Wishing you all a very happy new year, each and every one of you! Peace in 2008!!! Happiness and good health for all. :
Thanks for all your support this past year and for all the smiles and enthusiasm at our shows. Special thanks to all who came to see our "Home for Christmas " shows. It was giant undertaking and we were happy with how it was all received - even in Boston! :
We KNOW that so many of you were there to enjoy the show in its entirety, and that the "Home for Christmas" songs were as special for you to hear as they were for us to perform. It’s not that often that we get to play an HOURS’ worth of new material, so it was a challenge and a thrill to be onstage nite after nite doing that…
Looking forward in the new year to more "Live From Daryl’s House" concerts, or should I say LFDH???? :
Some surprise musical guests…:
Some new locations…:
Also looking forward to more recording with H&O! More on that later I guess, but you KNOW there is a WHOLE lot of new music coming your way in 2008! :
For those interested, I am finishing up producing a CD for the Blue Note/Manhattan label. Those are the folks who had tremendous success with Norah Jones, as well as others. :
The artists name is MUTLU ONARAL he is the next generation of "philly soul." A gorgeous voice, a gifted songwriter and guitarist, and we were blessed to have daryl lend his voice on not one, but 2 songs on the CD… THANK YOU DARYL!!!!!!!! Look for a spring release. As usual I play a whole lot of instruments on this CD, and I think all you rock and soul fans will really dig MUTLU and his philly roots! :
Lastly, I want to thank Kenny Gamble for walking down the hall backstage at the Philly show on Dec 17th at the very same moment I walked out of my dressing room ( thank you to the universe) so I could pay my respects and tell him how much his music has meant to me thru the DECADES. I was honored to be in his presence for that brief moment, to shake his hand, bow down to him and say, "thank you for it all!" :
Ain;t life GRAND like that?????? :
Ok I’m rambling… Get on with it T-Bone! :
Happy holidays:
Happy new year:
And happy birthday to ME! (12/24)
All my love and best wishes
T-bone
Posted by T-Bone
01.18.08 John solo!
Wanted to give you all an update on what's happening from the far western outpost of the H&O empire... I've been on an insane writing binge and have been coming up with what I believe are the best songs I've written in years...maybe ever! The new material is forcing me to record my second solo album this coming March and April. I've decided to record in Nashville as the songs are very organic and acoustic in style and I've reached out to a number of fantastic musicians who hopefully will play with me on this project (more names later when everything is confirmed).
I had a chance to debut some the new songs at a show I did on Dec. 29 in Telluride Colorado at the very intimate Sheridan Opera House. G.E. Smith came out and he played a great opening set and then joined me onstage for a bunch of songs... reuniting with him after all these years was a true pleasure and we touched on some old H&O classics as well as some of the new stuff...I hope to do more with him in the future and that he will be able to play in the new record as well.
Last week I did an impromptu show at a cool place called "Steve's Guitars" in Carbondale Co. I was supposed to just "sit in" with Stephen Allen Davis on that one but he became ill and had to cancel so the show turned into a 2 hour solo gig... this time I really played mostly new stuff and even went back to my roots with some Doc Watson and Rev. Gary Davis tunes that I used to do before I got together with Daryl.
Next up will be some pre-production visits to Nashville and a gig at the Boulder Theater on March 1 with Otis Taylor. Hmm... Oates & Otis sounds like a thang...
I'm working on a new "Myspace" page which should be up in a few weeks and I'll keep everyone posted on what's happening. Meanwhile all the best and keep the faith.
Posted by John Oates
01.15.08 From Everett!
Yo H&O Brothahs and Sistahs,
It's Everett here!
As Sly Stone has said, "Thank You For Lettin' Me Be Myself Again!!!" Seriously, the Home For Christmas tour was a blast! I was a fan back in the days of Sara Smile, and have followed Hall and Oates' career while formulating my own musicalness. So for me to be on stage with the fellas who taught me how to love and share it is an absolute "dream come true," so to speak. Every song is a celebration to me, so that should explain why I'm shakin' my ass as hard as Im shakin' my tamborines!
I honestly do want to thank Daryl, John, T-bone, Charlie, Eliot, Michael, Zev baby, strings and crew, and the FANS for welcoming me into your soulful musical family, and for letting me be myself. I can't wait to celebrate in 2008!!
