Old is the new, New

Was talking with a good friend of mine today, and he was relaying to me how difficult it's been for him to ply his music in his area. It seems as though availability of players is slim to none, and he can't seem to get anyone motivated enough to start a project.
All of that got me thinking as we were talking. I offered to come down to his area and lend my saxophone and vocals to him when I wasn't doing Carpenter Ants chores.
He stated that he doesn't mind doing the solo act, but he sort of had bigger dreams to do orchestral stuff. Believe me, he's got the voice and the stage presence to do it.
I on the other hand really feel that this music business is going to see a major swing back, and we'll all be in a good position to make our music.
Why do I feel this way?
Well for one thing, even though right now, the music industry is flooded by all the hip shaking no real talent ( not everyone of course...), party all night, throw up, paparazzi chased, doped out (got enough adjectives here?), crowd, all of those youngsters who are currently in our conciousness are looking backward and realizing that they need the music that we were doing first.
I heard on the radio the other day, Celine Dion singing a cover of the Aretha Franklin inspired Carol King penned version of "Natural Woman." Now don't get me wrong, Celine does have an admirable voice; in fact she can sing, but I'm sorry,and you can argue the point all you'd like, but she will NEVER (that's right...) NEVER be Aretha Franklin. The changes in the original version are perfect, especially where the strings cross over into the bridge section of the song...listen carefully, I'll spell it out. "Oh baby what you done for me, you make me feel so good inside, and I just wanna be, close to you, you make me feel so alive...If Celine would have had Yanni's orchestra, she still could not have pulled it off. The string section used in Aretha's version was unreal it was so good, yet it was simple.
Celine's version pales by comparison.
You see what I was telling my friend is that what we all need to do is just hold on because everything old is the new, new.
Let me clear here; what I'm saying is that all of the music that our younger folks are now realizing is valid is all of the music that we grew up doing first hand. You can even go so far as to say that some of that music was created by us. Certainly it is in our era. Just the Celine example alone proves my point. Many of today's top selling artists are reaching an impass and they are clamoring to find out about the music that we created, and trying to figure out how we did it so flawlessly.
I've said before and I'll say it again, to my younger friends, you must build your buildings from the ground up. It is impossible to build a building from the 23rd floor.This is the real reason so many artists don't last long, they don't have the foundation that we have...Rolliing Stones anyone?
In all, I really wish that we all could ply our trade and make music more readily available for the masses, because everybody needs it, young, old and everyone in between.
The message in the meantime though is hold on and stand up straight, the music will come back. because old is the new, new.
To Darrell and all of you my friends, thanks for stopping by, have a great week.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.
Don't forget, you can follow me on Twitter and follow The Carpenter Ants on Facebook

The Randall Wray Tribute (for the love of music...)

Last night in Charleston there was a tribute to fallen musician named Randall Wray.
Let me first give you a bit of some background
Randall was a blues guitarist who was not only a phenom, but also (at the time when I met him...) so much a genius that he was a little mad (as in Einstein, or mad scientist). He was completely confident, but just a bit crazy.
 I still found him to be fascinating though, and I am forever grateful that I shared a stage with him before he left this world for good.
Let me tell you folks, people who knew Randall, all of the musicians that played with Randall over the years, and folks who knew the name were all in attendance. Many people flew in or came in from all over the county.
The event was hosted by one of my best friends and fellow musician, Terry Lowry.
Terry, put together an evening of music that if you weren't there, and just heard about it, you'd swear was the event of a lifetime...and it was.
First of all what he did was utilized most of the musicians who had either played with Randall at one time or another or he had people playing who would have admired Randall's status as a Charleston blues icon.
There were elements that I thoroughly enjoyed about the evening and some that I had been hard pressed to figure out. Starting with my own playing, I had a very hard time hearing myself; as I was all the way in a corner on the stage ( I ended up sitting on a piano, that is located there...), mainly due to the fact that there were so many amps on stage. It made it difficult for me to find my place, and don't feel that I played my best. Oh well, that happens, so we'll just move right along...
The thing that I loved about the night, which is the point of my post today. Randall, for all of us that knew him could be completely irreverent and off the cuff. One quick story just to give you an idea...another musician asked him once if he wanted a pick to play his guitar at a show and Randall exclaimed that "the Randall needs no plectrum..."He told me that he didn't see the need for a saxophone player at a show I did with him, but told me that he admired my playing "so I guess it's OK."
Talk about pressure...WHEW.
That is irreverence of the highest order, and last night that is exactly what happened, it was totally crazy, but damn was it ever fun.
I got to listen to many folks who I had not gotten to listen to during his heyday. I had gotten to see first hand some of the folks he influenced over the years. I got meet his brother whom I never met, and who also never heard his own brother play. That was well worth it to me.
They had a giant poster of the event and had all the musicians who were playing sign it and it was presented to Randall's brother and family, which was a nice touch. For them it was really special to know that so many people loved Randall as we did.
Some of the musicians playing were absolutely inspiring to watch. People like Tom Benson, Bill Light, and Chris Garten. It was wonderful to catch up with some of my brothers like Kai Haynes and John Chic. My bandmate Michael Lipton was amazing, it was fun to be in a different settiing than our Carpenter Ants show.
In all the evening was a huge success, because, while yes it was little rough around the edges the irreverence of it is was made it an event that you should have been here for.
I sincerely hope that we can do it again, and I sincerely hope that alot of the younger muscians in town show up to see how it is done...for the love of music.
See ya at the next show.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.
Don't forget you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Thoughts About My Journey

