Song-writer, arranger, guitar, keyboard/synth, vocals, cello.

2011 - Joined this community of artists in July of 2011, and quickly observed the community-spirit of artists who take the time to listen to other artists' work and comment meaningfully and positively. The vibe is one of encouragement and helping out.

This was quickly expressed more tangibly in the number of collaborations that were being uploaded and that caught my attention. People were willing to offer skills and abilities, knowledge and understanding, and check their egos at the door and be willing to engage the difficult task of trying to work together for a common good - a better track. THIS has been an education for me and the learning that occurs as a result of working together is extraordinary.

Special mentions to those who have included me in their work, and they in mine: James Bell - not only got the ball rolling but is a kindred spirit; Dachleigh Music (Adam) - who used my cello lines in a some electronic music; Deggsy Music and DawnSinclair - the two are not always inseparable but they work so well together (that RnB will be a highlight!); Deon - we didn't do a lot together, but the journey was expansive; Rich Lodato, whose voice and guitar invites the cello to weave a melody too; AmorfoxiZ (Alfonso,) more cello; Left Ear Bleed (Jeff)...always good to help younger artists; Liquid (Anthony Gee) the budding rock keyboardist ;) and Michael Ritchie - consummate riff-meister and gentle spirit...thanks to one and all for including me in their journeys! FUN!...gotta be more fun than work or it isn't fun any more ;) Special mention to TomC (CyberJazz) in PC FL, for sharing his journey and struggles but the absence of more than a year suggests a final succumbing to cancer, though I have no way of checking that.

2012

GRATITUDE...that is the theme for my class of students. A number of artists from mp3u have contributed messages addressed to my class, and some have written wonderful tracks to help us find a calm and gentle start to our days of turbulence. Dan Michaelson, Peter Vines...great ambient tracks and such wonderful messages - you two were the first off the mark and set the bar very high for how to approach a class that you didn't really know; Will Riding...the Sleeping Giants was an awesome introduction to story-telling through music; Erik Jurado...straight from you heart to right where my kids are...amazing intuition; Kelly Mitchell...your artist comment narrative was inspirational on over-coming obstacles; Mike Ritchie - one boy has become filled with hope because of a specific word of encouragement...how incredibly awesome! ; Deon -many positive messages and ideas about life and existence, as well as ways to find calm in the midst of Life - looking forward to more of your special way of looking at life; Rich - sent along some A/V material...journey into visual art...chalked full of encouraging words... some fine vocal/visual/philosophical chicken soup for the teen-aged soul, I think; Liquid (Anthony Gee), who has created some fine music for the class and sent a wonderful interview for the class to listen to. We are also enjoying some wonderful orchestral arrangements from AndyF (Andrew Foyston), and a superbly written note to the students.

 2013

 My classes heard from KtA - the students love the DnB stuff; ATuesdayParadox - a very encouraging message and pics of Wales; Lazy Jane sent along well-wishes from Georgia, DNA Codex - not only introduced us to Surrealism, he showed us how to paint in a surrealistic style with some extraordinary YouTube clips with his wonderful ambient/electronica in the background; Essence - little did I know that in trying to find female artists to represent more gender equity, you would step in and tell a heart-changing story that resonated in all of us, and in one young woman in particular - you cast the seeds and often never know what good will result, so we trust and carry on; Kallen and Wednesday Wilson are also going to contribute their own stories and words of encouragement. In all of these personal touches and positive interactions there will be Wellness!

If there are any artists who wish to learn about the Wellness Project for this school year (Sept 2016 - June 2017), or who wish to contribute, please feel free to contact any of the artists who have participated already, or contact me directly by clicking on the "e-mail" button at the top of the page here, or send along a PM (I do check fairly regularly)

Looking back over 2013, it seems to have been a year featuring a lot of collaborations with Keith Allen and Kevin Gibbons, in particular, and KALLEN(WAG) - as the 3 amigos have become known - have enjoyed having a dozen or more tracks played on BBC Introducing Tees, with host Bob Fischer. This culminated in an interview with Keith, and developed a sidebar plot - what I affectionately call "The Mug Caper," in which, through a relentless process of e-mails, the DJ, Mr. Bob Fischer, was graciously able to provide an autographed BBC mug for Keith as a souvenir of a place and time in his long and illustrious musical career. Lots of FUN and Funny Business going around on mp3u this year.

 It has also been a year of connecting with newer (to me) faces on mp3u: FXMAN, The Refined Poet, Idiom, and Master Peo. Jazz and Swing have become new areas of effort this past year and I hope that will continue in 2014.