Peace and Love,
Everett
Posted by Everett
10.24.07 Note from John!
Dear H&O Fans:
Please tune into Fox at 8 PM EST this Friday to check out Geoff Byrd as his band : "The Likes of You" compete to be Americas' Best Band. All your votes count so please vote for them if you can... I know you all have great musical taste (or you wouldn't like me and Daryl!!!) so please help save the future of the music business... OK that might be a little over the top ... but you get the idea! Keep watching - he might even do one of my tunes. Thanx Mucho.
Posted by John Oates
06.18.07 Message from John
This past month and a half I've been enjoying the beautiful Rocky Mountain springtime, with a little side trip to a very rainy Indy 500. Spring is "action central" on our little ranch: llama and alpaca shearing, planting trees, building a river rock fire pit and of course getting to enjoy the sunshine on my bike after a long winter.
But soon coming is a cool tour on the east coast with the "soul violins" and it will be great to visit the old familiar stomping grounds, seeing friends and family and of course playing for you all. So see you soon and for all of you out on the left coast...catch you in August/September!!!!
Posted by John Oates
06.13.07 Message from T-Bone!
Hey all you rock and soul fans out there!
It's T-Bone here, yes its really me... the cranky yankee writing to you from Avatar Studios in lovely midtown NYC. The sun is out, the sky is blue and I'm in session.
Hard at work as usual!
Just wanted to say how excited I am - well how excited we ALL are - about starting up this summer run: SOUL VIOLINS tour 07.
East coast... West coast... Midwest...
Looking forward to each & every show - especially the July 4th concert in Philly.
Maybe we’ll consider learning the theme from "Rocky..." (haha just kidding)
TSOP is all WE really NEED!
We are getting together at the end of june with our new string quartet to add a few more songs to the repertoire, so keep those signs coming! Hold em HIGH!!!
We really want to get to all your requests - a mighty task but we intend to do it!!!!
Cant wait to see all your smiling faces again... we love playin for y'all.
'Til then
Keep rockin'
Best wishes,
T-Bone
NYC June 11 1007
Posted by T-Bone
05.17.07 3 Years and Counting
Hey everyone I know it's been a while since my last blog. I cant believe it's my 3rd year with the band. It feels like a couple of months ago yet in some ways it feels like I've been playing these songs for so many years... maybe 'cause I've been listening to them for so long.
I also am really enjoying the new addition of the string section (and Zev) as it seems to add another emotional layer to many of these already great songs, and I too miss Jeff although we had a chance to see him recently.
I'm really looking foward to what looks like some great summer and fall shows. I would also like to thank many of you who checked out my latest cd and all
the positive feedback and emails, thank you!
See ya out on the road!
Sincerely Eliot...
Do it for Love
Posted by Eliot Lewis
05.01.07 From Zev!
Hello out there in Fandom!
I just want to say hi and thank you for your warm reception since I've been playing with Daryl, John, T-Bone, Mike, Eliot and Charlie. And let's not forget the crew. And the strings. Applause, please.
As you may know, T-Bone is one of my oldest friends (and I've been one of his biggest fans since 30 years ago!) and that makes it a particular pleasure to be playing and touring with this band. I've loved Michael Braun and his playing for a long time and, as you know, Daryl, John, Charlie and Eliot are all fantastically talented and generally groovy guys. All in all that makes me one happy "new guy in the band".
I'll look forward to seeing you all this summer!
Posted by Zev Katz
04.29.07 From John...
I wanted to thank all the fantastic fans who traveled to Denver to see my show at the Oriental Theater last Friday. I was really happy to see everyone who has so loyally supported both Daryl and myself over the years. I hope the show was what you were hoping for ...from the song selection to the performance. I felt really good knowing there was so much positive energy in the room. See you next time!
Posted by John Oates
04.17.07 Message from T-Bone!
To all the fabulous Rock & Soul fans:
It's been a long time since I had the opportunity to write a little blog for y'all,
so I thought I'd share some of my thoughts about the new lineup and the changes in the H&O band that have come about since last November.
Thanks for the great response to the "Home for Christmas" CD. It was one of the most rewarding projects I ever worked on with Daryl & John, and so satisfying to know that radio embraced not ONLY "Midnight Clear" but " Home for Christmas" as well.
A NUMBER ONE Christmas record… that was a beautiful holiday gift from the "angels."
