Hattie Wilcox

Casey Abrams: A Song and a Kiss for Steven Tyler, Too!

2011-04-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

I'm singing the blues 'cause Casey had to say goodnight tonight. Casey! Casey! Casey! Casey Abrams, one of the final six contestants in American Idol's current season, said goodbye tonight with a powerful "I Put a Spell on You." And just like I thought he would, as soon as he kissed Jennifer Lopez, I knew next he would kiss Steven Tyler. And before he's done, Casey strutts down to the judges' table and give Steven Tyler a farewell hug and a peck. Yep, he's one of those rare and special folks who can kiss whoever he wants and everyone loves him for it. Casey's true heart, his heart for music—all kinds of music—came at me and hit me sittin' on my sofa, and all the separation of the damn TV set was not enough to dilute one bit that feelin' of Casey's old soul and big big big heart! Even though Casey left Idol tonight, I know he's not gone. I'll be listening for his next song, and you betcha I'll be going to his live show first chance I get. Casey Abrams is a musician's musician and Idyllwild Arts Academy must be damn proud!

New music on HEX!

2011-02-17T11:10:00.000-08:00

My new CD, HEX, will be released next month—date will be announced soon and it will be time to party! No blues vocals on this one. I'm diggin' in with my classical roots and Chopin chops in an all-acoustic CD of piano, violin, viola, and cello instrumental tracks. There's a tiny little bit of banjo for good luck, and you will hear the whisper of my beloved deep south throughout. In final production now, I'll get back to you as soon as I have the HEX dates. HEX is keeping me warm, makin' me happy. Hope you are, too, and thanks for listening to my music.

San Diego Music Awards nominees

2009-09-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

Well, last night I headed out to the San Diego Music Awards at Viejas. Joined World Music nominee "Kharmaman" Chris Vitas' entourage for dinner at the steakhouse, awards show immediately following.
Show opened with a blast and the bass in my chest from San Diego's shock-rock band The Burning of Rome, complete with real pig heads on stakes (see photo above). Kharmaman's CD nomination, iKharma, featured my violin poem (posted here on February 12) and was designed by San Diego's finest Martin Lindsay—there he is right there and he's extra extra ordinaire! He's the guy

who made me grin so big! His one-liners weren't half bad.

Anyway, before the show was over, Chris pulls his trigger finger because he didn't win. Next year for sure, Chris.

Great get-your-money's-worth performance by the "queen of steam" Best Blues CD nominee Michele Lundeen and a super-big stompin' hard

congratulations to Missy Andersen for her debut CD nominated in Best Blues Album. Sure wish she had won so I could say I have a song on an SDMA album. Bet my co-writer Heine Andersen wished the same thing. Well, we'll all dig in and get back to work on our new music for next year! In the meantime, more on pig heads next post.

PHOTO RIGHT: Heine Andersen live at Belly Up Tavern. ABOVE: Missy Andersen

the song video link

2009-08-20T00:16:00.000-07:00

Forgot to give it to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i9OdepTSRU

my blues on youtube now

2009-08-19T23:51:00.000-07:00

Whoa . . . I been away awhile. Well, the blues done got me where I live.
Mold. The real thing, black and moist and on the move. When it gets to me too much. . . . you know, life's little surprises, well I just lie down and close my eyes before I'm blue all over. After blue comes grey. And from that I gotta stay away! Finally got all the mold outa my house and I got a brand new 6x6 hole in my kitchen ceiling that used to be most of the bathroom floor. Don't need no intercom no more! The kids can hear me now.

Anyway, the good news is I'm singing the blues on youtube! Yep, I
recorded "Love Leave Me" in my home studio (no mold in there thank
goodness!) and everyone who's seen it and heard it likes it. I am interested in
knowing who listens and what they think, so please comment if you
have any time at all.

Til next time . . . and I'll try not to be so long.

Yours in the blues.

