When selling CD's at my shows and on my website my most often asked question is, "Do you have any CD's that sound just like we just heard? ...with some of the same songs?".  So that's what I've been working on for several weeks.  A CD with the songs that are best received, most requested and the most fun for me to do... all recorded just like I play them live... with my harmonicas, my harmony machine, my Godin guitar and my Roland/Alesis drums with my feet!  All the songs that are loaded into the site-wide player below, until you get to Just Another Day, are songs from that upcoming CD.  So if you haven't heard me live and wonder, just how does he sound?... This sounds like me... hence the name of the upcoming CD.  So far there's Celtic New Year, Diamonds On the Inside, Crutches, Nasty Habits, Too Many Dirty Dishes, T-bone Shuffle, I Don't Live In a Dream, Sail Away, Father Daughter, Walking In Memphis and Till There Was You.  I'm also working on my next studio produced CD, which I hope to have released by spring.

Wow! My little girl is married. The wedding was everything a parent could hope for. All my experience with being part of so many weddings might have helped me be ready for the music, but nothing could prepare me for the joy and emotions I experienced as my little angel married the man of her dreams. 

They had a wonderful honeymoon in southern Florida and they've since moved into their apartment in Chapel Hill... of all places... since they both graduated from UNC Chapel Hill it seems fitting that their first jobs would happen there as well. 

Just received my first forward at Taxi.com for my song, Hard To Get the Blues.  Here's a little info about Taxi and what they do for me.  You guys know and like, maybe even love, my music... I hear that all the time.  But getting my music in front of the right folks that need music for movies, TV shows and other artist's cd projects is close to impossible for me due to the fact that I'm in the mountains of NC and I'm busy travelling just about every week to be part of so many private events.  That's where Taxi comes in.  I pay them to provide a listing of available opportunities and then submit my music to these listing in hopes of getting it in front of a music exec.  I also get valuable feedback about my music, the recording, etc.  So that brings me back to my first success here... my first forward.  I began using Taxi a few months ago and have since submitted 3 songs.  One of these, Hard to Get the Blues, was forwarded just last week.  I wrote that song while sleeping... honest.  It was a Sunday morning.  I had won the semifinals of a regional blues contest and was heading that night to the finals.  I remember thinking after the way I felt after winning that night that it was hard to get the blues when folks react the way they do.  I woke up from a dream that I was singing that song... reached to the nightstand, wrote down the verses and went back to sleep.  Got up later and worked on it for about an hour.  Sang it that night and came in 2nd in the band competition... I'm a solo guy so that was cool.  Anyway this has been one of my lucky songs.  Thanks Taxi!

I'd like to make you aware of a really cool project I've just completed. Early in the year I was commissioned to compose a song for a website honoring our soldiers and veterans. That website, www.SoldiersmeanMore.com, went live on 9/17/08. I am truly honored that my work is being used to pay tribute to those that serve our great nation and to help those that come home with physical and emotional tramua. I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the video on that site... I promise it will make you proud and make you think.

Flying to Austin, TX and performing at the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception of Jennifer and Bryce Adams was officially my longest music-only road-trip ever.  And it was a blast.  All the events took place at one Texas' premier wedding venues, The Red Corral Ranch, in Wimberley, TX.  The town and people of Wimberley turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.  Bryce and Jennifer's family was the other highlight.  Due to my website they already knew me before I arrived and Lynn and I got to know and love them quickly. You know how sometimes you just meet folks and you know you're going to get along and fit in... we felt that way from the moment we met.

Our trip was jam packed with fun stuff and early morning wakeups to get to airports, etc. but it was such a great time.  We chose to take my equipment to this event instead of renting equipment so I'd be more comfortable at the events.  That meant we looked like we were moving out for good at the airports.  We got a lot of turned heads with our 2 carts of suitcases and music cases as we hurried to check-in at Raleigh and in Austin.  The best comment we received was from the driver of the shuttle service when we returned to NC... When he saw of stack of luggage he laughed and asked if "we left anything at the house?"  I don't know why but that just cracked me up. :-)  Speaking of luggage and airlines, Southwest did a great job getting all of my equipment to Texas and back.  They were very easy to work with and the most economical of all the airlines I researched.  Thanks Southwest for all the LUV.