And that also lead to the a fantastic new relationship with our NY string quartet: Lorenza, Amy, Claire and Jane, as well as our wonderful west coast quartet: Caroline, Rebecca, Miguel & Nick. NOT to mention having one of my dearest friends, Zev Katz, join the band on bass. What a treat to look behind and see Zev back there rockin' away!!!!! We've known each other for close to 30 years.
Even though I'm thrilled to be back on guitar, (and we DO miss jeff catania very much) he will ALWAYS be a part of our musical family.
It's a lot of fun to be up there with Daryl - feeding him all kinds of little riffs to work off of. We have quite a unique "guitar" language we speak…
And John is enjoying it all as well. The three of us play off each other in a very cool way.
The rehearsals in Pawling were a lot of fun and A LOT of hard work, too. We went through close to 30 songs with the string quartet. David Gold did a fab job arranging & transcribing parts for the strings. Entcho and Amy Ralske as the newest quartet members have added so much to the sound.
I don't think Daryl and I realized the enormity of the undertaking, but we were ready to take it on. The desire was there to change the sound and shape of the H&O show for some time now, and though it WAS a mighty task, we are all proud of the results. We can tell from the reaction from show to show that YOU all appreciate and enjoy songs EVEN MORE! Thank you all for your enthusiasm and continued support.
As far as memorable shows go, I have to be honest, I thought EVERY show was a winner! I personally am keeping MY collection of SHOWS TO GO in the CD player in my pickup. We got to every song that was rehearsed with the strings throughout the ten day run in March and there was not a moment where I felt we had missed something. There were some real bone chilling moments, especially with songs like (my faves of course) "Somebody Like You," "Uncanny," "Las Vegas Turnaround"… as well as very cool new takes on classics like "Say It Isn't So," "Lovin' Feeling," "How Does It Feel To Be Back," "Method of Modern Love" and so many others, too. "What's Goin' On" especially in AC that really chilled me to the "BONE."
I'm so happy that the SHOWS TO GO world is still alive and well. Looking back, it's great to know that magic moments from show to show are archived and recorded for posterity.
I hope you all take advantage when you can of the opportunity to build your very own H&O SHOWS TO GO archive. We NEVER play the same show twice AND always are ready to go with the flow when it comes to "LIVE!"
So keep comin' with your signs and don't stop screamin' out your requests. It's MY favorite part of the nite! I TRULY love it. You are ALL sooooooo into it!!!! It's CRAAAAAZY!!!
And know that we are getting ready to add even MORE songs to the existing catalog. So when we are out this summer, don't be surprised if ALL your requests are played
Well… maybe not ALL of them… but we WILL get to all them one of these days!
See you soon! SHOWS to GO rocks!!!
Happy spring to all of you! And thanks for all the love & smiles…
Regards,
T-Bone Wolk
Maui, Hawaii
April 17, 2007
P.S. Check out my new: myspace.com/tbonewolk
Posted by T-Bone
03.30.07 Upcoming Denver Show
Wanted to let all the fans know how much I appreciate their support for my solo show in Denver. I am really looking forward to seeing you all there and hope you enjoy the new show. Jed Leiber will accompany me on keyboards and we're working up a very cool set of some H&O classics as well as some stuff from Phunk Shui and some surprise new material...most of which I've never performed before. I have been thinking about doing this type of show for a while now and the idea came to me after I did a songwriting seminar for the music students of Berklee last year. The experience made me appreciate the "history" of the songwriting process and just how magical and amazing it can be.
Because so many of these songs have become a part of our collective lives and past, its seems only appropriate that the "story behind the songs" be told...so I hope the concert will put a smile in your soul, give you some insight into the background of the material, make you laugh, tap your toes and perhaps shed an altered light on some of the music you all know so well. Catch you in Denver.
Posted by John Oates
12.14.06 Passing of Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegun was a giant in the record business. He cared first and foremost about the ARTIST and the MUSIC--much more than the business. He believed that if the Artist was true to him or herself, good business would follow. Sadly in today's atmosphere, this isn't the case. But, during Ahmet's days of influence it was! He was one of the first people to realize our potential and supported us during our beginning - the most important time. We couldn't have done what we did without Ahmet and Arif Mardin's support and encouragement. He changed music and created what I consider its golden age. He will be sorely missed.
