Warms The Heart, Heals The Soul

My most recent production for Windmar Music in Vista, California is the debut album by a genuinely talented singer / songwriter who reports to work each day at the Scripps, La Jolla Intensive Care Unit, Mr. Rod Salaysay.

Rod discovered he could share his music at the bedside of his patients and offer them comfort and hope though songs he wrote about them and others he had cared for.

Peg Windrum & I had the pleasure of producing, engineering and co-writing Rod’s album. I had the honor and the fun of playing many different instruments on the record. I still call them records, always will.

Visit Rod on the web at www.rodsalaysay.com

A Quiet Mind

Singer/songwriter Donn Bree has chronicled his life experiences and set them to music.

In the spring of 2010 he graced my studio in the evenings for several sessions to record an album of his songs, and some of his favorite songs by other songwriters whom he admires.

His voice is strong and his delivery so honest that I thought it would be nice to hear him sing a great song from the late great Vern Gosdin, “Is It Raining?”. This is a live recording, there are no overdubs, here’s Donn – voice & guitar.

Good For You

San Diego based band leader/lead guitarist, songwriter, Jeff Irwin brought his rockin’ band the Pheromones in to record their first LP in 2008/09. Lead singer Jesse Ray turned in some great vocal performances, and Jeff and his section were smokin’, and I don’t mean reefer…

The band was joined by several terrific SoCal studio aces such as Archie Thompson the band leader and super sax man, and several members of the Runnin’ Kind, Ian Francisco on B3 and Rick Kurianski on drums.

This was a great project; real playing and singing and the sound a feel of a young modern rock band. Many different root oriented influences here. These guys have a lot to be proud of.

Now Jesse Ray is back up in the Bay area where he’s likely to be rockin’ the house, and Jeff has a new act, The Tilt band who are kickin’ it in the Bars & Nightclubs up and down the coast.

Take a listen to Way Down…

I’ve Engineered two projects for veteran of the Hollywood music and acting scene, baritone voiced, singer/songwriter Chuck Cashmere.

Chuck’s album Song archives his material from his days in Hollywood with Legend Ray Doggett to newer, almost comic material such as his song “Gators”.

Chuck does a great job of tugging at your emotions on his song “Everytime Blues” and he gave me the honor of playing a little harmonica and nylon string guitar on this selection.

Shortly after completing Song, Chuck embarked on a project honoring our military, entitled, Duty, Honor, Country. He wrote some new material such as “The Soldier” and “I am Legend”.

Studio ace and band lead Buddy Hyatt cut the tracks in his Nashville studio, and then Chuck and I added his vocals, mixed and mastered the project. Chuck contributes all the profits from the sale of this recording to the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund.

“Special thanks to Chris Camp for his musical talents, his dedication to his craft and his sense of professionalism.  Song would never have been completed without the understanding and generosity of Chris Camp. I will forever be grateful to you Chris.”

Visit chuck at www.chuckcashmere.com

Producer, Songwriter, and Grandmother to seven Peg Windrum wrote this collection of short, fun, encouraging songs to teach her grandchildren about the Lord.

She deliberately made the music sound contemporary and enlisted the help of the top notch rhythm section, The Running Kind to rev it up! Her grandchildren provide the children’s chorus, and talented vocalist and educator Marie Osborne sings lead.

We also had the colorful and exciting guitar playing of L.A. guitar wizard Carey Park. Carey’s a hit songwriter and hot-shot gitar slinger in his own right, you should check him out as well. Peg & I produced and engineered. Oh, and Peg recorded some of the kids down in Atlanta,Ga. with Atlanta’s own Bert Elliott who is tremendous, talented producer, multi-instrumentalist and recording artist as well, check out Bert and his alter ego Garrison Elliott.

Please take a listen to the Windmar Allstars and grandma’s little angels and check out Peggy at www.windmarmusic.com

Not Home Yet – Vol. 1

Heads Up – Final Table

Super talented songwriter, arranger, producer Peggy Windrum wrote two terrific songs for her poker playin’ husband Wil Windrum all about playing the game he loves.

She brought the project to me and I had the pleasure of putting the band together. With Rick Kurianski & Cliff Saunders of the Running Kind, New Orleans native, vocalist “Joe-V”(Vasconcellos), Blazing electric guitar man Bobby Ryan, and Super Sax man Archie Thompson and myself on B3, the Wild Cards cut the tracks for Peg’s company Windmar Music.

Go to www.windmarmusic.com to hear the vocal version of  “Heads Up, Final Table”.  It’s been playing around the world!

Dan Green is a talented songwriter. He loves to write about love and outdoor life. A balladeer with an Irish heartbeat.

In 2001 we got together to record In My Dreams, filled with lots of heart ache, a tribute song to renouned horseman Pete Spates, and a wild ride with the upbeat cut, “She’s A Roller Coaster Ride”, featuring Harp Master Jasper Austin.

We got back together four years later in 2005 to do Up Close & Personal.  Dan wrote some terrific songs, including the historical chronicle, “An Irish-American Saga, and “Girls In Cowboy Hats”, which should be a rodeo/country classic if it isn’t already. That’s Kevin Ryan on steel.

Bobby Ryan rippin’ lead guitar, myself on bass and Tom Rogers drumming supported both records with a varied and colorful cast of other wonderful sidemen & women.

By now Dan should have his heart broke a few more times and be ready for another round…

Louie, Manny, and Tito: Lost Trio La Tapatia…Guitar, Requinto, and Maracas. Beautiful songs, traditional harmony and the unmistakable feeling and atmosphere of Mexican Trio music.

Louie owned the restaurant his Grandparents started a million years ago and he loves music, and sings and plays with passion. So with the other two amigos they would entertain at the restaurant. Food was great, we were there all the time and one night the band showed up at my studio to cut an album… Live – that evening… As they were arriving, the hot water heater burst, there was water all over the kitchen floor and somebody had on way too much cologne… What a night! Here are a couple of selections. One of the most fun and authentic sessions I’ve been a part of.

The Way I Heard It

Ken Graydon is a treasure. The genuine article. His voice, his writing, his insights, and his mere presence are as connected to the history of the American Southwest as Canyons & Cactus.

On The Way I Heard It Ken spins yarns and stories about colorful characters, real life experiences, and historical facts about the ways of the west.

Ken is very funny. You’ll laugh out loud at some of his Cowboy poems and the insights he provides about life and ourselves are priceless.

Ken is also carrying on tradition and integrity in the image of the folksinger. If it’s snortin’, steamin’, made of leather or steel and moves the ground as it rolls along Ken Graydon has ridden it or wrote about it.

Thank you Ken for the opportunity to know you and to archive your work in the recordings we’ve done together.