SONG OF THE DAY: “Is It Christmas Where You Are?”
ARTIST: Song written and performed by John Lilly

Charleston-based singer-songwriter John Lilly talks about the story behind this song:

This song was written in 1990, during the first Gulf War. I was living in Nashville, and the word went out that people in the music community there were putting together Christmas “CARE” packages for the service men and women overseas. Many people donated recordings and poems and baked goods — I wrote and recorded this song, visualizing the hot desert and inhospitable scene that would greet the soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait on Christmas morning. (Funny note, the original demo of this song, the one I sent overseas, featured a trio of me on guitar and vocal, a friend named Mike Garvey on piano, and the great David Ball on bass. Soon thereafter, David had a huge hit record called “Thinking Problem” and continues to be a popular traditional country singer. But he was doing demo work at the time and played on my session.) (more…)

Kay Graham and her Harold Hayslett cello. Photo by Douglas Imbrogno. Click to enlarge

SONG of the DAY: “Allegro Scherzando” by Felix Battanchon
PERFORMERS: Kim Graham (on Hayslett cello No. 47), with her student Dean Pauley (on Hayslett cello No. 54).
CD: From “The Hayslett Collection: A Musical Tribute.” The CD is for sale locally at Taylor Books, Frog Creek Books, Cornucopia, Gorby’s Music and Ferguson Tea Room in Hurricane and online at cdbaby.com/cd/hayslett

By Douglas Imbrogno
Got cello? Kimberly Graham does and it’s not just any old cello. (more…)

Colleen Anderson, Julie Adams and Karen Vuranch have teamed up on the new CD “Potluck,” featuring songs and stories celebrating wise women, community and home cooking. Hear them perform the CD in an hour-long, family-friendly show at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 14, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 502 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston. The show is followed by — what else? — a dessert potluck. There’s no cover, but please bring non-perishable foods to donate to the Covenant House Food Pantry. If you feel like bringing a dessert to share afterwards, you’re encouraged, but it’s not required. The CD is available at Taylor Books in Charleston, at Tamarack and at  www.potluckshow.com

Take a listen to a story and song from the CD:
–”Miss Grace” (by Karen Vuranch: a true story about Grace Haught of Wetzel County, W.Va., as told to Vuranch by Grace’s grandson, Jeff)

–”Get Me to the Chocolate” (by Colleen Anderson)