Posted by Daryl Hall
07.01.06 Arif Mardin
This is gonna be short--Arif--what can I say... He was like a father to me - certainly my musical father. The Daryl and John sound wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for his influence and encouragement. When we auditioned (on a broken piano) for Atlantic Records in 1972, it was Arif who sat there nodding his head in encouragement, later saying, "I want to produce these guys,they're gonna be Stars."
With his help, we didn't dissapoint him, and he never failed to point that out when I occassionally saw him over the years. We were close without seeing each other a lot, much like some of the other people in my life who I am close with. I wish that were different, but that's the way (my) life goes, I guess.
We shared a few Martinis and laughed a lot. HE was the greatest, most versatile producer-arranger in the history of modern music, no exception! My life won't be the same without him.
" - Day dreamin and I'm thinkin of you"
D ---------
Posted by Daryl
05.31.06 Hi Everybody
Welcome to our new improved site! Lots of things going on in both my musical and personal life. First of all, we are working on our first ever Xmas album, some of which we've done in good old Five Grand Studios in the Bahamas, Upstate NY and London.
The producer team is me, T-Bone, Greg Bieck, with Rob Mathis (a great musician and arranger), lending a hand.
John wrote a killer song for the project called "No Child Should Ever Cry at Christmas" and me, Greg and T-Bone wrote another Killer called "Home for Christmas" (should all Xmas songs be called Killer"?!!). Other than those two, the line-up keeps changing so I don't want to mention any other songs just yet. It's raw, soulful, beautiful; and "snowy"!
On my personal front, my other grand passion, house building seems to be coming to it's climax (yes, it's a sexual thing). I have a Georgian house on the Thames River in London (one of only 50 with direct waterfront) That's just been renovated, and my long project of restoring 2 colonial houses in Upstate NY, is starting to reach it's end. Everything at once as usual! I am busy writing songs, recording, buying light fixtures, dealing with construction all at once - so what's new? Not to mention touring!
Looking forward to the June run on the West Coast and then onward and upward!
See y'all somewhere, D
Posted by Daryl
05.30.06 Welcome
I hope this new version gives all of you a more user friendly portal to share your thoughts and keep up to date with what’s going on in our world.
I spent a few days in mid May doing some recording in Pawling for the upcoming
Christmas album. Making a Christmas album is a a challenge due to the fact that its not easy to be original and still stay within the creative framework of holiday music. I think that its a cool collection of some traditional Christmas classics, surprises and a few originals songs as well. Believe me, its not easy to write a new Christmas song... I worked very hard to come up with one that preserves the spirit of the genre and at the same time address this holiday in a more contemporary style. The song is called: “No Child Should Ever Cry”... I hope you all like it.
The snow is finally starting to disappear from the mountains and its been very warm and dry here in Colorado. Plenty of ranch projects and lots of new critters to tend to. Installing new watering systems, fixing fences, shearing some llamas and alpacas and of course...mowing, mowing and more mowing! I’ve been really enjoying the “down” time spending alot of time outdoors but always checking the calendar as the June tour approaches.
This summer is shaping up to be a bit different as we’re playing some new venues and cities. Its always good to mix it up a bit and the late summer tour in Canada will be something we haven’t done in a while, so we’re looking forward to seeing all of our fans north of the border.
Once again I want to thank you for your continued support and that we’ll see you somewhere on the road. Until then, have a great summer!
J.O.
Posted by John
02.24.06 Bobby Mayo
Just a note to say ... Bobby, we miss you more than words can say.
On the second year of your passing, just know you are in our hearts always.
Much love,
T-bone
Posted by T-bone
12.11.05 Hi everybody!
Hope everyone has had a happy year in '05. As you all know, mine has been a bit up and down, but what made the down time not so bad was the support and good wishes from all of you.
The shows that we played were without exception fantastic! I love Instant Live - it keeps us on our toes and makes the shows even more passionate and interesting. Keep the requests coming!
Happy Holidays to everyone - see you with new surprises in 06.
Y'all keep my soul alive, Daryl.
Posted by
10.15.05 T-Bone & Tim Garon
To all my friends out there in Rock & Soulville:
I'm offering a special deal thru the H&O website......... a CD I produced about two years ago for a dear friend named Tim Garon. He had a collection of songs I fell in love with and I had just set up my home studio with some a-dats, very antique equipment now. I was determined to learn how to engineer in my basement when I was still living in Brattleboro, Vermont.
