3:10 to Yuma

If you are a singer, you know when a song is right in your wheelhouse. 3:10 to Yuma is a home run for me.

It was written by George Dunning and Ned Washington for the original 1957 film starring Glen Ford and Van Heflin. Frankie Laine made the song popular.

I sang 3:10 to Yuma at Sons of Orpheus’ Gala Spring Concert last Sunday. I have been singing it for many years now with Orpheus and it’s on my “Home in Arizona” CD as well as Orpheus’ CD, “Cowboy Classics.” If I do say so myself, it’s a knockout. Click the Play arrow above to listen.

I’ll be singing it at Orpheus’ Spring Concerts this week and next. Click here for concert info.

Getting Off the But (Butt)

One thing leads to another. First you have to do the one thing.

I have always sung for myself BUT never got off my BUTT to do anything more. Around the time I turned 50, Nate Miller told me about the Sons of Orpheus, the Male Choir of Tucson. Joining SOO was that one thing. It led to getting involved with a great bunch of guys, debuting one of my songs at the White House, three European concert tours and confirming for myself that I had some pretty good pipes.

This season fellow Orpheans, Frank Hartline, Jim Gates and I formed a trio – The Moonstruck Coyotes – with the intent to sing in the Tucson Folk Festival. There is joy in the rehearsing, the getting better. The performance is the icing on the cake. Since one thing leads to another, it turns out we will not only be in the Folk Festival on May 2nd but we’ll be singing two numbers at Sons of Orpheus’ Spring Concerts.

Next I hear that Frank has gotten us booked for an interview and song on KXCI Radio on April 9th at 2:30.

What’s next? Who knows. But…

Summertime in Tucson

My first CD was ”Home in Arizona.”

I like writing fun stuff and “Summertime in Tucson” is one of my favorite cuts. It’s an ode to air conditioning, an epic tale that includes God and the devil. Press the play button above the CD cover to listen.

What Do I Write?

Now that I’ve got this blog, what do I write or write about. I have never been a journal writer but what turns me on is singing and writing songs. Last weeklend I attended a Tucson Symphony concert, “Saddle Up.” It featured my guitar teacher and friend, Bill Ganz, and his band.

I’ve always been a fan of cowboy tunes even though I grew up in Brooklyn and don’t ride horses. Since I started with Bill 13 years ago I’ve written a few tunes about the west. The concert got me thinking on the buckaroos from southern Arizona who wrote many of the cowboy classics. Bob Nolan, Stan Jones, Rex Allen and “Badger” Clarke all were influenced by the landscape and events around Bisbee, Tombstone, Wilcox and Tucson. Inspired, I penned a new tune called “Saddle Up.” It’ about ‘keepin’ the songs of the cowboys alive.’  When recorded I’ll let you know. For now, Keep Singing!