Stand Up and Dance recorded by Missy Andersen

2009-04-28T21:53:00.000-07:00

Hey! Miss Missy Andersen, San Diego's most bubbly blues diva, just got back from her second tour in Denmark in time for her CD release party at Humphrey's (By The Bay) Backstage Lounge, April 30, at 8 p.m. Heine Andersen and I teamed up on a delta blues tune called "Stand Up and Dance" and the combination of Heine's back-woods guitar and Missy's deep-south delivery, make for a nice hot fire. You know where I'll be Thursday night! Come on down and listen to Missy. . . she's a sassy girl singin' and moanin' some of San Diego's best blues!

Pie in the sky

2009-02-18T21:00:00.001-08:00

The other day, the idiom "pie in the sky" popped into my head as the first line of a poem. I googled it today and found that it first appeared in a song! Here is the short story and song lyrics.

Meaning: A promise of heaven, while continuing to suffer in this life.

Origin:This is an American phrase and was coined by Joe Hill in 1911. Hill was a Swedish-born itinerant labourer who migrated to the USA in 1902. He was a leading light of the radical labour organisation The Industrial Workers of the World - known as the Wobblies, writing many radical songs for them. The phrase appeared first in Hill's The Preacher and the Slave, which parodied the Salvation Army hymn In the Sweet Bye and Bye. The song, which criticized the Army's theology and philosophy, specifically their concentration on the salvation of souls rather than the feeding of the hungry, was popular when first recorded and remained so for some years.

Long-haired preachers come out every night,
Try to tell you what's wrong and what's right;
But when asked how 'bout something to eat
They will answer with voices so sweet:

Chorus
You will eat, bye and bye,
In that glorious land above the sky;
Work and pray, live on hay,
You'll get pie in the sky when you die.

The starvation army they play,
They sing and they clap and they pray
'Till they get all your coin on the drum
Then they'll tell you when you're on the bum:

Holy Rollers and jumpers come out,
They holler, they jump and they shout.
Give your money to Jesus they say,
He will cure all diseases today.
If you fight hard for children and wife
Try to get something good in this life
You're a sinner and bad man, they tell,
When you die you will sure go to hell.

Workingmen of all countries, unite,
Side by side we for freedom will fight;
When the world and its wealth we have gained
To the grafters we'll sing this refrain:

You will eat, bye and bye,
When you've learned how to cook and to fry.
Chop some wood, 'twill do you good,
And you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye.

The phrase wasn't taken up until the Second World War, when it began to be used figuratively to refer to any prospect of future happiness which was unlikely ever to be realized. From phrases.org.uk

Home Inside a Violin

2009-02-12T16:26:00.000-08:00

I imagine a home inside a violin
sleeping in the dark hole
until the case opens and
I'm awakened by the
squeak and screech
of a 4-year-old's
chubby hand on the bow
the kiss of hair and strings
the swell, ebb and flow of a virtuoso
perfumed hair and swish
of a barely-there red-satin dress
the chop of a tobacco-chewing
hollerer from the hills
the booming stomp of boots
pounding a wood-plank floor
I am loved every day
tucked under a chin
against the warmth of skin
hovering above a shoulder
a jostling ride, rocking
every which way in the box
reeling and shaking
the singing vibrations
the grunting and sweat
the depths the rhythm
the strain the offering
breathing
someone's soul

2-12-09
©2009 Hattie Wilcox
Violinist and inventor of the Viper Mark Wood ©2008 Hattie Wilcox

the music in nature

2009-01-17T23:14:00.000-08:00

The ficus tree outside my front door has been the home of hummingbird nests for many years. Thought you might like to see a photo of the one I found this week. Photo taken this morning by Stella Pai.

Good news on the blues music front is brewing.

