Hiya,
The Red Sox are in the post season. My Dad is pleading with them to win the world series this year. "Dear Red Sox, I have suffered through every one of your miserable seasons since 1927. I have watched you invent a new excruciating way to lose every year. Please! I am 75 years old. I can't wait another 10 years."
New England is full of old men and women who are hanging on to life on the possibility that they might see a world series victory by the Red Sox. This team could create 10,000 vacancies in our over crowded local nursing homes by winning the world series because as soon as the last out was recorded and the victory was official, 10,000 old Red Sox fans would lay back and die with a smile on their face. ( they would all go directly to heaven because of the pain and suffering they have experienced here on earth.)
Now, to my friends in Michigan who have the misfortune of being Tiger fans. Yes, they may be the worst team in the history of baseball this year but do not expect any sympathy from me. Two weeks into the season everyone knew that the Tigers would be in last place at the end of the year. You should send them a thank-you card for this. Red Sox fans have had to wait till the 9th inning of the 7th game of the world series to come home losers. It is excruciating!!!
And in case you've forgotten, I'm not sure of the exact numbers but I know that since 1918 the Tigers have won at least three world series and the Red Sox have won ... well, you know ... NONE!!!!!
Here's the best quote I've heard on the subject of being a Red Sox Fan ...
"The Red Sox killed my father and now they're coming after me"
Go Sox!
News
The Lyrics and music to my song "I Know What Love is" will be published in the next issue of Sing Out Magazine. The version from the 1993 Acoustic Alliance CD will also be included on a compilation CD that will be sent out to 2500 subscribers.
Live in Michigan CD
This is my most recent CD. It really seems to have caught on out there. It is a live solo performance in Pontiac Michigan with no additional instruments or overdubs. The radio support has been fantastic.
Special thanks to Steve Jerrett of KOPN's Sunday Morning Coffeehouse program
in Columbia, Missouri who has played almost every cut from the CD for his listeners. Big thanks to Taylor Caffery who's show is called The General Store airs on WRKF-FM Public Radio in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is another DJ who has played several cuts from this CD.
Other stations who are just now picking up on this cd are KCBS in Seattle and KABF in Little Rock Arkansas. God bless these people. If you call your local acoustic music program and request my music, that may very well be the first step toward a possible live concert in your community. (Remember not to be overdo it, that can be very counter productive.)
On line sales
My 7 cds and my dvd are only available at my concerts and through my internet distributor cdfreedom. They make great holiday gifts for that friend or family member with the peculiar sense of humor. Or the heavily medicated ones with the adolescent children. How 'bout this ... if you know that Santa is bringing someone you love a DVD player this year, wouldn't the Don White Live DVD be a fabulous gift to give them? Wouldn't they have to acknowledge that you are simply the coolest friend in the world?
You bet they would.
Mail orders, phone orders, on line or any other way you can think up will work. They'll even overnight 'em.
www.cdfreedom.com or 1 800 937 3397
Thanks for the Private shows.
Here's a testimonial from Patti in Michigan who hired me as a surprise guest to her husband's birthday party.
"I can't say enough good things about your performance at my husband's 40th birthday party, but here it is a month later, and everyone is still talking about it. When I first contacted you about the possibility of performing, I wasn't even sure if you'd travel as far as Michigan, and I was apprehensive about the details that might involve. But after making the decision to go ahead with everything, I literally placed all my trust in your hands. And as it turns out, that trust was not misguided! The communication with you made travel details easy and flawless. Your suggestions on arranging the performance area worked perfectly, even in our small living room. And from our conversations, you were able to choose songs that were meaningful to my husband giving a performance that was beyond description! What I will remember most about the evening is the laughter. You made a lasting impression on our friends, who realized they were part of something very special.
This turned out to be a gift not only for my husband, but for everyone in attendance. Thank you for making it all possible."
Patti Monroe-Mohrenweiser
Brighton, Michigan
All things are possible. No matter where you are, there is always a chance that we could make it happen. E-mail booking@donwhite.net or call 617 539 3182 to inquire about hiring me for your special event.