I labored over the project for about a year and nudged it and nurtured it and lo & behold, we had 10 songs completed. Tim played acoustic guitar and sang all the vocals. I over-dubbed many instruments I've collected over the years and tried to keep it very acoustic. The result is our cd entitled "The Silence of Her Heart." Tim has a gorgeous voice & I'm very proud of the work I did on it. Some of you may have seen it at the H&O merchandise booth this year, but now I'm offering it for sale on the website along with a t-shirt I've resurrected that features the logo of my fledgling little label, "Say See Bone Records."
I invite you to sample some of the creative things I've been up to, while pursuing my goal of making a T-BONE WOLK solo cd!!!!Trust me my friends, it's in the works & I hope to complete it before the end of the year.
In the meantime, if the urge strikes you, you can catch up with my latest creative endeavor by checking it out in the online store here or in the All Access Club.
Posted by Bone
07.15.05 Lyme Disease
OK everybody! Here's my story so far...
On Saturday, June 18th, I played a great acoustic show for a Northern Dutchess County Benefit. All went well - I felt fine.
On Sunday, I woke up feeling as though I had been beaten with a baseball bat. My bones ached, I had a headache my skin and hair hurt!
Monday, I developed a fever of 103 degrees. Not pleasant, especially because I was supposed to fly to San Diego to play a show the following day. I talked to Brian Doyle: he suggested I travel the day of the show (Tues), opportunistically hoping that this was a 24 hour flu that would blow through me.
On Tuesday morning, I woke up with a 101 degree temp, but still left the house, drove 2 hours to JFK, flew 5 hours to LAX, drove 3 hours in traffic to San Diego and played the show! Talk about "Doing It For Love!"
After the show, I literally thought I was going to drop dead! I was supposed to do another show in San Diego the next day, but I told everyone to cancel - there was just no way I could do it.
I then had two days off (supposedly to recover) in time for the next show in Phoenix. On the first day off, I traveled to L.A. (still with a fever), saw a doctor there, who gave me B12 and cortizone.
The following day, I still had a fever, but flew to Phoenix anyway. I felt terrible! It was 108 degrees in Phoenix and felt like 180 with my fever. At 8:00 p.m., I hit the stage.
After about 4 or 5 songs (Used To Be My Girl), I suddenly felt a wave of fainting and nausea hit me and knew I had to stop immediately. So, I just said, "Sorry everybody, but I have to leave the stage." John then took over, singing 3 or 4 songs. I could hear him from backstage and they sounded great. I particularly remember a great version of Italian Girls! (By the way, all this was recorded on the new "Instant Live" system, so if you're curious, you can get this show online!)
So anyway, there I was backstage - totally out of it - but my will (and maybe stupidity) won out. I returned to do a few songs at the end. Am I a trooper or what?!
After that, I realized that it was not smart to continue the tour feeling the way I felt, with what I thought was a "killer flu." I returned to upstate NY where I just laid in bed for days with a fever that just wouldn't go away. After more of this, I grew increasingly sure that this was not simply the flu!
Sara Allen (my unofficial doctor up here) suggested I go to the local hospital for blood test to check for Lyme disease, a very common malady in the part of the world. I did this, and after having to wait out the drawn out 4th of July weekend, finally got my results sent to my Dr. in NYC.
I went into town to see the doctor, and he told me I tested positive for Erlichia, a tick-borne disease, but I was too early to get a reading on Lyme. I then showed him a three inch red ring with a bite-like center that had appeared the night before - Voila! Lyme Disease!
I have since been put on an antibiotic (doxycycline) for one month, and if all goes well (by no means assured), I will be cured. I hope this is the way it works out, 'cause I MISS YOU GUYS and want to get back on the road. Let's hope for the best.
Lyme and other tick-related diseases are very serious maladies that for some reason have been underplayed by the media and medical profession. Chronic Lyme causes arthritis, heart problems, stroke - even death. This is serious stuff, and the public should be better informed, as it has reached epidemic proportions in the Northeast! You'll be hearing more from me about this. Wish me well!
Daryl
Posted by Daryl
05.05.05 Catania Update!
Hey everyone. Lot's has been happening that I wanted to share with you all. First, be on the lookout for my sister Cynthia's new CD Turbulence.
Her band "Saucy Monky" just signed a deal with 429 Records. They're gearing up for the 1st single release off the U.S. version of Turbulence, with the newest version of “Disco Ball (Boulevard Remix)” set to hit AAA radio on May 2nd. This track will be included on the U.S. album, which hits shops across the country on June 14, 2005. Keep an eye out for them 'cause they're also an amazing live band.
