fantastic gig with the seniors at the Renfrew 50s Plus Club! It's so cool to be able to share my music with people of all ages, kids all the way up to seniors. I find that if an artist comes from a truly authentic, passionate place, their art goes over with people of all ages. People can feel it, regardless of the genre.
Singing tomorrow at the Renfrew 50 Plus Club for seniors. Will be cool to get back to doing gigs like I did when I was a leader of the Agape Road Show in Los Angeles. Will be lining up the Calgary Children's Hospital soon as well to share some music love.
This is the part I am playing in the musical in Oct. And the trippy thing is that I met Damian at a party in Santa Cruz last year where we both sang. We actually jammed together on "Stand By Me", ha ha! Who'd have ever thought that I'd end up playing the role that he defined in the Broadway Musical?!
Got our scripts and contracts for Lord Elton John's musical "AIDA" that Natasha and I have been hired to perform in. Dam, guess this is real now eh? Gotta get my body totally healed now so I can sing, act and dance full on. Did anyone tell the director/producer that I have never danced before my accident, let alone now, that I still can't even walk unassisted? Oh ya, have never acted before either, he he. BRING IT!!
Tonight my very 1st band from when I was 16, WILDFYRE, had a reunion hang. It was so great seeing Jason-keys, in from Vancouver, Ryan-guitar, Jeremy-drums and their super cool families. Dan, our former bassist, was sick and couldn't make it. Was a blast reminiscing about our rad concerts back at a time when all we care...d about in the world was our music and "making it". I guess I never left that place.
Had a super kick ass time at Jon Lord for Mayor's Stampede Party! Natasha and I donated a house party performance which was auctioned off to support PAL, Performing Arts Lodge, which provides affordable housing for people in the arts industries. Van and TO have one so we need to get a lodge in Calgary as well. Our donation brought in the 2nd highest bid. Cool!
Absolutely stellar gig at Joy of Life Centre on Sunday! We totally rocked it with "Angel's Voice" and then "Love Surrounds Me". So much fun! Music is so the reason that I am alive! Now gotta rehearse for the musical, "AIDA", that I'm dancing, acting and singing in in Oct. God has such a funny sense of humour sometimes!
So funny, I got this really well paying gig doing this musical in Oct. where I have to not only sing, but I have to act and dance, both of which I have never done before. Nothing like pushing you way past your comfort zone. I can't even walk unassisted yet and here I get a gig where I have to dance? God sure has a funny sense of humour sometimes eh? Guess my healing deadline is mid Sept. then. Can I get an AMEN?!!
*5PM PST TODAY, SUNDAY, SANDRA BOSSIER WILL BE PLAYING MY SONG, "SONG OF THE ANGELS", ON HER "ANGEL ENERGY" RADIO SHOW ON KCSB-FM 91.9 in Santa Barbara. YOU CAN ALSO CATCH IT ONLINE AT: kcsb.org
I am most definitely writing again full on every day now. This accident has been a blessing as it's reminded me why I am here. I had become so discouraged about my music career as a result of many so called "deals" falling through and broken promises that I had lost my motivation to write. Now all that I can do is write as I recover, it's healing me. I am doing it again because I love it, not for any notion of business success or to "make it", but because I must to satisfy my soul. And then I must share it. So here it is again, here I am again, just because. Writing and performing my music is the reason I am here.
"Inspiration, transformation and joy through music, the universal language of love."
Had a super gig singin' at Unity Church of Calgary Sunday for their Mother's Day service. We debuted two brand new songs, "Angel's Voice" and "Love Surrounds Me", which were received stellarlly. I am nearly done "Busy With My Misery", "War" and working on "Te Amo Peru" and "I'll Be Your Faith". Gonna have tons 'o new songs for our June 19th concert! It's a blessing to have this recovery time to write, write, write.
Singin' tomorrow morn. at Unity Church of Calgary during their Sunday service. Hmm...how am I going to get up the stairs to the stage? Guess I gotta work on my levitation chops so I can float up, ha ha! Come join us if you're kickin' around tomorrow morn. 2035 26A St. S.W. Calgary AB T3E 2B9
Was sweet being back in the studio recording! There was this part going into a key change that needed some transition power. I found this really high note and after holding it for good while I felt my voice go even higher before coming down and ending with a cool lick. Love it when my voice just does bitchin' stuff first and asks questions later, ha ha!
What?! You want me to do what?! Where?! With whom?! Umm....hello, I don't even know how to do that! Totally out of my comfort zone. And don't even start with that you only grow when you're outside your comfort zone stuff. Blah blah blah.... Ya, I agreed to let you lead but you didn't tell me anything about this. Alright, alright if you think I can I am down, but you best be helpin'...
Watching the Junos tonight, the Canadian music awards. There is so much amazing talent here in Canada. I am very much looking forward to this new phase of my music career back here in my native land. My dreams of taking my music to a greater world audience are once again ignited up. "I've been down this road before, here I go once more." - C
Funky how life is, I will be auditioning for a musical that my sister is starring in, ha ha! The only role I know I have down for sure is playin' the fool! Singing, all good...acting? Nikki is gonna have her work cut out for her whipping me into shape! I best get my ass recovered quickly as life is grabbing me by the scruff of the neck once again and throwing me in head 1st! Did I mention the soundtrack we're writing as well? Next update. ; )
Hmm.....been reading some articles on "crowd funding", pre-selling your CD before it's completion in order to fund the creation of a new album. Natasha and I have all the songs for our forthcoming album, "Prince and the Gypsy", written and ready to recordand we've test marketed them at countless concerts. What do you think, would you be willing to pre-buy our CD before it's official release x-mas season this year? Just a thought. ; )