Blues Lovers United of San Diego, Dr. John and lady in red

2008-10-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

Check out this beautiful portrait of Dr. John! Saw him live for the first time at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach on Oct. 4. He put on a young-man's show that wore us out in the best way. The lady in red is Janiva Magness. who opened for Dr. John. I don't know where I've been that I've never heard her name before that night. Introduce yourself to Janiva on myspace.

Hey! Spent last Saturday judging first round for solo and duo act to represent San Diego at the 25th Annual IBC in Memphis, Feb 4-7, 2009. Next round is this Saturday at The Harp in Ocean Beach, 1-4 p.m. Come on down and join the fun! BLUSD--Blues Lovers United of San Diego will send winner to Memphis for the largest gathering of blues bands anywhere in the world--170 acts!

Gave a big hug to Ken Boozer who organized the competition. Finally met Joannie who was busy keeping performers on time and photographing. Lots of great blues folks on the judges panel and I will tell you about them next week! Missy Andersen, San Diego blues artist extraordinaire who will be heading to Denmark next month, brought all her personality and graciousness to MC. San Diego's Nathan James and Ben Hernandez took first place duo honors in 2006. In 2007, Aunt Kizzy's Boys took second place for best blues band. This year, Sue Palmer took first place for best self-produced CD. San Diego is gettin' bigger and bigger on the blues map and we gonna keep it that way!

Our own Charles Burton and Ben Powell walked away Saturday to go get ready for finals. Mr. Burton also won raffle and gets to take his lady to Humphrey's Concerts by The Bay to see Taj Mahal on Oct. 22. Come on down to Ocean Beach Oct 18th for another afternoon of blues.

For more info, visit blusd.org.

What About Africa?

2008-09-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

I drink my wine while they eat sand
How hard they try to live with dying every day
Rwanda lost one million souls
Now in my mind the dead I see call out to me
For Africa
What about Africa
What will it take for us to take a stand
For Africa, what about Africa

I see their eyes, the eyes of AIDS
Eyes of starvation fill my head I don't know why
I watch the news, but I don't move
So many people struggling, lying down to die
For Africa
What about Africa
What will it take for us to take a stand
For Africa, what about Africa

I smell the smoke, I watch the sky
Everywhere I go I always know someone will die
Evening descends to tuck me in
I can't escape the waiting faces in my dreams
For Africa
What about Africa
What will it take for us to take a stand
For Africa, what about Africa

I see white milk in a river wash
Big fat babies laughing, tummies full of cream
I see new rice, a mother's feet
Ankle-deep in mud to harvest family life
For Africa
What about Africa
What will it take for us to take a stand
For Africa, what about Africa

I see bright cloth turn into skirts
Tied 'round the hips of young girls dancing in the dirt
I see the men, shine in the sun
Tending animals their hands full, no more guns
For Africa
What about Africa
What will it take for us to take a stand
For Africa, what about Africa

Copyright 2006 Hattie Wilcox

If you want to help feed and educate the children of Africa, invisiblechildren.com. If you want to help with efforts to update President Kennedy's foreign assistance act of the 1960s, visit globaldevelopmentmatters.org.

My Mangled Heart and Beth Ditto

2008-08-19T00:08:00.000-07:00

I was writing out the ache of my mangled heart and I stumbled on the indie rock punk blues band The Gossip and Beth Ditto (photo) singing the smokin' "Yr Mangled Heart." Check it out. The video won MTV's video of the week April 08. Beth's aim is to make you dance. Born in Arkansas, the woman oozes groove and southern soul reigns underneath the rock punk. She kinda makes my poem here a little pitiful. If you want to take a look at the sharp pain and read the real mangled heart stuff, when you're done here, check my myspace blog. Til next time, remember: Don't keep your blues to yourself. Sing 'em out, loud!

My Place In Your Heart

Where is my place in your heart?

I know you keep me there, but it's dark

There's no light, there's no music

Are you holding me tight

Behind a closed door

In a very small space

Locked up like a crazed child

You won't let anyone see?

