Hey Folks,
Hope
you are all doing well! Thanks for all
your notes regarding what is going on for you!
Here’s what’s been going on since my last post!
For the past fifteen years on the second weekend in June, the Yarger family (12 kids) has run the Yarger memorial Golf Scramble, a benefit to help the cardiac unit at Thompson Hospital, the local hospital here in Canandaigua. So far, they have raised over $150,000, and their goal is to clear $200,000 by the time the tournament comes to a conclusion in 2017. About five years ago, they asked Siobhan and me to provide some music for the golfers as they came off the course and waited for the banquet to begin. Several of these twelve Yarger kids, who now have children and grandchildren, were students of mine back in the 70s and 80s. Many of their friends, also former students of mine, play in the tournament, and I often get to visit with them and catch up on their lives. Most years I am moved by this experience, and this one was no exception. It is so cool when I discover the kid I once knew as a timid, insecure recluse has now become a confident, well-adjusted individual whose niche quite often contains a good job, a nice spouse, and some fun-loving kids. Do I take any credit when I see such a transformation? Not really. I just take pleasure in seeing my former students being successful. Thanks, Yargers, for another fine job, and thanks for giving the old guy another opportunity to reconnect with some people who significantly influenced his life.
Siobhan and I are enjoying coordinating the “Singer/Songwriters in the Side Room” concert series at Buffalo Bill’s. As with most projects we take on, we always look for a way to tweak what we are doing. Well, this past Christmas, one of Siobhan’s brothers, Tim, gave her a digital camera so she would have it for our trip to California. When we returned from our trip in February, Siobhan discovered the camera had video capability, and she began to film the concerts in the side room. She started editing her work, and now she has begun to upload some of her work to youtube. We hope her efforts will give people a good feel for the comfortable and inviting atmosphere that exists in the side room. Maria Gillard was our first performer, and here she is with Perry Cleaveland performing “Imagine My Surprise,” one of her original songs. We hope you enjoy it, and we hope it encourages you to check out some of the concerts in the side room. Stay tuned for videos of Pat Maloney, Jeff riales, Steve Piper, and Birds-On-A-Wire (Elaine VerStreet and Brooke Pevear)!
Since we are on the topic of the Side Room Series, we have another great singer/songwriter coming up this month! We are happy to announce that Lisa Winter, another fine songwriter from Rochester, will continue the series on Thursday, July 19 (details on the music schedule on our web site). Lisa’s original songs comfortably blend the sounds of folk, blues, and a little jazz. Here is a video of her singing one of her songs, “Zoo Crew Blues.” To learn more about Lisa, check out her site right here! Hope you can join us on July 19!
The
last weekend in June was a real “HomeTown”
event for us! On June 30, we headed over
to the Novakowski Compound for their annual summer party. Mike Novakowski (Class of 1991), his wife
Shelley, and their friends, Amy and Joe Preston, and Stephanie and Jerry Bussy
pulled out all the stops for this one. With
the “Mando Master,” Perry Cleaveland, we played two Jumping sets of music to a
very responsive crowd. As we sat eating
during our break, we were entertained with a fireworks display that was nearly
visible to me. Mike, who has been on the
All-Meyer Team since I met him in his sophomore year, is a little older now,
but still as funny, genuine, and gregarious as he was all those years ago. Thanks, Mike, for a wonderful time! We followed up this party with another
terrific one the very next day. We went
over to the Fennelly Homestead for their annual summer event, and it was
fantastic! We have played for many
Fennelly events and their family and friends are probably the most appreciative
of our Irish and original songs. What I
really like about the Fennelly family is they are a group who really enjoys
being with each other, and they take care of each other and their friends. Thanks, Terry, for another terrific
time! I consider the Novakowski and
Fennelly parties “Home Town” events because they truly reflect the meaning of
the song. I enjoy playing the music, but
it is the talking, laughing, and catching up that is the icing on the cake for
me!
Siobhan
and I spent the 4th of July on Canandaigua Lake with Captain Ray and
his first mate, Dawn, on their pontoon boat.
What an awesome day! I don’t
drink much anymore, but when I am with Captain Ray, I sip a little
bourbon. In fact, I feel a little lyric
rolling around in my head that starts with the line, “When I Drink Bourbon with
Ray, it washes my blues away.” Stay
tuned! It could happen! While we were on the water, the Novakowskis,
Prestons, and bussys came by and tied up their boat to ours, and the party
expanded. Joe Preston started his music
career when I handed him a harmonica, and coaxed him into joining me. Trust me!
Joe is headed for stardom! Since
it is summer, stay tuned for more boating adventures with Captain Ray and his
first mate, Dawn. When I get the full story,
I’ll tell you about the night Dawn ran over a duck. (The duck was stunned, but not injured.)
Siobhan
and I moved to a new home back in November, and now we are trying to sell our
old home. Check out our home right here!
If you know of anyone who might be interested in this home, we’d appreciate it
if you would send them our way! To all
of our realtor friends, we are on the MLS.
So, if your buyers are not interested in your properties, they might be
interested in ours. Hey, 3% ain’t bad!
For those of you who are interested in our music, but can’t be with us, here is an article about one of our original songs. The article focuses on "Boogie Woogie Therapy,” a song from The Road Less Traveled CD. You can read about the development of the song, check out the lyrics, and listen to the song!
For
those of you who want to know more about our gig schedule, recordings, etc.,
check out our web site right here! We'll
be back with another update in a few weeks! Hope you are all doing well!
Drop us a line and let us know what is going on for you!
All
the best,
Siobhan
and Frank
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