navigation: page1 page2 page3 page4 page5 page6 page7

P.S.--answered mail

Rose sent me some mail today so I'll go ahead and answer it so that I can start the new year off feeling very on top of things--ha! Ellen Stafford--that was indeed me playing at the Women's Healing Conference in October of 2003--I have become increasingly involved in playing recovery events--they are gifts to my own sobriety. George Vinson--I remember the City Stages gig--we loved playing it and the great Birmingham crowd. Hope you have a great experience in Nashville--welcome to the guitar town! Rick Mills--thanks for the letter--I enjoyed our conversation and I love the John Eldridge quote--I'll use that somewhere, I'm sure. Barbee Shear--the only thing that I can tell you for certain Barbee is to run--and I mean run--to Alanon and share your story--they will have much wisdom for you. It should be listed in the phone book. I will say a prayer for you and Micah. Kim--I have found tremendous relief in Alcoholics Anonymous and, most importantly, working the 12 steps repeatedly. The steps are Godly and they are designed to clean up the past. Visit a few meetings and get a copy of the book Alcoholics Anonymous. Rev. Dan Reeves--great letter--keep rockin in Ontario! Richard Martin--glad you got the cds--hope we meet again soon. Dale Brennaman--thank you for writing to me and for supporting my music--it means a lot to me. Hopefully one day I'll play Reno--one city I've never played so I'm due. Michael Sierras--what a lovely offer--thanks so much. I typically don't use a band that I'm unfamiliar with because I fly in that morning and have little or no time to rehearse but I'll hang on to your email--you never know. Eva Mason--thanks for all you did to welcome us--I loved the evening we spent with you in Lake Havasu (did I spell that right?) and I know it was a tremendous blessing for the women--you could see it in their faces. Akirah Terry--I'll send the picture this week. I play Gibsons in concert--a Dove and a J-180. I use an old Martin to record--a 1965 D-35 that I got when I graduated from high school in (yikes!)1974. The Martin is my favorite--they absolutely don't make them like that anymore. I think my first guitar was called a Harmony. Joe--thanks for writing--I normally don't hand out cds when I'm traveling--it must have been a God thing. I'm glad you liked it. o.k.--take care. AC posted: 01.02.2006 | 07:35:38 | post number: 8

Happy New Year!!

Hi to all of you--the new year has begun and I am so utterly, hopelessly behind on the mail that I'm going to write a general response--one degree shy of a form letter with the caveat that if you wrote me with a question or request and I did not respond, please write again and I'll do my best to be a bit more timely. Generally I dislike form letters--particularly the ones I receive at Christmas containing multiple pages of glowing reviews of each family member. One year my cousin sent me one that actually told it like it was, detailing the family feuds and the struggles of the past year. That letter I loved. Anyway--sometimes these more impersonal communiques come in handy. I am grateful to all of you who take the time to write to me; Rose is so good about getting me all the mail and so many of your letters have made my day or given me a much needed laugh (or cry). I have found it easier to stay on top of responding to the guest book that Rose recently installed so if you want a reply I would encourage you to write me there. The things that I have enjoyed the most over the past year are: your enthusiasm for the American Idol "incident"---which, by the way, made me instantly relevant to my children. We loved Nadia Turner's performance of our song and wish her well in her career; your letters sharing pieces of your stories with me and how my music has fit into your lives; your encouragement to write a book--maybe I'll actually start it this year... and, most of all, your incredible efforts to come to the shows. I know many of you have driven several hours to a show and that really kind of blows my mind. Not only that but many of you show up bearing gifts! Thank you all so much. I've had several requests for guitar tabs and plan to send Rose tabs for "Don't Let Me Fall", "Land Of The Living" and "Take A Walk Through Bethlehem" to post at the site this week. I've also had numerous requests for tracks--mostly for the hymn record but also for "Power Of Love". Kenny and I've talked about getting that together and making the tracks available for purchase but our focus is on the new album at the moment. As soon as that is done I'll start to put something together. Other things people have written about are: booking dates, releasing a performance dvd, advice on singing/getting into the music business and sending me your songs/cds. If you want to book a date you can call Street Level Artist Agency (574)269-3413 and make an offer--they forward all offers to me. If you are interested in a house concert you can email me at this site. I have no plans for a performance dvd currently but that could change so I won't say never(I only use the word "never" where t-shirts are concerned but I sure have gotten a kick out of seeing some of you wear your A-list shirts to the shows!). I don't give advice on singing or getting into the music industry because 1: music is subjective and 2: the landscape of the industry has changed so dramatically since I began my career that I have no idea how I would go about it now. Actually, I suspect that I would do the same thing I did the first time--play anywhere and everywhere that I could, bluff my way into the door and refuse to give up. If you want to send me your songs or cds, feel free to send them to my p.o. box (the address is here at the site). I'll listen to anything anyone sends but I rarely respond individually. I am looking forward to the new year--to see what the Lord has in mind for me. I read an extraordinary piece on "waiting" by Henri Nouwen. He talked about how radical a stance it was to practice waiting in a culture that is all about making things happen. Then he said that the waiting isn't passive but active and present to the moment; that it wasn't about going from nothing to something but about going from something to something far greater. He said the key was to wait without specific expectations or wishes because that kind of open-ended waiting creates hope and expectancy rather than disappointment and resentment. Finally he said that waiting is best done together, offering strength, courage and comfort to one another. So I wait and I watch. May the God who alone can give true joy everlasting visit you today--and may you be waiting for Him. Happy New Year! posted: 01.01.2006 | 12:13:45 | post number: 7

