Notes From the Road
9-11-10 So Long Tom Lee - Great Man, Great Friend
Tom Lee left this world in late October and I was lucky to have had a chance to spend some time with him and his partner Mary Katherine just before he crossed over. They own and live in the legendary Chouse in Norman Oklahoma. Tom was a paraplegic... but he could do just about anything you or I could do, except better. He shot and printed photography, he played the guitar, he refinished furniture. It was crazy what he could figure out. He was always the coolest and smartest guy in the room... part of the reason why was because he didn't need anybody else to know it. Gonna miss you Tom. His partner and my close friend, Mary Katherine Long, is mighty amazing, too, and probably one of the few humans I know who could carry on after losing someone like that. You'll find a gallery of some of Tom's work here in my 'Photos' section.
I had an amazing summer and am now finishing up an amazing fall. The snow is going to fly anytime now. It already has in the higher elevations around Taos. I was most fortunate recently to be able to get all my acoustic instruments (7 of 'em) up to La Veta Colorado where my dear friend David Enke (and his partner Annie Enke) build pickups, instruments and wood sculptures. Learn more about them by clicking this link. David installed his renowned pick ups into my banjo and ukulele and then set all my acoustic guitars up with his under the saddle pickups and the Fishman Rare Earth Blend pick ups that I use ... all wired in stereo. These instruments sound incredible. The uke was bequeathed to me when my buddy Craig Roche of Oklahoma City passed away two years ago. So was the black resonator guitar which David totally hot rodded and added a Telecaster pick up to as well. It has become my secret weapon. The beautiful "Konah" Hawaiian guitars in the picture were made by the incredible Rich Mermer in Sebastian Florida.
Been helping out my dear friend Don Richmond with some CD release shows which are listed in the Shows section. His new CD is called 'Like Lazarus' and it's a beauty. It has what I would call the classic Southwest Desert Americana Sound. I played on several tracks on the CD as did several of my pals here in Taos.
Been helping my great pal Sam Baker out with some side man duties here and there and loving it. I'll also be working in that capacity with Ellis Paul again at the end of the year and in January on the east coast plus we'll be performing on the Cayamo Cruise in February: Buddy Miller, John Prine, Indigo Girls ... Ellis Paul. Myself and Radoslav Lorkovic will be tagging along as side men and having all the fun. Join us if you can. Drink are on Ellis.
That's all the news until next time. Be well and thanks for being cool. DonCon
I had an amazing summer and am now finishing up an amazing fall. The snow is going to fly anytime now. It already has in the higher elevations around Taos. I was most fortunate recently to be able to get all my acoustic instruments (7 of 'em) up to La Veta Colorado where my dear friend David Enke (and his partner Annie Enke) build pickups, instruments and wood sculptures. Learn more about them by clicking this link. David installed his renowned pick ups into my banjo and ukulele and then set all my acoustic guitars up with his under the saddle pickups and the Fishman Rare Earth Blend pick ups that I use ... all wired in stereo. These instruments sound incredible. The uke was bequeathed to me when my buddy Craig Roche of Oklahoma City passed away two years ago. So was the black resonator guitar which David totally hot rodded and added a Telecaster pick up to as well. It has become my secret weapon. The beautiful "Konah" Hawaiian guitars in the picture were made by the incredible Rich Mermer in Sebastian Florida.
Been helping out my dear friend Don Richmond with some CD release shows which are listed in the Shows section. His new CD is called 'Like Lazarus' and it's a beauty. It has what I would call the classic Southwest Desert Americana Sound. I played on several tracks on the CD as did several of my pals here in Taos.
Been helping my great pal Sam Baker out with some side man duties here and there and loving it. I'll also be working in that capacity with Ellis Paul again at the end of the year and in January on the east coast plus we'll be performing on the Cayamo Cruise in February: Buddy Miller, John Prine, Indigo Girls ... Ellis Paul. Myself and Radoslav Lorkovic will be tagging along as side men and having all the fun. Join us if you can. Drink are on Ellis.
That's all the news until next time. Be well and thanks for being cool. DonCon