I had a small recording studio behind my house in Buffalo New York and some of my Musician friends would come over
to jam. Many of them brought Liquid Amber Refreshment (AKA Beer). At that time the empty cans were worth 5 cents
each and I used to keep them in a large garbage bag. My Mom would go grocery shopping once a week and take the cans
back to redeem them for cash. She would then use the money to feed her Bingo habit. We had an agreement that we
would split 50/50 on her Beer Can winnings. Some times she would come home from Bingo and buzz me on the
intercom to let me know she was home and had won. Most times I received no notification as she did not win.
Win or not she would always have an exclamation....
"I only needed one more number for the jackpot" or
"I only needed one more number for the cover all" or
"I only needed one more number for the 250.00"
By now I'm sure you get the picture.... One More Number was born.
A very close friend of mine was directing a youth choir at the time and I asked him if he would have them sing a section
of the song. They did and sounded just the way I wanted.
to jam. Many of them brought Liquid Amber Refreshment (AKA Beer). At that time the empty cans were worth 5 cents
each and I used to keep them in a large garbage bag. My Mom would go grocery shopping once a week and take the cans
back to redeem them for cash. She would then use the money to feed her Bingo habit. We had an agreement that we
would split 50/50 on her Beer Can winnings. Some times she would come home from Bingo and buzz me on the
intercom to let me know she was home and had won. Most times I received no notification as she did not win.
Win or not she would always have an exclamation....
"I only needed one more number for the jackpot" or
"I only needed one more number for the cover all" or
"I only needed one more number for the 250.00"
By now I'm sure you get the picture.... One More Number was born.
A very close friend of mine was directing a youth choir at the time and I asked him if he would have them sing a section
of the song. They did and sounded just the way I wanted.
| Original Music |
| Every Song Has a Story |
Recently I started writing with a good friend of mine Mike Carignan. We have tried a few ventures together and for one
reason or another it never seemed to work out. We decided to shit can all the rules and just have some fun. Low and
behold a monster was born. Mike is a very serious Musician and one Monday night he said lets do something silly. I said
you came to the right place my friend and we started writing. This song came to fruition from scratch in ONE NIGHT.
Of course the studio recording and mixing took some time to complete but thats just the way it is. Oh yea before the night
was over I gave Mike a premise for another song and the race was on. We both started writing again and the next song
below was born....
reason or another it never seemed to work out. We decided to shit can all the rules and just have some fun. Low and
behold a monster was born. Mike is a very serious Musician and one Monday night he said lets do something silly. I said
you came to the right place my friend and we started writing. This song came to fruition from scratch in ONE NIGHT.
Of course the studio recording and mixing took some time to complete but thats just the way it is. Oh yea before the night
was over I gave Mike a premise for another song and the race was on. We both started writing again and the next song
below was born....
| Click on any song below to play on your computer. |
This song came to life after I wrote I'd Like To See You Again. I told Kathie I was going to write a song for her to sing.
Now when Kathie and I started the duo of Just For Fun she could not sing the song Could I Have This Dance For The
Rest Of My Life without tearing up and crying. She told me she didn't want to sing that song anymore because of that. I
told her that it made the song very special to have that much emotion in it and I would not take it out of rotation. So when
I told her I was writing a song for her to sing she said "Don't Make Me Cry"...
And that is how Don't Make Me Cry came to be.
Now when Kathie and I started the duo of Just For Fun she could not sing the song Could I Have This Dance For The
Rest Of My Life without tearing up and crying. She told me she didn't want to sing that song anymore because of that. I
told her that it made the song very special to have that much emotion in it and I would not take it out of rotation. So when
I told her I was writing a song for her to sing she said "Don't Make Me Cry"...
And that is how Don't Make Me Cry came to be.
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| Get ready folks.... My C D of all original material is almost ready to escape. I'd like to say ready to be released but I think escape is closer to the truth. This C D is a mixture of Blues, Rock, and Country with a little bit of humor to it. Below is a sample of what to expect. Two of my originals, I'd Like To See You Again and Don't Make Me Cry are already on our Reminiscing C D available at our gigs. I hope you enjoy what you hear, I certainly enjoyed creating them. |
In 2006 Kathie & I participated in a Phenomenon called "The Great American Pony Drive".