Always open to possibilities of collaborations and helping to build connections on mp3u. I have enjoyed making friends and acquaintances here on this site. It is a place that has a comfort level and feels, as Anthony Gee once said, "like coming home."

 2014-15

I don't think I updated this information so I'm just mentioning all the fine musicians, artists, composers, and just nice people I have had the pleasure to work with in the past year or so: Anna Brag, Mon Che, Fokker, Black Park, KoolKevDJ, Phil McC, Derek Evans (Deggsy), Peo (swing, jazz and blues), Ray Brookes (loads of Blues and Jazz ), David Main, and continuing to write and record with Keith Allen (Just Kallen) and Kevin Gibbons (A Tuesday Paradox) - those guys can make a song out of the barest of skimpy ideas I shoot their way. Rich Lodato has continued to give me a lot of advice on recording, techniques and gear. If I have not mentioned someone, just give me a nudge ;)

What I have enjoyed is experimenting with techniques and styles. I have learned to appreciate the crooner style of music and singing. I don't hear many doing this style, and although I am no Bublé, I do enjoy writing and singing in this classic style.

2016

  I am excited by what the year held. KALLEN ( Wigmore, Allen, Gibbons) has been dabbling in Pop, while continuing the experimental/electronic stuff. Nice to be getting some attention still on BBC Tees Introducing. I hope to work continue to work with Tomas (Just Kent), Dave Rave, Ray Brookes (superb blues and jazz), Peo (who I hope, will be well enough to continue his band/swing/jazz/blues tunes), Fokker, Black Park, Dan Williams, and Darren G. Lately it has been more about just singing along to some fine music by other musicians, and less arranging and composition on my part? I do enjoy encouraging others to take risks in their musical endeavours and to experiment.

2017 

What a start to this year with KALLEN (Wigmore, Allen, Gibbons) shifting into a full album to kick start the new year. Fueled by Keith's huge imagination and talent for spotting hooks and melodies, The Italian Tour sprang to life. That was our first real attempt to write and produce a themed collection of songs. It was a flurry of activity in my Hobbit Hole studio for a few months. Thanks goodness for Gibbo and I that Keith took off for some holidays after the tour! :)

Crooning still fills my imagination and fortunately Ray Brookes and Master Peo have sent some superb arrangements my way. That is fun and passion blended. I do enjoy encouraging others and welcoming other musicians to the site. MP3U is a great place for that diversity of community!

Endings and Beginnings

*I would like to thank all the mp3u artists who responded to my educational project inviting musicians to create music, share their biographies, and to correspond with my students. I have listed most, if not all of the participating artists in this section of my mp3u page. If you do not see your name, just send along a note and I will correct the oversight. This experiment in wellness was such an interesting way to wrap up the final few years of my teaching career. It allowed me to test the hypothesis that relationships and interest expressed in the students by previously unknown-to-them artists, and to see a relationship and attachment grow to the point where I would be hounded to see who would come along and write to my students next. The students were looking forward to who our "guest artist" would be that day, or who would be our "featured artist" that week. The students seemed to want to come to school just to see which mp3u artist was going to be present, virtually, in the class. We were able to use these interactions to teach Music, as well as to teach Language. And the students just thought it was all fun :)

As I hang up my teaching spurs and ride off into the educational sunset, I am reminded of the privilege and joy of being an educator. And how much fun learning could be when you are supported by artists from a site such as mp3u, who are willing to engage my students. Thank You mp3u!

*Equipment:

Norman Acoustic, Epiphone SG Double Neck Electric, Ibanez Roadstar II, Cello, Ensoniq EPS, Korg M1Rex, PC, M- audio 410, Cakewalk Platinum, Sony MDMX-4, Aiwa powered speakers, most mixing done using Sennheiser HD598 headphones, AKG C1000S mic and Rode NT1A - bottom-line…it may be old(er) gear for the most part, but like myself, all the parts work (at the moment) ;) I use Cakewalk Sonar for my DAW

**My creative space -a.k.a. "hobbit hole studio" - is a cinder block fruit cellar, 6x9, with a 6in poured concrete slab ceiling…nice reflective surfaces for some interesting vocals if they are not tamed..the furnace is old and loud and is adjacent, and the main waste pipe from the second floor passes through the “studio” so I have to record before the household awakes or after they are asleep because a single toilet flush can “wh- o-o-o-s-s-h-h-“ through a track like a roar of a jet engine, giving new meaning to the phrase I have come to accept as part of my Buddhist experience - “Flushed Away!”