Pictures and videos from the weekend should be ready later this week so check back later.  Thanks to all my new friends and family in Texas for making this such a memorable weekend for me and Lynn.  See you again soon.

I wanted to take a few minutes to thank all you for your prayers and thoughts during this past week.  As you can see from the fact that I'm typing, I survived the surgery.  But man, I've never felt so much pain in my life.  After 2 days in ICU and the 2 more days in a regular room I was allowed to come home on Friday night.  My doctors and surgeons were fantastic... especially Dr. Griffin and Dr. Trujillo.  My nurses were caring and understanding and even demanding when they needed to be.  My family and friends were so supportive... most came during my surgery so I never got to see them, but others came almost every day.  Lynn hardly ever left my side and her strength and support, along with your thoughts and prayers, got me through this.  So for the next few weeks I'll be recovering at my home.  Thanks again for all your love, support and prayers. 

Many of you come here often to listen to music and just check up on me.  I've been very quiet about something that's been going on in my life since before Christmas.  Over the holidays I was diagnosed with a mass on my adrenal gland. With high hopes I kept going thinking it was nothing and it would be ok.  Turns out it is very serious and because of that I'm having surgery today at Forsyth Hospital in Winston Salem.  I am forever the optimist and I know in my heart that I will be well and back at this music dream in a few weeks, but those of you that care about me please offer up a prayer or well wishes today.  I'm reminded of the song by Brad Paisley and the line that says, "Go hug aunt Rita, every chance you can."  Old folks are always telling you that life is short... in about 3 hours I will be undergoing surgery that will either save my life or forever change it.  Man, I'm telling you, life is so short.  Right this moment I wish I had 20 years back from my life.  I don't know that I'd do that many things differently because I love my life, my friends, my children and my wife... but I would do everything in my power to enjoy every moment more thouroughly.  It is my wish and prayer that each of you will do the same without having to go through an illness to get there.  Thanks as always for all your support of my musical dreams. 


Owen

This past weekend had me playing at 2 events.  The 1st on Friday night was at Yianni's of Morganton.  Yianni's, one of my very few public venues, is always a blast.  Wes had called earlier in the day and warned me that "crowds and business has been slow" over the last month there... so I was prepared for a small but vocal crowd.  We were both surprised by the size of the crowd... unlike other weeks it ended up being close to standing room only, with many of these folks there becuase it had been a few months since I had been there.  What an honor that was for me. :-)  My best friend from high school, Randy Smith, showed up with 2 long lost friends in tow.  Rusty and Jim, it was great having you guys sit so close to the stage.  I fed off your energy all night and in my mind you guys made me much better that evening.  See you back on Feb. 29th I hope.

The 2nd show was a private party was at the home of Allen Smith in the Providence area of Charlotte.  It was a celebration of friends... celebrating the fact that their common friend, Noel, has just celebrated being in America from England for 40 years.  The theme of the evening was centered around this fact, with lots of flags, pictures and other decorations and with me providing music at first from Van Morrison, The Beatles, The Who, Cream, John Mayall, etc. I know Noel appreciated the "over the pond" music very much.  About half way through the evening we all sang God Save the Queen and Noel gave a speech.  Getting to know him via the speech gave me a great respect the man the person that he was and is.  He and his family came to this country 40 years ago with just $8 in his pocket.  He is now a very afluent person, but gives back by working in a prison ministry.  After I started the 2nd and final set the music and the mood rose a level or two.  After just a few songs, almost everyone was on the floor dancing... those that were not dancing were sitting very close to me, talking and watching.  It always amazes me that folks really want to understand what I'm doing with my feet while playing.  The most fun song of the night, besides the last Delbert Mcclinton song "Thank You Baby", was Frank Sinatra's song "New York New York". A pseudo can-can line formed and the laughs and fun were contagious.  Oh yeah, I met a very lovely lady from near West Jefferson named Gail.  Gail, nearly 87 years old, was a hoot to talk to.  She was so sharp and so beautiful, not just for her age as she said, but for anyone's age.  Gail it was an honor getting to know you.  Allen, Ellen and Noel I'd like to express my sincere thanks for making me part of your celebration and I hope you'll keep me in mind for future parties in your area of friends.  I had a great time.