I've been at this game of music for a long time now, and I think it's about time for some relfection.
Music has been such an integral part of me for so many years, and truly I have loved every minute of it. Of course there are times that I could live without, but overall it has been wonderful.
The best of it has been my time spent here in The Carpenter Ants. My brothers have enriched me to no end, and I'm very grateful we share this journey together.
One of the reasons that I'm talking about this today is that I feel it is important for all of you who think, "oh I'm getting to old to chase a dream, or think that one can spend too much time going nowhere, or just simply feel that what you want is unattainable,"I want to tell you not to give up or give in.
If playing music makes you happy, then by all means go for it. If you can make a couple of bucks along the way, then why not. Just be realistic about it. Savor the process by which it comes. Build your building from the ground up and not from the tenth floor as many of our youngsters seem to want to do.
I've always said, it didn't matter to me about the length of time it takes, so long as I take the time to pursue my passion.
Another reason for this writing is to say thanks to the many people who support us. It's gratifying to look out into the audience and see your faces out there waiting for us and rooting for us.
When we played on the Levee in Charleston in September, collectively, we all said "that it was one of the most fun nights we had there."
This part of the journey is important as well, connecting with people.It's just good business.
Like any voyage, it can be fraught with turbulance and sorrow, and of course, I'm no different, I've had my share, but even with those setbacks, I still feel that this has been a most worthwhile experience, to play music for you.
As long as I have breath in the old body, I will continue to try and entertain you. As long as a keyboard exists, I will still try telling you the thoughts about my journey.
I sincerely hope that all of these posts and all of my stories help those of you striving as I am in music, come to realize that this is a process; that all of these things add up to you being musicians and playing in this game.
They are important steps...and remember, the longest journey starts with a single step.
These steps are a necessity so that you remember where you came from. Always look forward, and always reflect backward. Doing so will allow you to take better stock in yourself, You'll realize your true value.
I'm always grateful to you. Take care and have a great day.

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and follow The Carpenter Ants on Facebook.

A Most Disturbing Trend

I want to address something that has been happening far too much in my community of late, and shed some much needed light on it...

Living here in West Virginia and more specifically in the Kanawha Valley has been one of the best moves I could have ever made for myself. When I left New York, it wasn't because I didn't love it, it was that it was increasingly becoming far too violent for me to continue living there.
One night after working my rear end off in a studio after having worked my regular job earlier that day, I was returning home when I got robbed directly around the corner from my house. I got robbed at gunpoint (yes,you read that right...)
Well that was all that I needed to convince me that it was time to leave New York City. But where do I go? Crime, seemingly was everywhere, but I needed and wanted to live peacefully. I got no qualms about working, but I didn't want to go somewhere and have to surrender what I've worked my ass off to get.
I chose Charleston West Virginia...why? Because when I lived here during my college days I found Charleston and its people to be among the best people I had ever known. Truly, salt of the earth kind of folks. People who will give you the shirt off their backs if you need it.
I'm still not sorry that I'm here, but now I'm hearing horrible and horrific stories of my sisters getting mugged and harmed right here in Charleston, and it bothers me to no end.
Charleston you are better than this, we're not New York, we're not these other poorly governed and atrocious places. How can we let ourselves get to this? I know that the economy is bad throughout the county, but even with that looming over us, we are West Virginians, and we are better than that.
I am appalled to know that some female friends of mine had to not only endure being humiliated, but also were harmed in the process to the point of hospitalization. That is goddamned disturbing to me.
Charleston West Virginia, I want to ask in the name of everything decent, please don't do this to our sisters. Don't do it to anyone, but especially to the women. As it says in the Pointer Sisters song, "Yes We Can Can," "and do respect the women of the world, remember you all have mothers..."Before you lay hands on another person, think carefully about what this, a most disturbing trend is doing for us as a community, it's giving us a black eye, and it is comparing us to the other nastier seemier cities.
Please tell me that this is not what we want for ourselves.
To the ladies who had to endure these horrific acts ( I won't mention your names to keep your anonymity...), please know from me how sorry I am for what you have endured. If there is any way that I can help you through this please contact me.
Sincerely, Charlie Tee

