Waikiki's gathering place of seniors offers music as man's ultimate human gift

Seniors entertain tourists and residents alike in Waikiki

If you are aiming for a Waikiki experience that will take you back in time to those good old days, stop on the beach side of Kalakaua Avenue on Oahu in Hawaii, sit down on a bench under a covered umbrella and become part of a local community who brings the best of Hawaii to visitors no matter who they are.  Travel back in time with the seniors who will take you on a magic journey of paradise as it was and still is in the songs that light up the islands with their bright melodies.

In Hawaii the seniors have traditions they share with tourists. You can never predict for sure when a gathering of these special people will arrive and entertain, who bring their ukeleles, music and traditions to this place in Waikiki. The weekends bring the folks in for the authentic play of paradise you just don't want to miss on any visit to the Oahu beaches of Waikiki.

Having lived in Hawaii for many years, I have learned how meaningful these gatherings are to local folk and those who return for the visits after they have left. It is here where through the songs and stories on these benches in the sun that people learn about Hawaii from these elders while they reminisce.

Sit down at a table, as people make room for friends and strangers alike, and share Hawaiian aloha in that old-fashioned way. It begins with a man with a ukelele singing a Don Ho song. The strains of Pearly Shells brings a chorus of voices, along with a band of ukeles. This is the place where people can perform for others and enjoy the applause just like those good old days. Folks retired now spontaneously entertain each other and the tourists that gather round and applaud the talents of the old folks, whose energy often can outpace the very young entertainers who play in the bars and restaurants of Waikiki.

The gathering place for these wonderful occasions take place are on Kalakaua Avenue, a short walk from any direction from the main tourist hotels. A large sheltered area sits apart from all the rest. You recognize the older people with their gaily floral clothes. The old-timers dress the way you would expect them to on a sunny day in Hawaii, especially since it's a time they entertain each other and entertain you too.

They come from every ethnic group, these elders of Hawaii. They will swap stories with you, teach you a song or two or just ask you to sit down and listen and enjoy the moment as part of a crowd that gathers there in Waikiki on almost any afternoon.

These elders sing of old Hawaii, but mostly songs that are referred to as hapa-Haole, that is Hawaiian music with English words so you will know the words. You'll almost always hear a famous song of Kui Lee, who died too young but contributed many songs that tourists often know. Elvis Presley performed some of Kui Lee's songs in that string of movies made in Hawaii. One of them is I'll Remember You, a perennial favorite of the group that gathers at these tables, reminiscing as they sing the song and tell you about this famous musician many remember well. That musician, Kui Lee, is the one who helped catapult Don Ho to fame.

Some of the elders are the beach boys, many who still sit on the beaches as they have done for decades, and who come and join the group. Their numbers are dwindling now, as the old-timers have died, aged too much or moved away over the years. But the ones who still come to these magic moments on the beach bring all those stories of Hawaii, of the days of sprawling beaches before all the hotels were built and of cruise ships that brought people from afar.

This simple way of enjoying the aloha spirit is an authentic way to meet Hawaii in all its special ways. Here is the famous Waikiki beach where swimming and sunning takes place. Here is where the surfers take their boards and vanish into waves to the rhythm of the sea and winds that only they seem to hear. The palm trees, sand, and sunshine mix with the old music, hulas, and 

brightly dressed elders of every race.  That vision of the best in relationships is the best of a tourist experience, that local folks enjoy as well, and an ongoing symbol of why Hawaii is called the Gathering Place, as it is the place that symbolizes man's ultimate human gifts

Listen to the 'Songbird' of music to a voice you won't forget

[caption id="attachment_20819" align="alignleft" width="160"] Kathy Songbird[/caption]

Carol Forsloff-----In a world of competition for who’s the best, there are those yet undiscovered major talents that provoke many of us to say to ourselves, “That person is so talented she should be on a national stage.”  This is often said about Kathy Songbird, a vocalist whose singing soars above almost anyone and who surely should be among those who have attained great fame.

Kathy Songbird is the stage name for Jan Jackson who combines physical attractiveness with a voice that stuns her listeners.  She is one of the outstanding performers on a site called Fandalism, where she has numerous fans.  Along with musical talent, Kathy is also known for her kindness and sensitivity for the welfare of others that she often expresses in friendly mail and chats with friends.

An interview with this could-be, should-be Broadway talent brought additional insight into the musical background, interests and musical attitudes that go with being the kind of woman anyone would want as a friend and the kind of musical skill that any producer would embrace.

1.       When did you begin to perform music? At what age did you start singing or playing an instrument?

I started singing in church at age 7. I have been singing since I was 4 according to my Mom

2.       Did you learn music by having lessons or did you learn on your own?

I took piano lessons from my grandmother and took voice lessons at the Conservatory of Music   in Kansas City for a time.

3.       Who encouraged you the most in learning and performing music?

My grandmother loved to hear me sing and she would play piano while I did. She felt I had a gift and I am thankful to her for her support as well as my family.

4.      Have you been primarily a soloist or member of a band?

I sang with the Rocky Rockwell Band as lead singer and also with the Bill Woody Combo band as lead singer. I also did many gigs by myself playing keyboard and singing.        