Hi guys.  Here's hoping that 2008 is a great year for each and every one of you.  It sure has started with a bang for me and my family.  Looking ahead, it looks like 2008 will be the biggest and best year for me and my music yet.  I have many, many out of state engagements this year that I'm looking forward to.  So far this year I'm already booked to provide music in NC, SC, VA, GA and even Austin, TX and I have bookings all the way out to November of this year!  The first month of 2008 has been quiet as usual.  Not too many parties and not too many weddings.  I'm still ranked as Gigmasters' #1 entertainer in the nation for the 15th month in a row and it seems that not a day goes by without someone calling or emailing to inquire about music for their party or wedding/reception of which I am so thankful and humbled.  Many new and old customers become friends, almost family, and visit here often to "check up on Owen" so I thought I'd try to do better this year with the blogging. 

So what's new?  Well I'll be back at Yianni's in Morganton, NC this Friday night for another rare public appearance.  I have 2 private parties coming up this weekend and next in Charlotte.  March is looking thin right now but again it usually is for me.  Then things really heat up and get busy in April and May.

I've never had back issues or even health issues until recently.  In the south you'll hear someone say, "He's down with his back".  That never really made sense to me until a few weeks ago.  I'm still struggling through the edges of that one so keep me in your thoughts and prayers for the next few weeks.

Christmas at our home was awesome this year.  I just love it when the whole family stuffs into one room.  I guess as you get older you come to realize how important those times are and begin to cherish them more and more.  I remember as a child my mom and dad would fill the floor by and around the tree with so many presents they reached the ceiling many years and many years you couldn't even see the tree.  We'd usually get one or two of the things we really wanted and the rest was really just smaller stuff that took forever to unwrap.  Man that was fun.  So as I got older and had children I ended up doing the same thing... untl this year.  This year we decided to purchase just a few gifts and zero in on making them count.   I have to admit it is much harder this way.  If you're going to buy your daughter one gift you have to make sure it is something she really, really wants. 

So that's some of what's been happening with me and my family.  I hope 2008 is a great year for you and your family and that at some time during this year our paths get to cross.

A long lost but long time friend of mine faced something tragic last week.  She received the call that all of us parents fear and dread we'll receive... that her only child, Gavin, was tragically killed in an automobile accident.  Leah, along with about 4 others, and I were inseparable best friends in high school.  That bond formed by those closest of friends has stood the test of time and my heart just sank when I heard the news.  The service for Gavin took place on Saturday, December 1st and I was honored to be asked to sing 2 songs in the service. I sang "When I Get Where I'm Going", which I first sang in a funeral at my grandfather's funeral in 2005 and "Amazing Grace".  I told Leah that I did not know her son, but I knew a lot about him by those that came to honor his life.  He was 22 years old, a native of Greenville, SC and was surrounded by the kind of friendship that Leah and our buddies shared.  In fact almost 1/2 of the very large church was taken up by his friends that drove from hours away to honor his life and memories.  I am sad that someone that I care so much about is going through this very dark tunnel of life.  I'm reminded of the pain that one of my heros, Eric Clapton, went through when he lost his son Connor.  He spoke of the pain and numbness as unbearable.  For those of you that are around Leah more than I am, please reach out to her and continue to offer her the love and friendship she'll need to get through this.  Leah, it is with all that is in me that I say I am truly sorry for your family's loss.