Secondly, I just finished a new record with Annie Minogue. A New York independent artist I work with.
Her new record is called "Tripping The Velvet". It sounds great and it'll be available this summer with concert dates to follow.
Lastly, as some of you know, I'm in the latest issue of "Guitar Digest". The interview is kinda cool so you might
wanna check that out also. Thanks again for all your support and see ya this summer. JC
Posted by JeffC
04.02.05 Japan Tour
As some of you know H&O just finished a tour of Japan, as the band has been there many times this was my first trip there with them (been there twice with the Average White Band).
After a few colds and near cases of the flu the tour really moved along covering many cities and my first trip to Kyoto which produced some very cool photo's .I love Japan and in a word Japanese people are amazing ! and the fans made every show so special.
To our freinds in Japan thank you and to the band and crew thanks for making this trip so special for me, Eliot Here are a few pics for you...
Posted by EliotL at 5:08 PM
02.23.05 Bobby Mayo Anniversary...
To all the fans & friends:
For all of you out there who might have lost track of time, today marks the first anniversary of Bobby Mayo's passing. I just wanted to take a minute and say how much I’ve missed him this past year, and how difficult it's been to know I will never see him, laugh with him, dine & imbibe with him, or make music with him as long as I live.
That’s a whole lot to swallow, and it hasn’t gone down too easily.
I keep a laminated article my Dad saved for me from the Yonkers newspaper tacked to the wall of my little home studio here in Vermont, not so much to remember Bobby's passing, but more to remember who he was & what his friendship & musical camaraderie meant to me... It kind of reminds me who I am, where I’ve been, and where the hell I might be going… His presence in my studio is comforting late at night, cause we went thru a whole lot together… Sometimes I can hear him saying… “Don't worry T-bone… it'll all be ok…”
It’s when I see his smile in those few photos... when I walk in the door and see his little "shrine," I realize I've survived another "leg" of an ongoing tour down the long and winding road… How fortunate I am to return home in one piece to my loved ones, and I stop for a brief minute and smile back at Bobby's picture, and allow myself to feel so very blessed, and I thank the powers that be for allowing me to return home safe yet again.
It’s never easy to lose someone you love, but it is a part of life, isn’t it? And we are all going to be missed by loved ones someday when we cross over to the other side… so I guess we better get on and accept it…
But it hurts so much sometimes, it really does, and I’d so much love to turn around and see Bobby's lovely, impish grin behind his Hammond organ.... and listen to the sweet soul music that so effortlessly flowed thru his body, thru his hands, and into our hearts…
I was driving back to Vermont after our trip to the UK and had Bob Dylan’s "Blonde on Blonde" on my CD player and I had this spontaneous vision of Bobby at sound check with us, playing "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Memphis Blues Again" and "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" etc, etc, etc… you get it...
And I just had the most amazing visit with Bobby as we all babbled our way thru lyric after lyric, and laughed so hard out loud to myself because whenever Charlie or I would stumble at the top of a verse, Bobby would be there to guide us on... How could he POSSIBLY have known all 10 verses of "Like a Rolling Stone" or all 26 verses of "Sad Eyed Lady..." Even DYLAN needs a teleprompter!!!!!
It was like that with any sound check, whether it was "Beatle day", "Stones day", "Traffic day", or "Hendrix day", and WHATEVER day… Jesus.... BoBo knew it all... I mean ALL OF IT!
It’s visits like that which help me to accept his passing... and I know he's in a better place now… and has found true peace & joy & has left us here to carry on & honor his legacy.
Sometimes at night, or after a gig, or sitting at a hotel bar by myself just thinkin’ & driftin’, I say thank you Bobby, for making me realize how insanely short our life here is, in this physical form, and how quickly our time blows by, like the wind in a Manilla monsoon. I thank him for slapping me in the face and saying, "Wake up T-bone… It’s later than you think..."
I’ve tried so hard this year to understand all this, I’ve tried to worry less, be more kind and loving to my family, friends & fans, and tried soooooo hard to find more happiness & joy in life, because I believe that is what we were put here to do, ultimately, is to discover & nurture & enjoy all the happiness we possibly can.