You are keeping me under wraps

Because you love me and

You don't intend to go crazy

For any one or any thing

So I will not break free

Of the place you save for me

I will not touch you again

And you will live

Safe in the assurance

You will not burst

With joy or longing or hurt

You have signaled me to be still

Your thoughts of me must fade

Love's plague will be contained

When I am resigned

To the silence you impart

To reside in your heart

The only place

You allow me to stay

Near you

Always a whisper

Undying in the dark

My place in your heart

Tribe of Noise

2008-07-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hessel from Amsterdam

asked me to join his new music sharing and promotion site.

I've listened to some great rock, roots and alternative music from the members. Looks like he's done his homework to create something rockin' pro and useful. The Tribe of Noise logo makes a cool tattoo--see it on the diva left? Check it out.

You got to be down.

A Sunday-Worship Tap Dance

2008-06-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

St. John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church in San Francisco. June 15, 2008: The people are singing, drummer and stand-up bassist are poundin' with two robed saxophonists rockin' and the white player's dreads (down to his ankles) are swayin'. In the audience, an older gentleman stands and moves from his seat to the aisle. He places a small, wood pallet on the floor, steps on, and begins to shuffle his feet--a tap dance. Someone from the front rushes to his side to hold a microphone near his feet. Hallelujah!

1286 Fillmore Street, San Francisco. coltranechurch.org

Johnny Lang in concert

2008-06-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody--Went to see Johnny Lang last Friday at the venue that is the artists' absolute favorite to play in San Diego because it's outside and it's on the water--Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay. W-H-A-T---A---S-H-O-W !

I didn't know Johnny Lang played guitar (Where have I been?) and he sang the daylight out of every kinda blues he had plus a great cover (great arrangement, too) of Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City."

After Johnny Lang, headed to the backstage lounge to hear the Laurie Morvan Band. I tell ya, Laurie opened for John Mayall (photo of me and Laurie is from Mayall show last April) a few months ago and she's the best opening act I've ever seen or heard. That girl can play blues guitar. . . Too bad she wasn't booked to open for Johnny Lang. The fellows from Nashville who opened for Lang did not have the blues and that's what we came to hear.

Don't keep your blues to yourself--share 'em!--Hattie

Wild baby bird rescue

2008-06-12T01:03:00.000-07:00

I found a wild baby bird on the gravel in the side yard on Sunday morning. All the feather-down was gone from his neck and a big patch on his back, so he had been pecked for a while. Since he was lying on his side 25 feet directly below a nest, he was either pushed out by his siblings or he jumped. Took him inside the house, made him a cardboard box-nest filled with paper confetti and chenille yarn, put him in and he slept.

That evening he was up and opening his beak! Got some protein down his throat and the next morning I wake to the sound of constant chirping coming from the studio. He's out of the box, hopping around and hops after me as I leave the room! Took him to the local rescue outfit and I hope he will recover. In the photo you can see how tiny he was. Turns out he was opening his beak because he was trying to scare the big people away, but it didn't take him long to calm down and decide I was his mother. My son named him Beekie.

Whiskey goes to Denmark

2008-05-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hey, good news today . . . Launchng sometime in June, my song Whiskey was licensed as background music for Denmark internet ad campaign for paragliding.

John Mayall

2008-05-19T23:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been listening to John Mayall, the Godfather of British blues, since 1970.

Couldn't miss him at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano a few months ago.

After the show he agreed to this photo. He still sings great, and played some mean

blues harp. His latest album is his 57th! What a night.

The Good, The Bad, No Ugly

2008-04-11T23:22:00.000-07:00

The Good

Toronto-based music library just signed 15 of my songs! Looking forward to licensing something, anything . . .

The Bad

Carl Evans, Jr., frontman and keyboardist of San Diego's most famous band Fattburger, died yesterday. He was a great songwriter. When he agreed to critique a piece of music I wrote many years ago, he said--in the kindest way possible--that he didn't see anything special in it. He was right. That song has never been re-recorded. Go to fattburger.com to hear some of his music and check out the smooth jazz CDs.

