Hi everyone-
NOTE - If you're reading this on the home page, click on the title of this blog to see the whole thing. --------
I thought I'd give an general update on the several things that have been happening this spring. I appreciate the support of my music from all of you literally around the world. We're like a small town, just spread out a bit...
-
The single of "How Could I Love Her So Much" by Larry Cordle seems to stay just below the radar on the various Bluegrass charts after peaking at #1 briefly on the Roots Music Chart a couple of weeks ago. It's not gone, still lurking. Could peak its head up again, you never know.... One way or the other it's a great record that I am VERY proud of. Thank you Larry!
Here it is on YouTube:
And for radio on AirPlay Direct:
-
The duet single of "Till the Morning Comes" by Jonas Fjeld and me is still being played. Unsurprisingly, most of the activity is in Norway, where Jonas is a superstar. More interestingly, a lot of the other activity is in Australia. My report from Spotify shows the most streams in the last month were in Oslo and the second most streams were in Sydney! Here are the top ten countries for streams: Norway, USA, Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, and Denmark. That definitely qualifies as an international hit in my book. Thank you all for listening. Particularly those of you in Oz. It's been literally decades since I've visited you, and you still remember!
Here it is again on all the services:
And for radio on AirPlay Direct:
-
Wade McCurdy and I have not been playing much recently, but we did one significant date a week ago. We played for some of the men at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison here in Nashville. We did a few songs on deathrow just acoustically, then a 40-minute set with a PA in the visitation room for about 60 or 70 other residents and staff.
Prisons, like armies, are an unfortunately necessary function of society. In the case of prisons, we would rather not think about them. That means the people in them get forgotten. Many of them are way past (decades past) the days of their crime and could be contributing members of society. There are processes for that. Prisons, the well-run ones, are places for rehabilitation, not just punishment.
Wherever you are, call your local prison. Find out if they have public tours and visit. Some prisoners are everything you think they are and must never be released, but most aren't. The truth is many of them are not that different from you and me.
The deathrow inmates are a different story. Most will end their lives in prison, one way or another. Still, they must live day by day in their world, which is part of our world too. We're all connected.
Thanks for being there!
See you down the road,
----------- Hugh
