Cindy Grayson: News

I just recieved tickets for 5 days at the Kerrville Festiville in Kerrville , Texas from my friend, Roland Brown. I'm very excited! I know a lot of people who have been a lot of times and it's probably old hat to them but I've always wanted to go and never been able to go so I'm thrilled! I'll be going from June 2nd until the 6th. I'll have to get my tent out of mothballs and dust off my camping gear. I'll let you know how it goes and take pictures!

I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I want out of life. I love my music and my art but I also love the solitude of my home and my 42 acres and the privacy it allows me to have in this present world of rush,rush,rush. I will always play and sing and I have lots of art projects I'd like to do ( like a childrens coloring book which doubles as a guide to plant and animal life). Lately though, with all the global warming information being fed to us , I'm very lucky to have the land that I have and a home, I'm enjoying being involved with the reviving of the local Farmers Market and I'm developing an interest in seeing if I can use what I have at my availaible resources to become as self supportiing as possible. I've started another garden this year for the first time in a couple of years, I've designed myself and bought the supplies to build an cover over my back deck so I can have sort of an outdoor livingroom which my son has promised to build for me. Next will be a greenhouse so I can start potting my own plants. I can sell the excess down at the Farmers Market when I'm not playing music there. I'm going to donate my two music moniters to help them to help them start collecting equipment for a small P.A. they can keep down at the Market. We want to start having music down there every Saturday morning.
Anyway, since I don't have a manager and can't afford one right now and I'm tired of being my own hornblower, I'll just go organic for awhile and encorporate music and art into it when I can. I still plan on doing the 2 Cd's I had planned on doing but it may be awhile. I'm disappointed because they're both full of love songs and I think you'd really enjoy them but they'll have to wait until I actually find some one willing to back me to do them or Stan can afford to replace his recorder and get some other equipment for his studio so we can do it right.
Stan, by the way, has recently gotten a job at Encore music store/studio here in Nacogdoches, Tx. and is loving it! If you're in the neighborhood, stop in and see what he's up to. I like going in there and playing in their guitar corner room. They'll even let you plug in.
Have a wonderful day! I'm off to play in the dirt - and get paid for it!

Well, I'm at a point to where I am having to research some spiritual additions to my sets. I'm not very fluent in the country music department but the local folks who frequent the Cafe where I play every week have made repeated requests for religious oriented music. The one's I'm most familiar with are the most common old spirituals so I guess I'll go and find some of those to add to my set. I also think I'll add some more of my own originals. I've been doing a lot of cover tunes because I've discovered that locally, that's what they'd rather listen to but it limits what I play. I can do about 4 hours without repeating myself but that includes my own stuff. We'll see how it goes.

I went to the Appleby Cafe tonight after my granddaughter's piano lesson and they were packed. Apparently they had a bunch of homemade pies, birdfeeders and a couple of rod&reels that they were auctioning off. The parking lot was packed. Paul Martinez was utilizing his auctioneer skills and rattleing away. I played for awhile and then a couple of girls got up and did some spirituals as well as " Crazy " and " After Midnight". I guess I need to learn more spirituals. I'm not very good at Country but I can do spirituals. If anyone has any favorites they can suggest , let me know. We ran thru Amazing Grace, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, & Will The Cricle Be Unbroken and I'll Fly Away. Now I guess I'll have to look up the words.
We had fun anyway.

I really feel bad about not making the progress on getting my next two Cd's I had planned on getting out done. Studio's cost and the decision to produce at least the 2nd Classic Folk Cd " Celtic Seasoning" ourselves came to a screeching halt with the breaking of our digital recorder at Stan's Studio. The songs, however, haven't gone - they're just on hold. If I happen to find a generous soul to lending a financial helping hand, it will happen this year. As things go in reality, Stan and I will just have to work hard at our day jobs for awhile until we can afford to finance it ourselves. I know both Cd's will be better than the last and well worth the wait. I appreciate your patience.
In the meantime, I'll keep you up on what music I happen to be involved in at the time and keep posting photos.

