Matthew’s Music Notes
Welcome Spring & Summer 2009!
Greetings to you! Now that the cold winter days are finally passing, it is time to be geared up and be ready for spring and summer. I have enjoyed the winter season and the snows in Salisbury and in Boone. I love all four seasons. But now I am ready for some warm weather.
2009 has started a little slow with my father’s heart attack and recovery.  Thanks for all the prayers. After two heart surgeries he is doing well, and listening to what the doctors have to say. My father has always been a pretty healthy man, but since he became diabetic fifteen years ago, his health has been giving problems. Diabetes and Heart Disease runs together. I wish a cure would be on its way to end this terrible disease. Many of my family members along with millions of people are suffering from diabetes. I saw my grandmother die from a diabetic coma in 1994, and a close friend died at the age of 23 in 2000. That is why I am becoming more involved in the Diabetes Foundation & Research. If you can ever contribute several dollars to their research foundation, that would be awesome. Together we all can wipe out diabetes. (www.diabetes.org).
Two new CD’s are coming out this late summer. I know it’s about time after three years.  I am recording a new piano instrumental project titled, “Have You Hugged Your Piano Today?” I am excited about it. The CD will contain a mixture of country classics, Irish, and who knows what else will be on the CD that I have pounded out on the keyboard.
Another CD will be a collection of old-time bluegrass/mountain music. My good buddy, David Grubb who is an outstanding mandolin player (and he was my first mandolin student twelve years ago) can play the heck out of a mandolin. David has won a lot of mandolin championships, and played with The Bluegrass Boys who were once the back up band for the late Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. David and I play some shows together and he is always a crowd pleaser.
Check out the attachment from former President George Herbert Walker Bush. I have always admired the Former President Bush. He is the first President for whom I cast my vote when I turned 18. Both Former President
Bush and Former First Lady Barbara Bush are fans of bluegrass and Country Music. During his presidency, the Bush’s made several visits to the Grand Ole Opry and President Bush made the statement that when he needed some boost and morale dealing with the Middle East conflicts, all he needed to do was turn on and crank up some good ole country music! I mailed President Bush my bluegrass CD, and I received a personal response from him with several gifts and his words of appreciation and thanks. It was a real honor to receive a personal response from the former President of the United States.
 Thank you for your support and encouragement. Performing and playing music is just as much fun as it is for me to watch you enjoy yourself while I am performing. Please check my site out often to keep up with the news. There are many times I am performing and I never make the time to keep up appearance schedule listed on my site. I will try to do a better job. I am thinking of having a contest, and giving you a chance to submit a name for my new bluegrass/mountain CD. I will release details later about it. The person who selects the best name for the CD will receive several new and autographed copies of the CD. The name has to do something about bluegrass/old-time mountain music. So, hurry and submit your ideas. I will let you know mid summer the title selected and who the winners are.
Mark Hartley does a wonderful job designing and keeping my web site up to date. Mark is available to deign a web site for your personal and business needs. Contact Mark for all your web site needs. He is retired and has nothing to do.
Nothing like pickin’ in the mountains on a sunny Spring day!
Have a wonderful day and like the words of Saint Patrick and the Irish Blessing, “May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may you keep safe in the loving arms of God.”
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