| Hello to all friends,
music fans, and all who fit in between! Well, it is that time of
year to say a big hello and thank you to all who have taken The
Ride for yet another year.
Indeed, it has been a very busy year; lots of teaching, producing
and performing. As well, I did some serious traveling throoughout
Canada, the USA and the United Kingdom. I got to play with good
friends and new friends were made along the Journey. Sometimes I
remember to remember that life is full of hopes and challenges,
desires and acceptance as well.
This year brought lovely landscapes in Scotland,England,Wales and
Canada. I spent the month of September touring the United Kingdom
as a duo with Jeff Finlin, and also played a series of gigs together
with a great little band we called the Homeboys- Leon Hunt, Henry
Sears, Mike Prior & Lennie Harvey- banjo, fiddle, bass and guitar-
what a band they were and what great fun to get to play with these
guys! Sometimes we even sounded really good!!! Add into that a few
workshops, and spending time out on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula with
good friends , Dede Fraser and the ever-hospitable Curries from
Glasgow, Scotland-- hiking, beachcombing, eating, drinking, ferry
riding over to the Isle of Mull, flirting, getting to catch a Bruce
Molsky show in a beautiful older church in Glasgow. I don't think
I could have had a better time!
Somewhere in between all that traveling, I had to say a sad farewell
to a two wonderful people, including my best friend of 30 years,
Ti Morrissey-Pinto. She was my dear soul mate pal who traveled and
tripped the light fantastic with me in my younger and wilder (yes,
I was a bit of a daring-do kind of girl) days! She was full of light
and laughter, hope and inspiration thru all my years of trying to
figure out my career moves. Also the Bay Area Music community lost
a dear and treasured pal, Ms Allison Fisher, wife of banjoist Avram
Seigel. Allison played bass, wrote great bluegrass songs, and contributed
so much to her community outside of the music world and will not
be forgotten.
So now comes the time to say Thank You to many friends and colleagues
again.
To my family, I say Thank You for just always being there for me,
and letting me know how much you care.
Thank You to all the Musicians who've put their trust in me and
let me produce their recordings. I do appreciate the trust, and
feel that I always get to learn something new along the way with
you. These folks include Jefferson Hamer, Open Road, Benny Galloway
and the Wayword Sons, and the Boulder Acoustic Society and the Badly
Bent-you all did great work, and I know we had a good time each
time. Also Thank You Mario Casilio, Colin Bricker, James Tuttle,
everyone at Airshow Mastering, and my pal Gus Skinas for showing
me the ropes and having such patience for me along this road.
To my dearest of friends far and near, Thank You for just taking
the time to be my friends and musical cohorts as well. For just
hanging out and going to see good and bad movies at the theaters…
for cooking meals, and throwing fun parties. For having the 'thru
thick and thin' kind of freindships that keep me going thru all
the tough and the good.
You know who you are- Thank You Thank You Thank You.
A special Thank You to Jorma and Vanessa Kaukonen, John Hurlbut,
Jack Cassady and Diana Quine and all the good friends at Fur Peace
Ranch- I always feel at home with you!
Thank You to all my students who continue to work so hard at becoming
musicians, and keep me on my toes at all times!
Thank You to Ben O'Connor for all your generous time and work on
and for my website.
Thank You to the good folks who come and see me play, and always
show me such spirit that it almost knocks me over up on stage!
I hope that this coming year (and the years to come as well) bring
to all of you the best of times and that whatever crosses your paths,
may it be inspiring and true to who you all are. I keep my fingers
crossed that somehow we all remain a kind and decent peoples who
can remember that we all come from the same gene pool. Keep a kind
thought as often as you can, and maybe that will help change some
things in the world that are in great need of changing. One can
always hope!!! Till we meet down the road again this year, than
k you for taking the time to read the Little Letter from Lyons
My best to you all,
Sally Van Meter
|
Archive
Apr. 24, 2005
What's new from Sally
December 8, 2004
Recording projects update
November 28, 2003
2003 Retrospective
December 28, 2002
2002 Retrospective
July 15, 2002
Letter from the road
May 10, 2002
On tour with Jorma Kaukonen
March 20, 2002
Fur Peace Ranch Camp
July 3, 2001
Sally on Prairie Home Companion |
