People have asked me throughout the years why I haven’t considered writing my own songs. Every now and then, I’ve thought about it but it was never such a pull on me that I have actually ever sat down and put my thoughts to paper from a musical standpoint. I think that I’ve come to the realization that I’m not a songwriter. It’s just not who I am. And that’s alright. I would much prefer interpreting other writers’ material as I’m above all else an entertainer. 

But during my career and this time of self discovery, I’ve had the chance to work with some great songwriters in the Hudson Valley. I’ve marvelled at the quantity and quality of music they’ve produced throughout the years – and how hard they work for their art. Their children. Their songs. 

So this realization got me to thinking: What if I were to record a tribute album to these artists? Kind of in the way Ella Fizgerald recorded her famous “Song Book” album tributes to Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer and countless others… It would be a nice way for me to pay homage to these singer-songwriters who I admire for their talent and dedication to their craft. The fact that I find them all to be such wonderful people makes it an even more compelling endeavor. 

The question remaining would be how was I going to present it? 

I knew early on that an album of straight “covers” (meaning, faithful reproductions of the original artists’ recording) was not going to cut it – either with me or discerning listeners. I have sung rock, pop, country, gospel, blues, popular standards and even International music during my lifetime and each genre appeals to me for different reasons and with a heightened interest from time to time depending on my state of mind. 

But there is one style of music that has consistently brought me the energy and passion. 

There was a particular blend of American music that was being produced simultaneously out of the American south in the late 1960’s – specifically Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Stax Studios and American Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee – that gave birth to Southern Soul music, Memphis Soul music, or what I collectively refer to as the “Memphis Sound.” 

Studio house bands – session players like Booker T. and the M.G.’s, the “Memphis Boys,” and the “Swampers” – provided the distinctive musical backdrop found in seminal hits recorded at the time by Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, the Box Tops, and countless others. So influential were these artists and their recordings that they garnered the attention of popular artists like Dusty Springfield and Elvis Presley who each recorded their watershed albums with these talented groups of musicians, arrangers, and producers. 

The music of that time is undeniably of that time… but it is a classic sound. But I now knew I had struck upon the music style in which I could refashion – reimagine if you will – these new songs in a way that I can interpret to the limits of my own creativity. I can extrapolate from my treasure trove of musical styles – rock, pop, soul, country, gospel, blues, what have you – to bring forth something old which would be in turn something new! 

And this is where you come in! 

This entire project is being crowdfunded and for a project of this magnitude there’s lots to be paid out: arrangers, musicians, engineers, promotional material, the recording and producing of the album itself. And the list goes on. 

I'll be hosting six live stream concerts every two weeks beginning in August in advance of the launch of my Kickstarter in September. I'll also be posting vlogs to keep everyone up to date. 

This is my legacy project, and I’m doing it to bring greater attention to and focus on a very talented group of singer-songwriters. 

Thank you very much for your consideration and whatever amount you can give!

Click below to get to the Kickstarter page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hudsonvalleysongbook/the-hudson-valley-songbook-project?ref=project_build#

And please share!!