Social Media: reaching for the the right notes

I know that I'm getting older and the thoughts of technology scare me somewhat, but I really am trying to embrace it somewhat as well.
I've been blogging since 2005, and I have enjoyed doing this very much, but along with this I'm now trying to maintain a Twitter account and a Facebook account.
The whole social media thing has so many ups and downs, that it truly reminds me of the byline of this blog: "A journal for those trying their hardest to make a career in the music business, the ups and downs."
Part of what makes this social medium so fascinating is that you really can connect with so many folks who might not ever come your way otherwise, and you can create a loyal following.
The frustrating part of it is that you also meet many folks who should learn to leave their opinions at the door.
The bullies, who torment kids, the religious fanatics who feel theirs is the only way.Just the hate mongers in general are enough to make me gag.
Let's leave the negative folks behind for now and explore the many great ways this thing can work and see if we can create some positive energy while also seeing if I can create more of a following for myself as well as the Carpenter Ants.
First, if you haven't heard by now, The Ants have a new CD in the works called "Ants and Uncles." Look for it in stores and on http://www.cdbaby.com/ sometime around December of this year.
I really am proud of how far this band has come in our 25 years. I have learned alot from my time with them, including embracing the medium of social media.
I have been fortunate to travel as a musician and entertain many wonderful people over the years, and I've been able to stay in touch beyond the shows we've done. Connecting with people is a really good thing especially when they really dig what you do.
Now this whole notion of instant notification makes it even more intriguing, I can text from the road, with WIFI, I can e-mail in minutes as we're approaching. With blogging, I can tell you stories about what my world is like and so on.It as they say is all good.
All these things that were so difficult to do just a scant few years ago are now getting easier every minute of everyday...I've just got to bite the bullet, give up my fear and let social media help me to continue reaching for the right notes. I am going to get there, and I hope that you continue to join me.
While you're at it, send me any suggestions you have to make easier to learn these new things.
Anyway here's a start: you can follow me on Twitter: the link is on the right underneath the clock, also on Facebook. There are also some You Tube postings of The Carpenter Ants (one I really like is "Carpenter Ants at the Acoustic Coffee House 1 2 3 and 4," shot in Johnsonville Tennessee; what a fun and magical night that was...)
I will get proficient and post more pictures in all of these places so you keep up with my exploits.
In the meantime remember:
Support Live music today tomorrow and always

Have a wonderful weekend all my BFF's

Four Hours to a New Me

For a few months now I've been on dialysis, and I've told you how it has been a life changer for me on a different levels.
I really needed to slow down with my life to some degree; I'm still striving with my music, and I still get up daily and go to work, but all these things have taken a decidedly different turn now that being tethered to a dialysizer has entered the picture.
If you know me at all you know that there is little in life that frightens me. People don't scare me, situations don't necessarily make me come undone; but the one true thing that horrifies me is hospitals.
Mainly because I don't understand that realm; when doctors and nurses start speaking to me in their seemingly coded language, I feel as though I have no control over my circumstance. This is one the reasons that especially now that my Vickie is gone, I really feel all alone.
She knew me inside and out. When I developed Diabetes, she studied it to the point that we made informed decisions about dealing with it (just in case you forgot, Vickie was an X-ray Tech by profession...).
The hospital world didn't seem so scary as long as she was with me.
Now I have to depend on myself (which I really needed to do anyway...), and try to make sense of the rest of my life.
Don't get me wrong, I do have help now, but mostly I've got take the bull by the horns and be my own advocate...it's a bit tricky.
My roommate and my daughter have given me great insights about how to go about all this and slowly I've made some good choices (at least I feel they are...).
The first was choosing a dialysis facility, and that first choice turned out to be the best.
I want to tell you about  Fresenius Medical Care Centers http://www.fmcna.com/. They are a nationwide facility of the highest quality.If you find yourself in my situation, this is the place to go.
The nurses and tech staff truly go above and beyond to make it the most positive experience for you. I've become friends with many of the folks at my facility, they have helped me to continue to be able to do my music, go to work, and just plain and simply live.
Everyone that I've encountered here has been more than professional, they have been kind and respectful of my circumstance. In short, I could not have asked for better people to treat, and care for me.
Whenever I or anybody walks in, they always greet you with genuine warmth and smiling faces.
Dialysis can be frightening enough when you feel bad as many people do, but it helps when the staff do their best to at least take that much off your shoulders.
So I just want to give a shout out to the staff at the Dunbar facility and say thank you so much for all that you are doing to keep me on the planet, and moreover to keep me smiling.It's four hours to a new me.