Michigan Shows
I will be returning to Ann Arbor, Michigan for two shows at the Greenwood Coffeehouse on December 12th and 13th. This is a small venue. Tickets are already moving well. Don't wait till the last minute to reserve yours. 734 665 8558
Florida Shows
I will be returning to Florida for a show in Tampa on March 5th and a show in Homestead on my birthday March 6th. If you know anyone who will be wintering near either of these cities, tell 'em we'd love to see them.
Be well.
Go Sox!
Don
Hiya
My kids make fun of me. They make fun of their mother too. We are helpless against them. Years ago we made the mistake of creating them through a mysterious biological process that bestowed upon them, among other things, our own unique wit and irreverence. Now in an impressive example of accelerated evolution they have taken this wit and irreverence to levels we never dreamed possible.
They'll be dancing in a group with their friends at a party and my son will suddenly yell out "everybody dance like mom!" Then all the teenagers on the dance floor begin to perform their own individualized version of the twirling hippie chick on acid at the Grateful Dead concert.
After they have all exhausted the creative possibilities of this delicious parental mockery, my daughter will yell, "now everybody dance like Dad!" The entire group will immediately break into their improvisational interpretation of the mating dance of the adult male uncoordinated, white guy who thinks he's cool. They call it the dork dance.
This activity often culminates with them all lying in a heap on the floor and laughing uncontrollably.
In addition to having become a great source of comic relief for these young people, I have also lost my ability to hold my own in repartee.
My daughter recently told me that I needed a haircut. I replied that I was going to grow my hair down to my knees. She then accused me of having a mid-life crisis. I told her that if I was having a mid-life crisis, I would have a new Corvette and she would have a new mommy.
Five years ago I would have blown the smoke off the barrel of my six-shooter, slid it back into my holster and commenced to do the Daddy Don victory dance. I was, in fact, preparing to do just that when my daughter said, "you can't afford that". She then commenced to do the sassy daughter dance. She also made up a song to fit the occasion and sang it to me using the melody of her favorite schoolyard taunt.
"You're having the poor boy's
Mid-life crisis.
I think it's funny.
Ha ha ha ha ha"
She danced out the door laughing while I stood in the kitchen like Sonny Liston after the first round of his second fight with Cassius Clay. I was just looking around wondering what hit me and mumbling to myself that I used to be invincible.
There are many humbling moments in this business of child rearing. Perhaps the most impressive is to realize that your own unique brand of obnoxious behavior has been processed and refined through the life experiences of your offspring only to reappear in the form of a much more deadly strain capable of conquering the world, beginning of course, with you.
There is nothing in a person's life that says, "it's time to pass the baton" more clearly than getting your big behind kicked by a stronger, smarter, cuter, younger version of yourself.
............................................................................................................................................................
Upcoming Show
My shows in the summer months are mostly private. However, this Saturday my son and I will be doing a public performance at one of our favorite venues: The Vanilla Bean in Pomfret, Connecticut. This is an absolutely fantastic place to see a show. The Restaurant is legendary for it's incredible menu of home made delicacies. If the weather is nice people can choose to dine outside. Pomfret is in a beautiful corner of CT that is very close to Central Mass, Rhode Island and many parts of CT. This will be our only public show till Fall. Make a day of it. It is always a special show for us.
Private Shows this Summer and Fall
Are you planning a gathering of friends and family in the next few months? Will there be people there that you would never like to speak to again? My son Lawren and I are uniquely qualified to accomplish this goal for you. If you hire us to "entertain" at your party we will play any song from our catalog that you think might encourage your stuffy aunt to stand up in indignation and refuse on moral principle to ever attend another one of your parties. If songs like "The Shameful ballad of Lijah the Precocious Orchard Queen", with it's detailed description of improvisational BVD dog chastity belts, doesn't get the job done, I will simply turn young Lawren loose on his telecaster guitar for a high volume extended version of his interpretation of Jimi Hendrix's illegitimate son gone wild. No stuffy aunt has ever survived this experience. No need to thank us. We're just doing our job.
