A Really Class Act!

As I never fail to point out from time to time, I'm pretty much on my own when it comes to the trickle of promotion and publicity I'm able to accomplish. Signpost Music certainly did (and sometimes still does) a bit of this as well related to the release of The View from Here and the re-release of Songs from Bright Avenue. Record companies will promote albums but most sales occur in the early quarters and it certainly makes perfect sense that publicity efforts fade into the background.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I still have to make whatever modest efforts I can to stay visible and working. About a month or so ago, I sent a small package of a couple CDs to the NPR radio program A Prairie Home Companion hosted by Garrison Keillor. With the exception of a couple years in the late '80's, the show has been on the air in it's present form continuously since 1974 (with five earlier years as a morning radio show). Keillor is a master storyteller and ringleader of the whole deal. They have a wonderful company of actors and musicians involved and they regularly feature musical guests.

They are such a class act that when they received my package, they actually sent back the reply you see here. Of course it's a form letter, but think about it: some human had to type in my name and address and, as opposed to virtually every media outlet I could name at random, they acknowledged my submission. So I wanted to post that bit of graciousness here ... in a world of soul-numbing automation and non-response, it says a lot about the people behind the show.

Also for those who know me and like my music, please (as an old friend of mine used to say): "Keep your prayers crossed" that the Prairie Home folks might like me enough to book me. I would love to play the "Summer Street" songs and "My Heart Across the Ocean" for that audience. If they get back to me further, I'll make a big deal of it somewhere around here!