I really enjoyed the birthday party of a long time friend last night. I saw people I haven't seen in what seems like forever. I got to play some music and there was a variety of guitars, a washtub bass, a harmonica, mandolin, saxaphone and flute. We all played and joined when the urge took us there. No one got thrown in the pool and everyone had a good time catching up and telling the birthday girl how much having her in our lives has been such an honor and a joy. I left late and slept late this morning.
Happy Birthday , Carolyn French.

For those who would like to be notified of where and when I play, please go to my " GuestBook" section and make sure I have your e-mail and I will try to get my act together and start sending out an up to date performance schedule. If you'd rather not, then keep on checking in because I'm getting better about listing what I'm doing.
Have a good April.

I decided it was about time for a change in my background colors & design. If there are any objections, feel free to say so.

It was a beautiful day for the festival and I must admit, it was better than last years turn out. The music was better and I got some great shots of kids running around, people just sitting and listening to the music and a wonderful variety of musicians including our own local Camino Real group with Charlie Jones , Jon Hall and friends who did a great variety of old traditionals and lively tunes we all enjoyed. As soon as I unload them off my camera, I'll get the best ones loaded on here so stay tuned.

when I was a teenager, the only young man who ever tried to sneak in my window was a young man by the name of " John Corbett ". I went on line to check out the actor by the same name just out of curiosity. Turns out he is a musician too and turned out his first Cd in 2005 just like I did. Now, I know he can't be the same young man who tried to crawl in my window ( and I got blamed for it by my father since the young man got away) but isn't it funny how things run paralell sometimes with no real conection at all? By the way - the " thejohncorbettband.com " really has some good tunes.

I opened for Pat and Rosie Maloney last night at Roland's Next Door in Jacksonville. Afterwards, we discussed the crisis of the dissapearing coffeehouse circut. These wonderful people who volunteer their time every month to provide us with wonderful talent are being let down in a bad way! At least 3 have quit recently and Mary Andrews in Tyler is talking about quitting because the last performance only drew about 12 people and the performers, The Therapy Sisters, drove a couple of hours to put on the show - which I enjoyed very much. Somebody has got to figure out a way to wake the public up! There's too much excellant talent out there to support and enjoy and we're going to lose the chance to spend wonderful evenings listening to great talent at a personal level you can't get anywhere else. By the way, Pat & Rosie Maloney were great! I hope to see them again.

Hey! I got my picture in the paper! I've been trying to help out downtown with the reawakening of the old Farmers Market where local farmers can bring their fresh and canned goods and flowers, herbs and fresh eggs. They started last summer and I go play everytime they ask but I plan on going on Saturdays more often just to chat and help out and visit.

Sadly, one of our own local artists, Donna Lamb, has passed away. I loved to go visit her at her gallery downtown where she shared her work with a couple of other female artists. Her favorite work was water color portraits of cats which she was very good at. She was also a big help in getting my group " The White Oak Creek Band" when we were all together, to play out on the side walk during the local artwalk where all the galleries opened their doors to the public and offered refreshments. We all had a great time.
We will all miss Donna greatly and will cherish her art and her memory in our hearts forever.

I was getting out of my car last friday night and dropped the car door on the neck of my guitar and broke it - still in the case! Well - thanks to good friends , I have a new guitar ( an Art&Lutherie) which I like soundwise almost as much as a Taylor I was looking at but this one didn't cost as much. I also got a new case - a HARD case - and I'm back in business in time to play at the Farmers Market downtown tomorrow morning around 8:00 am and then I'll be playing the opening set for a guy named Pat Malloy ( close?) and his female counterpart. It's their first time to play at Roland's Next Door and I think they play Irish type music. I'm eager to hear them as Roland says they're good and I know Roland is pretty picky about who he asks to headline the shows. Someday maybe I'll get too but I'm happy opening. I've met some really nice people in Jacksonville and Tyler through the coffeehouse crowds and I hope it continues. We need to do a lot more to make sure the coffeehouse's stay open. It's a wonderful way to spend the evening and they don't get the recognition they deserve - especially since the organizers usually volunteer their time. The woman in Tyler who's been doing it for 12 years is considering quiting. Anyone got any ideas - speak up!

I'll be the opening act at Roland's Next Door in Jacksonville , Texas on the 15th of March. The show starts at about 6:30 pm. I'll put the details as soon as I get the name of the Headliner for the evening. Now I guess I have to practice.