But seriously folks, I will customize my set to suit the sensibilities of your group. I encourage the people who hire me to tell me as much as they can about the group I will be playing for. I ask them to tell me exactly what material is or is not acceptable. When you hire me to perform for your friends, family or business associates I will design my set specifically for them. The next few months are a fantastic time to have a private show. You can learn more about how easy it is by looking at the private performance page at www.donwhite.net .
The New CD
My new recording is called Live in Michigan. It was recorded on a magical weekend in November 2002 at The Lafayette Grande Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan. This is a live solo performance with no additional instrumentation or overdubs. The initial response has been tremendous. Christine Lavin featured three cuts from it when she guest hosted a radio show in New York. The response was amazing. Thanks Christine.
I also want to thank John Weingart of WPRB in Princeton NJ and Michael Stock of WLRN in Miami and Matt Watroba of WDET in Detroit. All of these DJs chose to play "She Sings Me To Sleep With Laughter" on their radio programs. For those of you who still don't have the CD, this is a thirteen minute long spoken piece. I never dreamed that anyone would play it. Their audiences responded with a tremendous surge of on line purchases of this CD.
Pam Rossi of Over Easy on WCSX in Detroit has been very supportive of this CD. She has played several cuts. When she played "Be 16 with me" I got emails from her listeners for days and I also saw a large surge in on line sales. Thanks Pam.
Most folk radio shows will have received their copy of this CD this week. Air play is a crucial ingredient in my ability to stay afloat in the music biz. If there is a station near you that plays acoustic music, send me the information and I will make sure that they have an ample selection of my music. Also please DO NOT pester them because that is extremely counter productive but an occasional request for one of my songs is very helpful to me.
Fundraisers and Benefits
There is a new page on my website dedicated to the subject of fundraisers. I have learned a lot in the past ten years about how to put together a successful fundraiser. This page spells out in detail a lot of the things I have learned. It is designed to answer a lot of the questions a person might have when they are considering putting on a benefit performance for their favorite worthy cause.
I enjoy being involved in these events and I have put a lot of energy into learning how to present them in a way that gives them the best chance of being successful. If you want to learn more about this subject check the new Fundraiser / Benefits page on my website www.donwhite.net.
On Line Sales
Many thanks to all the folks who have purchased my recordings on line. I am very grateful to you all. My recordings are not available in stores. It is really important to me that people who want to purchase them are comfortable ordering from my internet distributor.
Cdfreedom is the distribution arm of a company in Framingham Mass. called Artist Development Associates. It is a very unique company that helps independent artists with all aspects of survival in the music biz. They are the only distributors of my music. I chose not to use Amazon.com or any of the other companies because I only want to deal with one place. These are my friends. If there is a problem, I can always get a hold of someone there.
They are prompt. They are attentive. If you have a problem, you can talk to a real person there. They have been selling my product for several years and I am thrilled with the service that they give to my fans.
For those of you who are reluctant to purchase on line, they will take phone orders between 10:00 and 6:00 on weekdays. If you don't want to use a credit card, you can send them a check in the mail. The order form can be printed out from my website www.donwhite.net. And finally, in the unlikely event that you are have an unsatisfactory ordering experience, you can contact me directly and I will personally get involved.
I sell recordings to many parts of the country and the world where I do not perform. Internet sales and mail orders are extremely important to my survival. I want everyone to know that this is a fantastic company with whom I have a long history and that your order will not be lost inside a multinational corporation. It will be in a building that I can drive to in 45 minutes if need be.
All my CDs and my DVD are available 24 hours a day at www.cdfreedom.com.
Thank you so much for your continued support.
I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Don
The New CD
Is now available on line at www.cdfreedom.com. You can order by phone by calling 1 800 937 3397 during business hours. If you are not comfortable ordering on line or by phone, you can download the order form at www.donwhite.net and order by mail.
Live in Michigan
This is my 6th CD. (There are actually a few scattered copies of three cassette projects from 83,87, & 90 still lurking around in dark corners of the world.) I first performed as a headliner in Michigan in June of 2000. At the time I knew absolutely nothing about the state. I thought it was near Montana. Since then it has become my home away from home. Everyone from the people I have met in radio to the people who run the venues to the people who attend the shows have shown my son and I tremendous warmth and hospitality. We love it there. Prior to June 2000 I had never really thought too much about performing outside my native New England. My subsequent experiences in the Mid West have completely changed the way I view my career. This CD is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has helped to make this all possible for me.
