Hogan #2 Idol

A while back I read that the 17th Street Market and Music Store was holding a 17th Street Idol competition for singer/songwriters. I entered the category for amateurs. The professional category was for singers who earn some money selling their music or performing. That ain’t me.

The first phase was the audition. Three judges, 45 amateur contestants and a lot of jitters for me. I only get a little nervous when performing but this was verrrry different. I sang “Summertime in Tucson” and shook all the way through. I knew I hadn’t passed muster. But, surprisingly, after a week or two chiding myself, I learned I had made the semi finals.

I realized that I was thinking about this all wrong. I decided to approach the semis not as an audition but as a performance.

At the semis I decided to peform, “The Night New Orleans Drowned.” It was a great song choice, all the judges had great things to say and a few folks told me they would see me in the finals. Cool! And they turned out to be right.

At the finals I decided to ride the “New Orleans” horse that got me there and I “placed,” that’s right, I took second. Way Cool! I even won a guitar.

You can listen to “The Night New Orleans Drowned” by clicking above.. If you like it you can download a copy from iTunes or Amazon. Click here for Amazon.  Click here for iTunes. You can also buy my CDs at CD Baby.

Like I blogged in the post, “Getting off the But,” I put myself out there, stretched myself and was rewarded. Even if I hadn’t placed, the experience helped me grow. That’s the real reward.

Thanks to Jim and Frank and all the folks at 17th Street Market for the opportunity.

Catching Up and Honoring Our Vets

I have been lazzzzy. I haven’t blogged for months and may not for another few months. Since my last post I’ve written one more song, “Memorial Day,” entered the 17th Street Idol competition, and performed twice with my Moonstruck Coyote brothers: Jim Gates, Phil Anderson and Frank Hartline.

“Memorial Day” was inspired by a service that was held at Eastlawn Cemetery on Memorial Day. Sons of Orpheus performed after the service on the lawn. As we sang “Mansions of the Lord” a vet in the audience was visibly moved and began slowly waving his flag while tears ran down his cheeks, and mine.  

Inspired by the emotions of the day, the words, “Let us remember, ‘lest we forget,” kept running through my head. The balance of the lyrics came pretty easily. The first verse reads:

“Let us remember, ‘lest we forget

Our fallen heros gone to their rest

Fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers

Let us remember our bravest and best.”

We owe our country, our freedoms and much that we hold dear to our veterans. They must be honored and remembered.

On Thursday, Veterans Day, November 11th, 2010, Sons of Orpheus will participate and sing in the annual concert at the VA Hospital on South 6th Ave. and Ajo Way. If you can attend, and say hello and thanks to a vet, please do. If you can’t be there, please remember to remember our vets and all who now serve.