Amber and the kids and I all had a great Holiday. We hopes yours’ were great too.

Thank you for all your support. All the private parties, the corporate events the senior centers, the CD purchases, the book sales — all of it. we are truly grateful.

Music does not exist in a vacuum. It is the most social of all the art forms. And because of your support, you make it real.

May you all have a blessed and prosperous 2009!

Now onto the live performance schedule . . . .

For all the details and the up-to-the-minute changes go to our Online Schedule to make sure you know of all gigs coming up.

This Sunday, January 18th, I will be underscoring on piano behind two very talented writer/performers. Amelia and Ed’s One Man Show is a two-person sketch revue based on the classic man-woman comedy duos such as Nichols and May, Burns and Allen, and Lucy and Ricky. The “Mad Genius” Nate Herman is directing and it will be at 7 PM at The Theatre Building on Belmont in Chicago.

Also, check this gig out . . . a concert at one of Chicago’s most sophisticated performance sites.  Valentine’s Day February 14th Ted Oliver and I will be doing a 2 hour Dueling Pianos Show at The Beverly Arts Center. You’ll need to get tickets for this one right away. Its a really sweet venue for seeing a show. We’ll be performing on a Steinway and a Boesendorfer piano.

Ok That should do it for the highlights.

The lowlights are . . . .The Hyatt gig is gone after two years. So I need to fill in my schedule with more gigs. Let me know if you see a venue close to you that could use some awesome live music.

In addition, I can Custom Write any Song for you; birthday, anniversary, product roll out, comedy, roast, retirement party — You Name It. I’ll Write It.

‘Hello, is this the Sheriff’s Office?’

‘Yes. What can I do for you?’

‘I’m calling to report ’bout my neighbor Virgil Smith ….He’s hiding’ marijuana inside his firewood! Don’t quite know how he gets it inside them logs, but he’s hiding’ it there.’

‘Thank you very much for the call, sir.’

The next day, the Sheriff’s Deputies descend on Virgil’s house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but find no marijuana.

They sneer at Virgil and leave.

Shortly, the phone rings at Virgil’s house.

‘Hey, Virgil! This here’s Floyd….Did the Sheriff come?’

‘Yeah!’

‘Did they chop your firewood?’ ‘Yep!’

‘Happy Birthday, buddy!’

(now that’s a friend for ya’!)