Just a reminder from the get-go here: 

YOUR BEST ON-LINE LISTENING EXPERIENCE
IS WITH QUALITY EAR BUDS/HEADPHONES   
AND NOT YOUR LAPTOP SPEAKERS

"Speech is free; lies cost you."-- Final statement by attorney prosecuting Alex Jones, conspiracy theorist and false-monger extraordinaire.

"WHAT YOU ANSWER TO"
5 Stars
Featured Artist: Mr. Lance Miller
Writers:  Robin Branda/Paul Harbin/Ron Patrick
Release Date December 23, 2021
Greater Big Bend Music, BMI
Click the player to listen!

ABOUT THE SONG
"What You Answer To" is a collaboration between primary songwriters
Robin Branda and Paul Harbin, with a finishing line
offered late-night by Ron Patrick. The line was
accepted and the song was recorded in style
as a demonstration project by Nashville
Recording Artist, Lance Miller, in 2004.

 KEVIN WELCH SONGWRITING WORKSHOP 
Wimberly, Texas 

          For starters let me say to TEAM YouTube... "Thank you" for helping get Texas Connection up and running.  Here are 2 personal videos from this Texas mega-trip featuring Artist/Master Songwriter, Kevin Welch, and son Dustin Welch, Artist/Songwriter, and Dobro-aficionado.  Give them a visit at dustinwelch.com and kevinwelch.com.

Texas Connection 1 -
Kevin Welch  

Texas Connection 2 -
Kevin Welch, Dustin Welch, and
The Great God-A-Mighty Choir

                   I am a proud student of this once-in-a-lifetime songwriting workshop in Wimberly Texas, 2015.  I measured the round-trip distance between Tallahassee and Wimberly to be 4 "big ol' jet airliners", 2 rental cars, 4 motels, 2 Excel spreadsheets with 6 Gant Charts, and a mid-night waiter who opened the door for us at a closed Appleby's, fed us, and helped us get our bearings when we arrived in San Antonio.  Said he was a friend of Kevin's.   

          And with some expert planning by Marie Eileen (my wife and State Senator's Aid, let me say)... the trip came off like clockwork , except for MY getting us lost on the return trip between Pensacola, the town, and Pensacola, the airport.  Go figure. 

          This 3 day workshop at Kevin's home-place in Wimberly was a friendly rustic dream amid the picturesque low-lying Mexicali trees between San Antonio and Austin.  While Kevin, and son Dustin, an artist in his own right, double-teamed us "students" with different takes and perspectives, it is fair to say there was friendly and respectful give and take from both sides on the two-way street of all things songwriting. 

          The best part for me was one-on-one with Kevin walking around his grounds and hearing his responses to my questions about the story behind "Beneath My Wheels".  Kevin explained the idea for the song was born riding "shotgun" on the way to a gig in a car driven by Gary Nicholson.  Said he watched that rear tire spinning in the passenger door  mirror for a long period of time;  then said the song was of redemption and was 10 years to completion.  Awesome song.  Wife Marie Eileen enjoyed visiting with Kevin and discussing books they've read. 

          The Welches and supporting staff were gracious hosts and made all of the some-odd 12 of us, give or take, feel welcome in their home.  It is a cherished time I look back on fondly.

Kevin Welch Songwriting Workshops
Wimberly, Texas

Two albums have been released: a 10 song album and a 6 song album.
          The 10-song album ("The Songs Remember EXTENDED VERSION") is for digital and physical distribution and includes four new tracks (two of these tracks, "COWBOY" and "NOT ENOUGH JIM BEAM" were recorded LIVE at Songwriter Listening Room events).
          The 6-song album ("The Songs Remember") is for digital distribution.

         "HEY, I SUPPORT THE TROOPS, IT'S YOU GOT IT WRONG,
AND EVERYTHING IS ALLRIGHT!"

           "W.M.D. State of the Union 2008" is a reminder and caution of how easily war can become protracted with unexpected consequences after being started with the best of intentions.    With the Iraq War, there was real concern caused by seeing the actual use of poison gas against innocent Iraqie men, women and children... in the streets of Bagdad... by the brutal dictator Saddam Hussein.  Then markers were laid down by faulty intel that Hussein was building up a nuclear capability.  In the end, that didn't pan out. 
          The events in this song are true... amid a parade of Talking Points that were excuses and made up shit.  One such Talking Point was "The war was launched to find nuclear WMD."   When that didn't pan out the Talking Point became "We did it for democracy."  This song remembers those years, with some fact checking, and was completed in 2008. 

One of the greatest country songs ever written... any time, any place.
Written by Fred "Butch" Burns and Ken Yon. 
Performed by Fred "Butch" Burns.
 ~Greater Big Bend Music, BMI
 

Fred "Butch" Burns, Ron Patrick, and the late Judge Charles Miner.
Performed by Fred "Butch" Burns
 ~Greater Big Bend Music, BMI

          The songwriter said:
"Well, I got this new song here, but I have just this one verse; and I don't have the chorus; and I DON'T have the bridge!"  --Rick Ott.

          My partner, Morty Beckman, and I played at a "listening room" event in Sopchoppy, the Music Capitol of Florida,  where a savvy and motivated audience attended.  It was a totally FUN night!   Presenting original material were Rick Ott, Kim Thomas, Ron Patrick, and Morty Beckman.  You will probably notice in the video that the event lighting was dimmed for ambience, so please... turn off the lights in your room for better viewing.

          The "Original" Tallahassee Songwriters Listening Room hosted by the Tallahassee  Museum and featuring our late great friend... Bill Gay, with Sharla June, Morty Beckman, and Ron Patrick performing in the Old Historic Concord Schoolhouse.  The video is in editing.  90%complete.

          My partner, Morty Beckman, and I founded the "Original" Tallahassee Songwriters Listening Room in 2012.  "Listening rooms" have always been major outlets for songwriters, pro's and unpublished alike. The concept goes back to before the early days of Bob Dylan, and they existed in all the major music hubs:  Nashville, New York, LA.  Miami maybe?  Probably. 

           You won't find a more fun format anywhere than "listening rooms."  This form of entertainment will rebound in Tallahassee and surrounding areas  as the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 subsides.  Most of these rooms generally practice the "Shhhhh" factor taken from the world-famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee where almost every night new songs get heard and new deals get made.  http://www.bluebirdcafe.com                               

COMING SOON 
Up On The Road--Sam Jones' War--Rainy Monday Blue--The Mighty St. Johns