more fall--sort of--in Tennessee

It is so un-fall-like here; yesterday the temp was 86--ice caps are melting as I write. We are finishing up the next record (shout out to Mike Shaw). It will be called "Before The Daylight's Shot" and it is somewhat reminiscent of Big Town. Nine of the songs are original along with two covers (Stevie Wonder and Leon Russell). I'll let you know what's happening with it as we progress. Meanwhile Kenny and I are going to start playing a few band dates in Nashville. We'll start on December 2nd at Third and Lindsley with Michael Rhodes and Chad Cromwell--that will be a fun reunion. Kenny has been doing a bunch of dates with Faith Hill --mostly television (Today Show, Oprah, Good Morning America, the ACM's, and the upcoming CMA's). I've had a good time touring with Bob and Bruce--our last weekend is coming up in a week. Thanks to all of you that have made the effort to come to the shows--great to see you all (Big Al @ Hope, Helen Lindall, Amanda and Kail). I'm so ridiculously behind on answering the mail that I think I'm up to March. Before I get to that I'll respond to some things Rose just sent me-- Wendy Nichols--Savannah has got to be one of the lovelies places in the south (anywhere for that matter) All the best to you and your husband--I hope the hymns touch his soul the way they have touched mine. D K Landers--thank you for playing my record on your show--all the best in your romance! Brett Hartman--so good to hear from you--Becca is status quo--the rest of us are doing well. I hope your return to Oregon has been a good experience for you--what a beautiful state--I was in downtown Portland last weekend wishing I had more time to spend there. I'll keep an ear out for Matisyahu and I'll pass along your greetings. Take care. Rick Mills, Michael Suth, Peter Williamson--thanks for the thoughtful notes and kind words. Akirah Terry--send me your address and I'll send you a photo--many blessings on your music--keep playing that guitar. Vince Dyer--I loved your letter; I remember meeting you at Jammin Java all those years ago--I hope you are doing well! Richard Johnson--Precious Lord and What A Friend are both in standard tuning. Precious Lord is in the key of E--although Kenny may have tuned his guitar 1/2 step down and played it in E flat. I think he's playing only 3 chords--1,4,5(E,A B7) What A Friend is in the key of A and also use just 3 chords 1,4,5 (A or A7, D or D7 and E). Hope that helps. Jamie Libotte--Lesson of Love is unlikely to be re-released but if you need a copy, write me. Avery Stafford--that's my kind of shout out. I've been rereading some of your letters about the hymns and Men And Angels Say--they are all so moving to me. Thanks to Dave Clark, Ron Barry (I loved opening for Smashmouth!), Bill Pence, Bill Wyrick, Rob Shevlot, Pat Van Nuys, Carryl Robinson, Becky Jones, Bryan Bailey, Andrew, Bryan Steelman, Kevin Russell, Fred Morgan (what a lovely review of the record Fred!), Mike Harris (great to see you in San Diego when I was there last--thanks for coming), Dale Levy, John Fralick, Ken Murrell and Ralph Niederlander for writing to me. More soon. posted: 10.21.2005 | 18:52:41 | post number: 6