I played at a rally in Jacksonville for Obama at the request of Roland Brown. It was fun and we were joined by several musicians but I'm still recovering from a rather bad sunburn. I guess summer is coming!

Oh, so close and yet so far! Right on the cusp of the finishing touches to the Celtic Cd, the digital recorder quit. We're not done in - we will not quit but until funds are availiable or we find some one with a recorder we can borrow - we're at a stand still. Fairy godmothers and those of charitable goodwill are few and far between and usually don't visit this neck of the woods so be patient. We have two Cd's in the works but it may be this fall before we get them out. I'll let you know when we do. In the mean time, I'll sit on my back porch and watch the racoons eat the cat food in the evening and plan my next move. Bless you all!

When I am called from labor to rest, I would rather leave one growing tree where birds may sing and build their nests and children play beneath it's shade than have the costliest momument ever erected to the memory of man.

The finish of the next Classic Folk cd will be postponed a little bit. It seems our recorder needs an attitude adjustment. Three songs into the next to last level of the recording, it decided to quit. As soon as we get it fixed, we'll get it finished. I've already gotten the case covers designed and the disk cover is only one step away from being done. For those who haven't figured it out yet, Stan and I are doing our own producing. I have the artistic ability and he has the tech. ability and what we produce is hopefully as clean and simple as a true folk song should be. I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed working on this project. The inside of this cover will also have a brief story of why I started the series of Classic Folk Cd's in the first place. Have a little more patience and I'll have the 2nd on finished as soon as I can.

I know it's a little late on the entry but I went to Tyler last Saturday evening and played as one of three performers at the Unitarian Church. My fellow musicians were James Michael Taylor and Bill Nash. Sitting in between those two was a treat I'd repeat any time. We had an enjoyable time and the audience was very responsive and enthusiastic. ( 'scuse my spelling) It was something I'd do again any time I get asked. Mary Andrews and her husband, Andy, were kind enough to put me up for the night and we had a nice walk around their yard and talked most of the morning before I had to head back to Nacogdoches. I think that the efforts of Mary and all those who are trying to awaken a new birth of Coffehouse Concerts for all the wonderful musicians who are out there and the audiences who would really enjoy the entertainment if given the chance to ecperience it is one of the most worthy causes there are out there. Help support these people and those involved in the House Concerts in your Home efforts. Its worth the experience for everyone and you'll want to do it again and again. I know I do!

I've noticed an increase in viewers to my website. If you like what's here or have any questions - please feel free to email me. It's " cgrayson@cindygrayson.com". I'd enjoy any feedback I can get. I should have a new Cd of Cletic stuff out in the next couple of months. Thanks for stopping by!

Cindy Grayson

I've spent a lot of time taking care of other people's lives in the past and I've decided to quit to spend some time to pay attention to myself. I'm back to doing flowerbeds and designing them for yards. I love plants because they're beautiful and they teach the wonder of great rewards resulting from the patience involved in allowing things to grow at their own speed. My music and my art will end up being more of a hobby but I'll never pass up a chance to play. I know that what I enjoy doing will never make a million but I hope you can enjoy what I've created on here as much as I enjoyed making and playing it. At any rate, I don't think I'll quit any time soon and I hope I can afford to keep this web site up long enough to bring a little enjoyment to someone else doing something I love to do. Here's hoping you have a great New Years Eve & Day and a great New Year.

Here's to wishing all of you who celebrate the holiday a Merry Christmas and those who don't , well, look at it as a time of the year to set aside to show all those you care for just how much you care. Remember, comunication is 90% of any relationship and the rest is the ability to bend as a tree bends before the storm. Everything else is the resiliancy to spring back after the storms when the skies are clear again.
May the New Year bring you smooth sailing and many beautiful sunsets to come as well as the music to keep us all going.

I just found out that Dan Fogelberg died this morning at 6:00 am. It's so sad to hear that we've lost such a wonderful musician and talented and good human being. May he long be remembered.

Go to Tyler Paper.com and go to the religious section on the paper posted Saturday, Dec 15th and there is a wonderful artical about the concert with a great pictures of the musicians all standing together ( except Stan & me. I didn't know they were planing on taking one and Stan and I left.)
It turned out to be a great evening.