Coverage......Coming soon

      The idea for this project began last February when my future was very unclear. I knew I was going to be hospitalized, unemployed, and faced with a lot of medical costs, not to mention the cost of living. I also wasn't even sure what my future held as a musician. I had lost  some feeling in my hands and the surgery was to pass by a main vocal nerve. Left with little in the way of resources, I looked to what seems to be unlimited for me. I looked to my friends and my imagination.
      Having run open mic's throughout this area for the past 20 years has put me  in the middle of an extraordinary music scene in Cleveland, Ohio. The scene is focused around the Barking Spider Tavern on the Case campus and the corner of Euclid Heights and Coventry just up the hill from Case. This corner is where Arabica held one of the biggest and best open mics in the area. Today the Grog Shop occupies that space and continues to bring great music to the stage inside. Just down the street is the new Phoenix Coffee where we continue the tradition of developing some of Cleveland's best songwriters and musicians. For me I have had the good fortune of running these stages and forming lasting friendships with these talented folks.
        It was these people that I turned to, to help me in my time of need. I didn't ask them for money, I asked them to choose one of my songs and to record it any way they like. The response was quick and excited. Most of them had an immediate song in mind.  I could tell that I had hit some creative nerve that could inspire some really nice recordings.
         The first recording arrived from the youngest talent of the group, Morgan McCaskey.  I was 20 hours post surgery.  To hear her sing just made me smile for a long time.  In Memphis, Columbus, and South Carolina musicians were teaming to produce some amazing recordings. More recently I have had several come into my studio and lay down some tracks. These may be some of the best recordings I have produced here. As the other songs started coming in, I noticed one common theme. Every artist put a lot of love and care into arranging, performing and recording these songs. Musically, this entire collection very powerful.
          The initial intent was to help me with my medical costs, hence the name "Coverage". The title also plays on the theme that all of these artists are covering my songs. What I haden't expected is the musical story that would unfold revealing a 20 year history of this vibrant Cleveland songwriters scene that I have been able to witness and be a part of during my years as an open mic host.
          As a songwriter I am humbled by these recordings. As an artist, I could not be more enthused by whole of the project.  But most important to me is the community that is this music. This collection of music tells that story.
          
We are set to release this CD with a concert at the Grog Shop early in 2011.