This is a live recording. There are no overdubs only songs, stories, comedy and the interaction between a great audience and a grateful performer.
The CD Release Shows
Friday May 30th The Greenwood Coffeehouse First United Methodist Church 1001 Green Road in Ann Arbor Michigan 734 665 8558
Saturday May 31st The Lafayette Grand Ballroom 1 Lafayette St in Pontiac Michigan www.thethirdcoast.com.
I understand that tickets are moving briskly for these shows so don't wait till the last minute to get yours. Since Carey Carlson no longer has her radio program to help get the word out, we were hoping that you would forward this email to anyone that you think would like to attend. I will be doing two live radio shows in Detroit on May 17th to help spread the word.
Saturday May 17th 9:30 AM A live radio interview on 94.7 FM WCSX Detroit with Pam Rossi.
Don White and Jimmy Tingle
On Friday May 23rd I will be performing a split night with Jimmy Tingle at Jimmy Tingle's Off Broadway Theatre 225 Elms St. in Daivs Square Somerville Mass. This show came up at the last minute. I know that it is a busy weekend for a lot of people but believe me this will be a night to remember. Jimmy is one of my comedy heros. His humor has the kind of insight and compassion that seems to have been pushed out of the comedy business in the past ten years. This is an intimate 200 seat theatre. I am absolutely thrilled about this one. Information at 617 591 1616 and at www.jimmytingle.com.
The Amazing Mudshark
Those of you who have been to my shows with The Loomers may know that the drummer, (Michael Cahill) and the Lead guitar player, (Everett Pendleton) are in another fabulous band called The Amazing Mudshark. They have asked me to let you know about some great news with them.
"The Amazing Mudshark has been nominated in the 2003 Best Music Poll of the Providence Phoenix as 'Breakthrough Band' of the year. Please consider voting for us on-line at
We're in the 1st column, second category. Ballots must be in by 14 May.
Learn more at www.amazingmudshark.com."
Alaska
In the past year I have been selling quite a few cds to Alaska. It turns out that a priest there has played 'I know what love is' for his congregation. He was kind enough to give folks the info on where could purchase my recordings. I am very grateful to him and would like to thank him personally. If someone on this list know an email or regular mailing address for this gentleman, please let know how to contact him.
My wife and I actually hitch hiked (can you believe it) to Alaska in 1975. We have always wanted to get back there. Several of my musician friends have toured through there and say that there are several nice coffee house venues that are well supported as well as a good folk music radio station. Perhaps this is the beginning of a possible tour to Alaska for my wife and I. Anything is possible.
How 'bout a Private Show
In the past few months I have done several private shows and there are several more scheduled for the months to come. (Many of these do not appear on the performance schedule because they are surprises.)
Thanks to everyone at the business meeting in Killington Vermont.
And to everyone at the 95th (yes, I said ninety-fifth) birthday party at the Cadillac of all nursing homes.
And to everyone on the birthday boat cruise on Boston Harbor.
These are all great examples of the creativity that people have shown with these private shows. Think something up. If there is a decent chance of me being able to make it work, I'll give it a try and we'll see if we can't help to make your special event just a little more special. For more information call 617 539 3182 or email booking@donwhite.net or check out the private performances page at www.donwhite.net.
Here's the performance schedule for the next few weeks. The full schedule is always updated at www.donwhite.net.
See you soon.
Don
Hiya,
Happy 2003. I hope it's a great year for everyone.
I want to talk to you about your friends with the teenagers at home. You know, the heavily medicated ones. The ones who don't believe you when you tell them that "they really do turn out to be nice people." Those poor friends of yours who's kids turned out to be as wild as they were when they were young.