Straight Up No Chaser and a sad Aloha

2007-12-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

Hey yall. How was your Christmas? My sister sent me the coolest music video--check out the fun and funny Christmas medley--The 12 Days of Christmas--by Straight Up No Chaser on youtube.com.

As usual, it's a bittersweet season. I lost a friend on December 6. Ed Kaho'olono Michelman was a radio and TV veteran in Honolulu. For 40 years Ed was host and narrator for the Royal Hawaiian Band, appearing at the band's first concert at New York's Carnegie Hall, and touring the U.S. and Europe. Ed was also known in the islands for his extensive knowledge of Hawaiian history, literature, and his interest in preserving Hawaiian music. He studied Hawaiiana with Mary Kawena Pukui and she gave him the name "Kaho'olono" which means "voice of God" or "voice of truth."

Ed was born in 1929 in New York City and moved to Hawaii in 1952. For 10 years, Ed was communications officer at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, retired in 1999. His most recent work was a project with Aaron Mahi, Director of the Royal Hawaiian Band, for the Kawananakoa Foundation to research and arrange music from the Na Mele Hawaii collection for beginning and intermediate bands. I knew Ed for more than 25 years. About six weeks before he died, I emailed him asking if he might translate some lyrics into Hawaiian for my long-dreamed-of CD of Hawaiian music. He said he was not an expert in the nuance of the language and the nuance needed to be absolutely accurate for the lyrics. I'm glad he knew I was thinking of him and wanted his help with the project. Ed, I will remember your voice and your mischievous eyes. Rest easy in the land of the night marchers. Aloha nui loa.

Roadtrip Nation

2007-12-08T03:24:00.001-08:00

HEY MUSIC PEOPLE! It's December and Godzilla's got his Christmas cookie . . . The month is kicking off with a contract from Roadtrip Nation for my song, New Orleans Down (solo piano). I wrote this music to honor the people of New Orleans and their struggle during and after Katrina. So, I'm glad it got picked up for the PBS series and will begin to make its way in the world.

Broadjam Remix Contest

2007-12-08T03:23:00.000-08:00

November 27th was the deadline for acidplanet.com's Broadjam Remix Contest featuring "You Save Me." Wow. 30 rockin' remixers took a shot and there are many gems! It's going to be very difficult to be in the judge's seat and decide the winners. Did I say difficult? Well, this kind of difficulty I like!

FIRE EVACUATION

2007-12-08T03:22:00.002-08:00

FIRE EVACUATION in October was mandated in my neighborhood in the middle of trying to finalize art for new CD. Luckily, no homes burned within 5 miles this time. Four years ago, the Cedar Fire burned homes to the ground less than a half mile from my house. The Santa Ana winds will return Friday night, Nov. 2, and are supposed to blow for 24 hours. I'm praying no one is hurt and no more homes lost.

JOHNNY NEEL

2007-12-08T03:22:00.001-08:00

JOHNNY NEEL, who arranged all the songs on my new CD, has two songs on Disney/Pixar Ratatouille release called "What's Cooking." They're called "Banana Split" and "One Meatball." I just bought a half dozen of the CDs for my students. I think Johnny's tracks are the best of the bunch! Songs are as fun and sassy as they sound with the best of Johnny's rascal vocals.

Stimulus Films

2007-12-08T03:21:00.001-08:00

CONTRACT SIGNED last month with Stimulus Films for fiddle instrumental of "The Leaving" to be used in Grilling Bobby Hicks film. It was also selected for the soundtrack CD. Also sent off Hospital, Lady From Odessa, Go It Alone (with Mark Matejka on guitar) and You Save Me to music licensing outfit in Toronto and they want to hear more. So, I'm happy and busy burning CDs in response to various other music licensing libraries, including one in Australia!