5. Are you a fan of some of the television programs like “The Voice” or “America's (or your country) Got Talent”or American Idol or any of the other programs that present contests?

I do enjoy watching the Voice and American Idol...love to see the talent that is out there.

6.  What motivated you initially to be involved in music?

I have loved music from as long as I can remember. Singing along with music on the radio from a very early age. Music is my love.

7. What are your personal favorite music genres? Who are some of your favorite performers?

I love blues, ballads, Broadway, the classics from days gone by...even country Barbra Streisand is my all-time favorite vocalist.

8.  Do you compose music?

I have tried writing some songs...I hear the melody in my head but have never done it seriously.

9.  Do you have other family members who play music?

My father played piano by ear, my grandmother on the piano, and my brother plays guitar. 

10.  Are you active in a music group of any kind?

I presently am with KC Cabaret...a great group of talented singers.

11.   How often do you play music, including for your own recreation?

I am always singing, even if I don't post a song publicly. I play my keyboard often also. 

12.   What barriers have you found in the music business? What do you think might improve the music business?

It is very hard to find places to perform and so many places only want certain styles of music and people of a certain age. It would be wonderful if there were ways to find out what is available in the city you live in.

13.   Are you active in any music organizations such as ASCAP or BMI?

I am not active in any music organization at the present time. 

14. Would you encourage a young person starting out to seek music as a career?

I would strongly recommend any young person who has an ambition to put their music out in the world to find out where and how they can go about that. I hear young singers/musicians and I pray that someone will discover them. 

15.   Where do you see the future of music?

Music will be around forever....it is the one thing that can touch even the hardest heart. It makes us cry, laugh, feel emotions that we may have been hiding. Without music the world would be a very sad place

16.   What are your personal music goals?

I do wish I could get with someone and we could perform music for people, be it a band or maybe someone to just play piano for me. Love seeing the smiles on people's faces when I sing for them...money isn't important, it is just the love of music I have in my heart and I love spreading that joy around. God gave me a gift and I thank Him each day for it. 

And as Kathy thanks God for the gift of her voice there are many people who thank Him and Kathy as well for the voice of an angel many people love, that you will too, once you have a listen at the following sites:

http://www.youtube.com/user/songbird18MO?feature=watch

https://soundcloud.com/kathy-songbird

http://fandalism.com/kathysongbird

 

Music is key to health and unity science affirms

[caption id="attachment_18953" align="alignleft" width="480"] Mark Taylor, Musician[/caption]

The newest scientific research affirms what cognitive scientists have suggested, and musicians recognize in their practice, that the synchronicity of music promotes unifying people in spirit and in body.

There is a real physical response within each person that occurs when music is performed in a group.  In fact science tells us now that the breathing, the speed of activity, and the overall physical responses seem to be the same for each participant in a group of people singing or playing music.  In other words, the family of man that sings together can actually stay together in often almost magical ways.

Cognitive scientists remind us also that music helps to nurture the brain.  And it also helps in easing pain.  So the benefits of music continue to be significant, as experts tell us, in almost area of life.

Researchers say unison singing is particularly beneficial.  "Unison singing of regular song structures makes the hearts of the singers accelerate and decelerate simultaneously. "  In general choir singing has been noted as promoting a sense of well being.

For all those parents who have invested in music lessons, it turns out the payout for the student or performer can be lifelong, outside the walls of the instruction, maintaining benefits for many years to come.  Children who have music training actually show change in brain activity in a positive direction that lasts over many years, according to neuro scientists.  In fact scientists have found that children as young as from 3 to 5 years old show improved cognitive skills after music training.

Those people who lose the ability to speak after stroke or brain damage have been found to improve speaking using music phrases, singing and repeating those music phrases.

What if you are one of those who proclaim you can't sing or play an instrument?  Science says you too will find good things from music that can improve mental agility and reduce anxiety and pain.    In 2010 scientists announced that listening to music can actually reduce pain in patients with high anxiety.    Researchers have concluded that "music helps reduce pain by activating sensory pathways that compete with pain pathways, stimulating emotional responses, and engaging cognitive attention. Music, therefore, provided meaningful intellectual and emotional engagement to help reduce pain."

Sing, play an instrument, tap your food or just sit back and listen to the music of the world, scientists proclaim, for a longer, brighter, more informed and less anxious life!

Music the fruit of love, understanding from French musician

[caption id="attachment_18166" align="alignleft" width="180"] Yvalain[/caption]

Carol Forsloff — Music transcends borders and as Shakespeare once said, it is the fruit of love. It is also the vehicle for understanding and communication that can bring people together from many parts of the world, as is done by Yve Alain Debodinance, known as Yvalain by his friends and fans. Yvalain is one of many thousands of musicians on a site called Fandalism, sharing his music, most of which is original, with people around the world. I asked him a number of questions in order to highlight for others what he has done to elevate his own music as an example to others, improve his own performances, and how he developed his unique and special skills in music. The following are the questions and answers from the interview:

When did you start playing music and why?