We flew to Las Vegas and rented a 2006 Mustang Convertible. The plan was to ship our Limited Edition 1990 Mustang
Convertible 5.0 to Las Vegas and use it for the drive but our better judgement won out and we rented a new one
instead. We then proceeded to drive 3,000 miles through Nevada and California along with about 16 other Mustang
owners stopping along the way to see attractions and meet with other Mustang Owners from the area. We ended up
back in Las Vegas for a regional Mustang show two weeks later. Along the way it was noted that I was a Musician.
People were talking about one of the past Pony Drives and how another Musician wrote a song about that trip. Thats all
I had to hear so I started taking notes. We had many interesting people on the trip but two of them stood out. One was
an organizer Ronda who would start each leg of the trip with a sing song "Lights On Ponies" over the Walkie Talkies we
all carried. The other was an old salt sailor Jim who would always say "This Better Be Good" whenever we went to a
new attraction. I captured each of them digitally saying their trademark phrase and included each of them in the song.
This particular song has absolutely no redeeming values other than to have fun....
We flew to Las Vegas and rented a 2006 Mustang Convertible. The plan was to ship our Limited Edition 1990 Mustang
Convertible 5.0 to Las Vegas and use it for the drive but our better judgement won out and we rented a new one
instead. We then proceeded to drive 3,000 miles through Nevada and California along with about 16 other Mustang
owners stopping along the way to see attractions and meet with other Mustang Owners from the area. We ended up
back in Las Vegas for a regional Mustang show two weeks later. Along the way it was noted that I was a Musician.
People were talking about one of the past Pony Drives and how another Musician wrote a song about that trip. Thats all
I had to hear so I started taking notes. We had many interesting people on the trip but two of them stood out. One was
an organizer Ronda who would start each leg of the trip with a sing song "Lights On Ponies" over the Walkie Talkies we
all carried. The other was an old salt sailor Jim who would always say "This Better Be Good" whenever we went to a
new attraction. I captured each of them digitally saying their trademark phrase and included each of them in the song.
This particular song has absolutely no redeeming values other than to have fun....
I get my ideas for songs from all aspects of life. It can be a situation I've encountered, a story I've heard or from other
songs or artists. The premise for this song came to me as I was listening to a Delbert McClinton song. He is such a great
Blues singer and Harmonica player and I heard a line in one of his songs about small change love.
I figured why not borrow an idea from one of the great ones.
songs or artists. The premise for this song came to me as I was listening to a Delbert McClinton song. He is such a great
Blues singer and Harmonica player and I heard a line in one of his songs about small change love.
I figured why not borrow an idea from one of the great ones.
On May 4 th 1990 I lost both my sons in a tragic automobile accident.
I wrote this song with my son's Dominic and John on my mind. It took seventeen years for this song to arrive but when it
did I couldn't put the pen down. The words came as fast as I could write them. I miss you boys.
I wrote this song with my son's Dominic and John on my mind. It took seventeen years for this song to arrive but when it
did I couldn't put the pen down. The words came as fast as I could write them. I miss you boys.
This is the second installment in the C & C connection. I threw out a premise of Tipping Ain't No City Down In China
and Mike started writing. I had to break out in a run to keep up....Well here we go again.... Another song in one day....
This is becoming a habit. Unfortunately Mike got a teaching job offer on the other coast of Florida so we will have to
write long distance for awhile. We are both determined to keep up the flow so check back and see what transpires.
and Mike started writing. I had to break out in a run to keep up....Well here we go again.... Another song in one day....
This is becoming a habit. Unfortunately Mike got a teaching job offer on the other coast of Florida so we will have to
write long distance for awhile. We are both determined to keep up the flow so check back and see what transpires.
Our 14 year old Granddaughter had been on vacation with us and had the unique experience of Riding Out Charley with us in our Utility room. After it was all over she said "That was exciting Papa" I wrote this song on the plane ride back to Port Charlotte from Buffalo, New York after taking her back to her Mom. Feel free to download a copy of Riding Out Charlie.... |
This song was inspired by a friend of ours who lived in Windmill Village and like so many others lost her home to Hurricane Charley. She would say Where'm I Gonna Live When I Get Home Charley when she came out to hear us play. I would like to dedicate this song to everyone who lost their home to Hurricane Charley. Feel free to download a copy.... |
Right click on the Pony Drive to download the complete song on to your computer.
| Click on any of the samples below to play on your computer. |