In The Studio
With all of the changes in band personnel, it has been difficult to find the time to research new material and get in the studio. Our new Gospel cd, “Help Is On The Way”, has been more fun recording and given me more joy than I’ve felt in a long time. The guys were so eager to learn the songs and to sing and play what we needed! To me, this recording has a freshness and real energy about it. Each of the guys was excited about recording.
We were searching for new songs when Carl White sang “Help Is On The Way” for us. I knew this was going to be the theme for this new gospel cd. We once again recorded in Arden,NC for Horizon. I believe these songs are timely for today and the way America’s over-all faith seems to be waning. Each song has a good message. “Help Is On The Way” is available for $17. We received the CDs the last day in February. Send a check or money order or call our office.
Thanks to all the folks at Horizon for their hard work in pulling this cd together, and with the short time frame we worked within, they never said they couldn’t have a finished CD for us.
Cruise To Alaska
We mentioned in our last newsletter that we’ll be performing on a cruise to Alaska. The dates are August 10—17th and the ship sails from Seattle,WA at 4PM on the 10th and returns to Seattle at 8AM on the 17th. Cherryholmes will also be performing on the cruise with us. This is going to be like a big indoor bluegrass festival and we hope you’ll bring your instrument, if you play one, and join us. There will be concerts, workships, jamming, and sights to see that you won’t see any where else.
If you’re interested call 1-888-509-8163 and speak with Carla or Greg with Cottage Music. They are the fine folks that are putting on this great cruise. If you access the Internet, www.alaskabluegrasscruise.com
Newsletters
Please check the expiration date above your name on the address label on the front of this letter. If you want to continue receiving newsletters, please send ONLY $2 to renew for a year. Now that you can access the newsletter online, our list of recipients gets smaller and smaller (only about 125 now), and it might get to the point that we don’t want to send out newsletters any longer. (Snail Mail Only)
Band & Family News
We are trying out a new bus, or at least a new bus for us. You might see us running up the roads. She’s all red and if we should keep this bus, we’ll rename her “Sadie”. We’ve been short enough beds on Blue Train for everyone on the bus for over a year. Our drivers, Norwood and Richard have been sleeping on the couch, and they don’t get enough rest that way and have no privacy. This bus we are trying out has 10 beds so it shouldn’t be a problem for anyone to find a bed now.
If you haven’t been out to see this new edition of DL&Q, we hope you’ll make it to a concert or festival to see us soon. Darren, Alan, Carl, Joey, Josh, and I are enjoying picking and singing together. Listen to our quartets and the fullness of the music on this new CD.
Josh Swift and his childhood sweetheart, Tobi, are getting married on July 24, 2008. Josh says their honeymoon will be the cruise to Alaska and back.
Our daughter, Kristi, is back in school at King College. Her baby, Spence, is 7 ½ months old, and Suzanne and I have been keeping him during the week while Kristi is in school. Spence is crawling and pulling up on everything. He has two teeth and chews on anything he can get his hands on. He’s a blessing in our lives and we look forward to each day when he comes and each night when he goes home! It wears us out, but we wouldn’t change anything. I sometimes find Suzanne and Sister just watching Spence while he plays.
Norwood and Joy Hodges called yesterday to announce the arrival of their new grandson, Trent Hayden Berrier. Trent was born to their daughter Kristi and her husband Neal and their two girls, Emma and Mattie. Trent is a leap year baby, weighed 8lbs 9ozs and was 21 ¼ inches long.