This post is dedicated to Tracy, Wendy, Patti, Tasha, Jill, Betty, Crystal, and Cheryl, the best team on Earth.

Even while on dialysis...Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

My Three Words

God Bless America...
This is important...
We STAND Together...
We Will Heal...
I'm So Sorry...
Love Life Always...
Remember This Day...
Remember these places...
New York City...
Washington District Columbia...
Shanksville PA, too...
It's time to...
Come together now...
Celebrate each other...
Remember the victims...
Justice for all...
Respond with truth...
Because you'll see...
Love answers everything...
GOD IS LOVE...
Today tomorrow always...



Add yours here...

Season To Taste

Judging by my size one can easily see that I am a fan of food. Now that I am a dialysis patient, I can easily see that my food obsession has cost me.
All things considered, I am OK with my current status as it has begun to teach me some valuable life lessons.
One of the things that I've learned is that I need to slow down when I eat, I should savor my food thereby allowing me not eat as much (or as often...). The other thing is when I create my menu, I need to season to taste, meaning I can find things in my kitchen pantry that will enhance my flavors.
The last thing is to relax and enjoy my food, not scarf it down as though it were my last meal...you'll get the point of all of these metaphors.
Anyway, musically I've come to realize alot of the same things.
Here now, the news.
We, (The Carpenter Ants...) have been recording our new CD over the past month or so, and I've come to humorous realizations (at least in my mind...).
One of those is that my bandmates although very talented are terrified when it comes to having to sing in front of people in a studio setting. Yesterday I was at Michael Lipton's house where our producer Don Dixon has set up shop for us to do some touches to the CD, and the guys were working on parts to the vocals. I watched Michael, Ted Harrison (our bassist) and Jupiter Little (our drummer and my co lead vocalist) as they were doing some of the background parts.
It was especially poignant to watch Teddy, who rarely sings on stage with us, but has in my opinion one of best ears in my musical world. He was like a deer in the headlights. It seemed to me as though he were having a hard time trying to relax.
Now please don't get me wrong here, what we are doing in this process is very important and my guys as well as I, realize that time and money is always of the essence,so we can't play around (we don't have that luxury...), but we must season to taste.
By savoring our moments taking a tip from from our "musical chefs" as it were, the end product will be a pleaser for your mind along with your ears
I've tried to impart some of my wisdom as a singer on to my brothers such as sing from your stomach and not from your chest because it will help you one to relax and sing without too much effort.
Another is when your in front of the microphone take one part of the headphones off of your ears, thereby allowing you to hear your own voice more natually and not in conjunction with what you are recording.
In all though, I am very proud to tell you that sometime around Christmas our newest CD will be available for you and the title is "Ants and Uncles."On the new CD, you are going to find many wonderful songs as well as some of our very special guest Ants like Bill Kirchen (of Hot Rod Lincoln fame..).We have written a a few new songs too, so look for those on it.
Going back to the beginning of this post, you see the lessons I've learned from dialysis. I said in a recent post that this process is a different deal for a guy like me. One can think oh my, poor Charlie is a dialysis patient and have pity, but truly there is no need. I am really Ok with it. For one thing it has slowed me down, as I needed to do so, and 2, it is saving my life, and obviously without that there would be no music. I'm using my kithcen better and my bandmates are making out music better, because we're all learning together to season to taste.
Take care everybody, I'll keep you posted on the CD progress, and remember...

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.
By the way, thank you so much to everyone who sent me e-mails after my last post. I'm healing.