You wish there was something you could do to make this time in their life a little easier. Well, some very thoughtful people have come up with a way to do just that. They have been dragging their friends away from their twenty four hour teenager surveillance and bringing them to one of my shows. It's like an intervention. They say, "look for one night you can take a break from being lied to and disrespected by your kids and come out with us and have a great time." Then at the show they laugh like crazy, have a great night out with their friends and realize that people actually do survive this. The Don White concert experience is the perfect gift for your distraught friend - it's better than prozac.
It just so happens that the winter schedule features performances in several venues that would be idea for you and your weary friend. For example our annual trip to Londonderry New Hampshire with The Loomers on Jan 25th. This show always has a full house and a fantastically enthusiastic audience. It's a favorite of ours and a sure cure for what ails ya. Tickets are moving fast.
Here's the chorus of my latest song on the subject of turning the tables on your kids called Be Sixteen With Me.
Wake up Mama, climb out of this window
I've got the key, let's steal our daughter's car.
We'll both get really drunk
Put a big dent in her trunk.
Nobody will know where the hell we are
We'll come home in a police car.
We'll be the ones up all night acting wild
They'll be the ones up all night worrying
Wake up Mama climb out of this window
C'mon out and be sixteen with me
Florida
I will be doing two shows in Florida in March.
Friday March 7th The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa (The UU Dome) 11400 Morris Bridge Rd in Tampa Florida.
Saturday March 8th The Main Street Café 128 North Krome Ave in Homestead Florida.
These are very exciting shows for me. The response to my music in Florida has been tremendous and very heartwarming. The show in Tampa is the first time I've been able to land a weekend show there. I will be doing a radio interview on WMNF 88.5 FM at 9:00 that morning. If we get a decent crowd that night I will try to make Tampa one of the places I get to every year. The show in Miami is in a new venue that everyone is raving about.If you know anyone who lives near Miami or Tampa, It would mean a lot to me if you let them know about these shows.
Radio Air play
In the past three months I have sold recordings via the internet to people in the following states....
MN - NY - ME - TX - OH - IL - DC - CT - NC - CA - NJ
- PA - MD - NV - WI - VA - GA - IA - CO - AK - MO
This usually is the result of radio air play. If you are hearing my music on the radio, It would mean a lot to me if you could take a few minutes and let me know who was playing it and what station they are on. If there is radio support near you, there might also be an opportunity for me to perform there. That is how it started for me in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.
The DVD
The response to the Live in Watertown DVD has been fantastic. I have receive a tremendous amount of positive feedback. If Santa brought you a DVD player this Christmas or if you are tired of trying to explain the Don white concert experience to your friends, check out this professionally filmed and recorded live concert DVD at www.cdfreedom.com.
The Michigan live Recordings.
I recorded two concerts in a ballroom in Pontiac Michigan in November in front of two incredible audiences. The recordings are fantastic. I am working on making my next CD from them and I will be doing two CD release shows in Michigan at the end of May. If you attended these concerts, thank you, thank you, thank you. You helped create what I'm sure will be a great album.
Private Shows
2002 was an unbelievable year for private shows. I can't believe how well this idea has caught on. People were very creative in thinking up new ways to bring a private show to their friends and families. This was a year where I found myself flying to different parts of the country to do private shows. Some times an individual hired me themselves. Sometimes a group of people pooled their resources. There are a lot of options. Be creative. Propose something. We'll talk. You don't have to wait for your local coffee house or community radio station to discover me - chances are they won't. Think about it. Check out the private performances page at www.donwhite.net.
I am very grateful to you for your continued support. Hope to see you and your weary friend soon.
Don
Hiya,
I hope spring has sprung wherever you are. Summer is already over in New England. It was last Tuesday and Wednesday. Hope you didn't miss it - 81 degrees - lovely. However, as you know summer is fleeting here and on Thursday it was 31 degrees. I went to Fenway Park that night to watch the Red Sox. The poor guy who had the ice cream concession must have felt like he was in ice cream guy hell. He was walking up and down the aisles with a crazed look in his eye yelling "Who's brave enough for ICE CREAM?" The answer was "no one". If your boss gives you the ice cream concession at the coldest baseball game in history, that is his way of telling you that he doesn't have the heart to fire you but you really should start looking for a new career.
Upcoming shows
Saturday April 26th The Home Grown Coffee House 23 Dedham Ave in Needham Ma.