I lost sight of that concept for too long a time, and it took losing one of my dearest friends to gain sight of it again… I wont ever be that blind again, I promise, Bobby…
On behalf of Daryl & john & our band and crew, I send my thoughts and prayers to Bobby's extended family, and to Peter & Skinny & all the Frampton entourage, …may we all get thru this difficult day without too many tears.
Missing you so much BoBo,
Love,
T-bone
February 23rd 2005
Posted by Bone
01.24.05 Carly Simon and Other Stu
Hey everybody:
I know its a little after the fact but I wanted to share with you all a great experience I had December 17th & 18th in NY. My dear friend Carly Simon begged me to come & play GUITAR with her at a Christmas show she was putting on with her manager Kerri Brusca at the Apollo theater with BeBe Winans of the famous winans family gospel group. I wasn’t sure I could make it, cause we were just returning from our December H&O run, but I busted my ass down there cause NOBODY EVER hires me to, play guitar, and I love Carly dearly.
It was quite a band, with Mindy Jostyn on violin, guitar & accordion, Teese Gohl on keys, Christian McBride as the band leader, Charlie Drayton on drums, 2 great keyboard players, Ciro on percussion, Rodney Jones on guitar me on guitars mandolin & accordion & vocals, AND a 30 piece gospel choir we rehearsed for a few days at the Apollo and did 2 sold out shows Carly invited her extended family, son Ben, daughter sally, brother-in -law Livingston Taylor, her sister Lucy & niece Julie, and BeBe had HIS sister CeCe Winans show up as if that wasn’t enough, Rob Thomas guested on 2 songs, one he did with BeBe, the other his latest single, which he performed with me on mandolin....
I can’t say enough about how special Rob Thomas is...as a writer, performer, singer, human being...he’s got it all going on. Daryl & he wrote a beautiful song a few months ago called "Not Enough Love" which we re-recorded in the Bahamas recently, with myself & our new co- producer Greg Bieck, who has become a valuable member of our recording team.
Carly did all her hits, as did bb, and we rocked the house for a solid 2 hours, it brought back a lot of memories for me the last time I played the Apollo was with H&O and David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick, God bless them... hard to believe it was 20 years ago, but the Apollo is such a magical place, so much history, and a lot of great people working really hard to keep it all alive. I felt soooo privileged to be a part of it all. I was up front with Mindy, Carly & BeBe & felt like a REAL guitarist for the first time in a long while, nobody hires me to play guitar and it was quite a thrill. I wish you were all there to witness it, and very sorry that union regulations prevented any taping. It brought back a lot of memories of the '95 Carly H&O tour, she always talks to me about how great that was & how she wishes we could do it all again.
Just returned from a trip to the Bahamas w/ DH, Greg & myself, sorting thru songs for a new DH CD, new H&O CD and we wrote a real classic Christmas song, which we hope will be on a CD out for the 2005 holiday season for you all to enjoy.
Just want to also say thanks to all of you who followed the "rock & soul" tour this past year. Michael McDonald & his band were just the BEST to play with & hang with & the extra special bonus was spending so much time together with our dear friends in AWB: Alan, Onnie, Klyde, Brian & Fred were just a blast to listen to every nite & they threw the BEST aftershow parties.
Hoping we can all reunite this summer... we'll see wont we?
Hope you are all enjoying "Our Kind of Soul". I understand there is still a lot more TV to promote for the CD coming up in April. Keep an eye out for us will you?
I truly enjoy seeing all the familiar faces out there in the front rows night after night, you really make it all happen for me, and after our trip to Japan in March, it wont be long till I see you all again.
Lori is helping me finally getting my web site back up. I’ll look forward to all your comments.
Here’s to a great rock & soul new year of 2005. Thanks for you love & support!
Regards,
T-Bone
Posted by Bone
01.17.05 From Eliot
Hello hello, I know this has taken far too long to do but...
First a belated Happy New Year to everyone , I just wanted to take a moment to tell you all what a great time I've had this past year. Thank you for making me feel so welcome to this band and all the support you've shown me, it truly warms my heart. A few of you I've met face to face at shows , some thru emails and many just seeing your faces in the audiences, allI can say is Hall & Oates are lucky to have such amazing supporter's as all of you.
I also want to say how much I enjoy playing music with this band - they are all pro's and great people. Also a big thanks to Lori for doing such a great job managing this site and her support.
I want to share with you some photo's of the guys on the road since I also do a lot of photography , here are a few from my collection enjoy...
