Greetings friends. It has been a while since I’ve blogged here. Since last fall I had been the primary caregiver for my partner Wayne Crawford who was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and cancelled many gigs as well as put the promotion of my new album “Pura Vida-This is Pure Life” on hold. Well, Wayne passed away at home in my arms March 12 and it has been a frenzied, difficult but needed roll up that proverbial mountain like Sisyphus to get myself back in the music game so to speak. The entire journey will no doubt find its way into my music.
Interestingly I had been scheduled to perform the day Wayne passed away at the Cowboy Days Festival (I was the Indian haha) here in Las Cruces. Obviously I didn’t make that gig. I did, however, perform my scheduled slot with an extended set the next day thereby getting paid. Yay! I’m grateful that I’ve had income, very modest income, coming in through my royalties, distribution and online sales during this time. I make a large part of my musician’s income through live gig contracts and live sales. You’ve no idea just how tight an independent musician’s income is always leveraging on what you’ve contracted and expect to make at shows. Talk about faith right? My calendar has been really busy thankfully. I’ve played for the Las Cruces Art Museum, NMSU-DACC Cultural Diversity Day, some places of worship and for the Hospice Celebration Walk. This gig was particularly hard as we used Hospice in Wayne’s final weeks. His name scrolled on the screen every few minutes as I played flute music through tears, but it is all part of healing and grieving I tell myself.
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| Michael Graham Allen & Randy Granger Musical Echoes Stage 2011 |
I was able to make a road trip out to Musical Echoes in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Michael Graham Allen, aka Coyote Oldman, had invited me to come out and play. I was more than happy to go and saw many friends, ate copious seafood, drank too much and almost got my friends kicked out of their hotel—repeating something that happened last time I was at Native Rhythms. I mean when you start jamming it is easy to get carried away. That is my story and I’m sticking to it. I stopped in New Orleans on the return trip to visit the spirits both on Bourbon St and at the St. Louis Cemetery #1 where Marie LeVeau is buried. I saw an artist friend I hadn’t seen in a while. It was really worth the trip if not an exhausting 3,000 mile journey for a gig.
The future and the present is my focus now. The music coming through me has never stopped and I’ve loads of new music to record. I’m also back on the road returning to some familiar festivals and gigs and always willing to schedule house concerts on my trips, conduct workshops etc. Please bookmark my calendar at randygranger.net/calendar or follow on twitter @RandyGranger or join my Fan page on Facebook. I look forward to seeing you all again and meeting new friends and fans.
Some upcoming performances:
May 15, Las Cruces, NM, 7PM Young Park, 2011 International AIDS Candlelight Vigil
May 17, White Sands Natl. Monument, “Full-Moon Concert” 8:30PM, Monument Amphitheater
May 22, Albuquerque, NM, New Mexico Music Awards Banquet, 6:30PM, Hard Rock Casino.
Randy Granger nominated for Best Song in: “New Age,” “Hispanic Contemporary” and “World Beat” categories.
There are more performances on my website but I did want to mention I will be performing at the Yosemite Art and Flute Festival in Oakhurst, California on September 23-25 and am very excited about it. Before that is the SEPTEMBER 18-21, Yosemite World Music Camp! “This will be a fun and enriching experience where we can come together to learn, to share, and to play music. We will gather at the Sierra Sky Ranch, location of the Yosemite Flute and Art Festival. During this three-day camp you will have the opportunity to move deeper into your own joy filled, musical expression with greater confidence and skill.
Our awesome teaching staff:
Scott August, world flutes and musicianship
Randy Granger, percussion and drumming
Annie Mathias, didgeridoo, Moyo drums, creative play
You will be able to participate in two class sessions each day Monday through Wednesday, with your afternoons free for exploring the area or relaxation.
And you have the freedom of choice because: There are no class “tracks” you must follow! You may take any combination of classes! You may focus on one thing or learn a little of everything! We will also have awesome evening programs:
A Medicine Wheel Ceremony, A Sound Bath out on the lawn under the big trees
And a group jam session where we all play! Reserve Now as class space is limited: http://worldmusiccamp.org/ "Yosemite World Music Camp"
Please sign up quick because classes are limited in space.
Thank you