This is a wonderful coffeehouse series that has been bringing great music to metro west for several years. If you live in the area you should come on out and support this great venue.
Saturday May 3rd The First Cup Coffeehouse at the Lutheran Church 280 Broadway in scenic Lynn Mass with The Loomers.
Once a year I hook up with The Loomers in my home town of Lynn Mass and we rock the Lutheran Church in Wyoma Square. It is the only show my parents ever come to because they think the world is flat and if you leave the city limits of Lynn you will fall off the edge of the earth. We have been doing this show now for five or six years. There is a neighborhood bar across the street called The Four Winds. It's about as big as my living room. We have speculated that The Four Winds does a bigger business in the hours before and after our annual show than they do in the entire rest of the year. This is just another example of our unwavering commitment to helping the local economy.
This is always a very special show for us and it is always a lot of fun. Don't miss it.
The Live in Michigan New CD
I recorded two shows at the Lafayette Grande Ballroom in Pontiac Michigan last November. The audiences were incredible. The new CD is being manufactured now. I expect to have it available online at www.cdfreedom.com and at my shows by May 1st. This CD really captures the feel of the live show. Included are four comedy/stories. There are a couple of brand new songs. And at last some live versions of concert favorites that have until now only been available in studio versions. These are the cuts that will be on the CD.
1 Rascal (with much wild Michigan howling)
2 Falling in love at the big folk show
3 Breathing
4 Mrs White's thoughts on the previous song
5 Sense of humor (featuring 2 lost verses)
6 Great Day
7 She sings me to sleep with laughter (including the accordion door story)
8 Great Big Heart
9 My messed up friend and his backhoe
10 The Painter (solo acapella)
11 Be sixteen with me
The Cd release parties
Friday May 30th The Greenwood Coffeehouse First United Methodist Church 1001 Green Road in Ann Arbor Michigan.
Saturday May 31st The Lafayette Grand Ballroom 1 Lafayette St in Pontiac Michigan www.thethirdcoast.com.
As many of my Michigan friends know, Carey Carlson no longer has her radio program in Detroit. She has moved on to other endeavors. You can keep up with all her new and exciting enterprises at TheThirdCoast.com Carey will be promoting and hosting the Pontiac show. If you want to let her know how much you appreciate all that she has done over the years for the greater Detroit music scene, this would be a great opportunity to do so.
Since we don't have her radio show to help get the word out, we're hoping that you folks will help out perhaps by emailing your friends and letting them know about the shows.
Poetry and Spoken Word
In March I read excerpts from the collection of short stories I am working on at the Poets Parlor in Sturbridge Mass. Many thanks to all the poets and friends who came out that night. It meant a lot to me. I am interested in finding other similar opportunities where I can feature in this environment and read for 45 - 60 minutes. Any thoughts or suggestions? Let me know.
Private Shows This Summer
This is the time of year when we start to get a lot of requests for private shows in the summer. Many of these are not on the performance schedule because they are surprises. If you are planning a gathering of friends this Summer or Fall and you think I could add something to the event contact my agent at booking@donwhite.net. You can also get a lot of info about private shows at www.donwhite.net.
See you soon
Don
NEWSLETTERS
Did you miss one of Don White's recent newsletters?
You can find it here.
Please go to Don White's web site for his current performance schedule.
Hiya,
In the last newsletter I talked about the parents of teenagers and how some thoughtful people had been kidnapping them and dragging them out to my shows as a sort of intervention. My next four concerts were sold out. I'm not sure if it is because this idea has caught on but I did notice a dramatic increase in exhausted, heavily medicated people in their forties and fifties at these shows. I'm like the statue of liberty for parents of teenagers. Bring me your tired, your weary, your borderline homicidal, your disrespected, your lied to, your prozac'ed masses and I will give them laughter and hope. Friends don't let friends raise teens without an occasional night out for fun. The next show is this Saturday at the Green Rooster in Worcester Mass.with The Loomers. It's a cure for what ails ya.
Start time is 7:00. If you know someone who is planning to attend, be sure to let them know the early start time.
Florida Next Weekend
These shows are very important to me. It's difficult to get the word out so if you know anyone near Tampa or Miami that would like to catch my show PLEASE let them know about it. If I get decent turnout this time through I feel confident that I will be able to make a couple of shows in Florida an annual event.
Friday March 7th ( 9:00 am ) A live radio interview on WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa Florida. The program is called on the Air Live with Bill Dudley
Friday March 7th The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa (The UU Dome) 11400 Morris Bridge Rd in Tampa Florida.
Saturday March 8th The Main Street Café 128 North Krome Ave in Homestead Florida. I am thrilled to be returning to South Florida. This is a new venue that people are raving about. We're expecting a good crowd so be sure to call ahead for tickets.
The Live in Michigan New CD
I recorded two shows at the Lafayette Grande Ballroom in Pontiac Michigan last November. The audiences were incredible. The new CD is 80 % finished. This CD really captures the feel of the live show. Included are four comedy/stories. There are a couple of brand new songs. And at last some live versions of concert favorites that have until now only been available in studio versions. These are the cuts that will be on the CD.
1 Rascal (with much wild Michigan howling)
2 Falling in love at the big folk show
3 Breathing
4 Mrs White's thoughts on the previous song
5 Sense of humor (featuring 2 lost verses)
6 Great Day
7 She sings me to sleep with laughter (including the accordion door story)
8 Great Big Heart
9 My messed up friend and his backhoe
10 The Painter (solo acapella)
11 Be sixteen with me ( a bonus track)
I will be working on the artwork and tinkering with the audio for the next 6 to 8 weeks. There is a good chance that it will be available in early May. Oh, that reminds me. Did you attend one of these shows? Did you take pictures? I have not decided yet what to do with the art work. Maybe you have the perfect photo for the CD jacket. Send me an email if you have some shots from that night.
The Cd release parties
Friday May 30th The Greenwood Coffeehouse First United Methodist Church 1001 Green Road in Ann Arbor Michigan.
Saturday May 31st The Lafayette Grand Ballroom 1 Lafayette St in Pontiac Michigan.
Tickets for the Pontiac show go on sale March 8th at www.thethirdcoast.com.
As many of my Michigan friends know, Carey Carlson no longer has her radio program in Detroit. She has moved on to other endeavors. You can keep up with all her new and exciting enterprises at www.thethirdcoast.com. Carey will be promoting and hosting the Pontiac show. If you want to let her know how much you appreciate all that she has done over the years for the greater Detroit music scene, this would be a great opportunity to do so.
Since we don't have her radio show to help get the word out, we're hoping that you folks will help out perhaps by emailing your friends and letting them know about the shows.
The Don White Private Show Idea
I just read where someone hired Paul McCartney for their wife's birthday party. Obviously, the Don White private show idea is catching on out there. If a million dollars is a bit rich for your blood and you are willing to hire a non Beatle, Let's talk.
Just so you know, I will customize my set for your group. I do it all the time. Some folks prefer that I lean on humorous material. I have worked for religious groups that asked me to put together a set of more thoughtful tunes. When you hire me to play a private show, I'll play what you want to hear - hell. I'll even whip out a Beatles tune. For more info go to the private performances page at www.donwhite.net.
Email
Sometimes the Don White newsletter is perceived by some unevolved email companies (aol) as spam. If you know someone who used to receive the newsletter and stopped, let me know and I will put them in the "your spam protector is an idiot" group and send them out individually.
Recordings
As always all my recordings and my DVD are available at www.cdfreedom.com.
See you soon
Don
February 27, 2003
Hi.
This is just a quick note on a couple of things of immediate interest for my friends in....
New England
Tomorrow night (Saturday March 15th) I will be performing at the Somerville Theatre at the Festival of Funny Songwriters. If you mention "songstreet email" when you order tickets, you will receive 3 dollars off the cost of each ticket. This offer is also good at the Somerville Theatre Box office.
I have performed at this show for 12 years. My CD "Live at the Somerville Theatre" was recorded there in 1995. There is a great line up this year that includes John Forster, Julie Barr, and Teddy Goldstein.
There is a lot of stress in the world these days. This is a great opportunity to get out and have a night of laughter in a beautiful 900 seat theatre. It is also a rare chance to be at a concert of folk singers who are not trying to say something deep. That's right, no navel gazing at this show.
I will be recording my new song called "Be sixteen with me" at this show for inclusion on my next CD.
And for my friends in .....
Michigan
Tickets for the cd release shows are moving fast. Don't wait till the last minute.
Friday May 30th The Greenwood Coffeehouse First United Methodist Church 1001 Green Road in Ann Arbor Michigan This is the first of two CD release parties for my new CD recorded Live in Pontiac Michigan.
Saturday May 31st The Lafayette Grand Ballroom 1 Lafayette St in Pontiac Michigan www.thethirdcoast.com.
Also.....
It looks like I will be doing a private show near Detroit on Friday May 16th. If you are interested in discussing the possibility of hiring me for a private show on May 17th or 18th, contact my agent at booking@donwhite.net. If things work out I will stay the weekend and fly home on Monday.
And finally for my friends in......
Florida
Thanks to everyone who came to the shows in Tampa and Homestead. I had so much fun. I feel confident that I will be able to get back down there once or twice a year from now on. Special thanks to Bill Dudley at WMNF and Michael Stock at WLRN and to Gloria Holloway, Ellen Bukstel and everyone at the Main Street Cafe and the UU Dome.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
Don
March 14, 2003
April 18, 2003
January 16, 2003
These newsletters have been reproduced here with permission from Don White.
All content is copyrighted to Don White.
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May 11, 2003
July 17, 2003
October 1, 2003
The Bliz.
The bliz done killed my show tonight in Natick. We're getting 2 feet of snow this weekend. The weather guys are so thrilled. They get to cut into local programming and show fancy computer graphics and estimated accumulations. They're making it sound like we're going to be snowed in until 2006. Did you ever wonder if Arizona weather persons secretly lust after the disproportionate social status of their New England counterparts? I mean the southwestern contingent hardly ever get to artificially stimulate their local economies by exaggerating the impact of a snow storm and causing the local lemmings to buy up all the milk, bread, flashlights and rock salt in the tri-state area.
Mrs. White and I quietly rebelled against all this nonsense this morning by shutting off the TV and going out for a joy ride.
Snow is fun.
Television is ridiculous.
The Shameless Holiday Sales Pitch.
Don White recordings are the perfect holiday gift for that relative or friend with the big heart or the peculiar sense of humor.
How about a professionally filmed and recorded concert performance on DVD? Yes, I said DVD. I have one. It's called "It's a Great Day." It features interviews, solo performances, band performances, an a capella rendition of "I Know What Love is" and my son and I doing a little something called The Volvo Dance. The Don White fan in your life will wig out and start doing handstands when they open this gift from you.
Might I suggest my new CD that was recorded last November in Pontiac Michigan? It's called "Live in Michigan." It is a solo acoustic performance with lots of comedy, storytelling, a wild version of "Rascal" and other concert favorites.
All my recordings are available at www.cdfreedom.com . You can order by phone at 1 800 937 3397 during business hours. If you are uncomfortable ordering on line or using a credit card you can down load the order form from my web site www.donwhite.net and order by mail. (Don't wait till the last minute if this is your choice.)
And for my fellow procrastinators, if you wait till the last minute cdfreedom will overnight your order.
Upcoming shows
I just picked up a show on Cape Cod.
Saturday January 3rd The New Driftwood Coffeehouse 2150 Main St in Marston Mills Mass. 508 771 9000
I have not done a public show on the Cape for a long time. I am very excited about this opportunity to get back down there. Since this one came up at the last minute, I'm hoping that anyone who lives on the Cape will help spread the word.
Michigan update.
As of this morning the Saturday show at the Greenwood Coffeehouse on DEC 13th in Ann Arbor is sold out. There are still some tickets for the Friday show. This is the number to call for reservations 734 665 8558. My son and i are very excited about getting back out to the mid west to see all our friends.
Thank you all so much for the tremendous support. I wish you all much joy in the year to come.
Don
December 2003