I started to play guitar when I was 15. My best school friend was a huge Beatles fan. Thanks to him I discovered a magic universe of sounds, voices and instruments. The Beatles broke up one year ago. Until that moment I did not know too much music but some French hits and some classical music that my father sometimes played at home. I then requisitioned the family turntable and installed it in my bedroom. Little by little I listened to a wide range of pop-music from Jimi Hendrix to Pink Floyd, not forgetting Mike Oldfield, Queen, Supertramp and at least a thousand more…

What types of music genres do you favor?

I used to worry that I need two "legs to walk" and in the field f music I need pop-rock (in a very wide understanding) and classical music. I still love the Beatles and most of their solo works, I admire Paul McCartney who is still a fantastic creator despite his age. I still love everything I listened to in my teen years. John Lennon once said that our discoveries during our adolescence impregnate our spirit deeply. I agree with that. There is always some special magic when I listen today the stuff I enjoyed when I was young. The early Mike Oldfield is still great to my ears. All Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, The Who, the Kinks, Manfred Mann, Wishbone Ash but also Muse, American folk singers such as CSN&Y, Dylan, Hendrix of course, Randy Newman, Bruce Springsteen… On the classical side I can’t live without JS Bach, Sir Henry Purcell, Haendel and Vivaldi besides great other classical masters.

Where do you get your music inspiration?

I guess like many other composers I want to express myself through music: emotions, ideas, stories, good or bad experiences. My elder son told me that there are two races of musicians: the creators and the experts. I’m definitely among the first group. I like to play guitar and bass but my pleasure is not to practice hours everyday. Instead I use them as simple instruments to express my need to create. It could be pots or sticks…

What have been some of your special music experiences? Have you performed professionally and if so in what type of venues?

I started a band with my schoolfellows. Of course, our aim was to be as famous as the Beatles. Soon I played bass. That was my temperament at that time (express something but not too under the spotlight). We played several years, improving slowly But it happened that I realize we would never be good enough to earn our life with music, not speaking to be as good as the Beatles. So I had to keep my energy to have a good job and create a family. The dream was over. We made some disastrous public performance. Not a very good memory. Well, after nearly 30 years I started a new band with other musicians. That was a lot of fun. We made several great concerts (we were not too bad this time). But in 2008 I decided to keep my free time for composing and I left the band. Since then I made the equivalent of 10 albums with my small home studio.

What does it mean to be successful in music? What counts as success? Money? Fun?  Meeting new people? Self satisfaction? Creative outlet?

I guess the answer depends on what age we have. In my case my answer would be very different when I was a dreamy adolescent. Of course, now, I believe that the most important is to have fun and give pleasure to the audience. Personally my best pleasure is when I accomplish a new work and when I’m satisfied with the result. I never think of what other people will say of my song, if they’ll like it or not. It would be paralyzing to me to think that way. I started to make music on my own, playing all instruments and programming those that I can’t play. My experience of composing with my band was not very satisfying as I realized that my need to compose something original was not shared. The other members preferred to cover well-known hits. But soon I found it very agreeable to invite other musicians to play some parts of my songs, joining their talent to my ideas. That was certainly a good operation to have great singers and soloists with me. Thanks to the Internet I could play with people from various places in the world.  I shared my songs on Jamendo for nearly 4 years. Then I discovered Fandalism. The feedback of listeners was great,  and it surprised me a lot. Whether they are simple listeners of music experts, I have a great satisfaction in saying how my works are welcome.

Shakespeare once said music is the fruit of love. What does that mean to you?

I agree with that when it comes to the point of sharing my music with other people. In my case it’s always a gift. That happens to when some collaborators help me make some new song. When I receive their parts I always receive it as a great gift and I’m grateful for that. I respect what I’m given and all new ideas are very welcome. In my case I would like to add that music is made with our life, our emotions, our pains and our joys. I can’t make a music that means nothing to me.

What are your future ambitions when it comes to music?

I just want to continue to create new songs and I hope they will be better than everything I’ve already made. I often dream that I manage to break my own limits and create surprising original pieces in different styles than ordinary. I also have some ambition in the field of classical music. I have several baroque pieces that I hope I’ll be able to play in a better way that what I could do previously. Where do you see the future of music?

Sometimes I’m pessimistic when I state that in today’s world the music is slaved to profits at various times by the music industry. Fortunately sometimes a great original artist or band can appear despite the race to the bottom. Sometimes I’m rather optimistic considering the huge amount of original artists who expressed themselves in the domain of free music. Probably what we’ve known during the 20^th century will end: huge artists making a lot of money through disks and TV shows. We don’t have to wait that somebody tells us what to listen (unless we’re slave of commercial music industry and medias). We can find a lot of free music with an incredible quality. But I have no solution to the problem of how to allow an artist to live correctly with its creations; otherwise I would apply it to myself.

What advice would you give young people starting out with the idea of having a career in music?

So many young people want to become stars! I can understand that, as I was young too. I think the whole paradigm will change a lot, it’s already changing. I would not be the one to shower the heat. After all I did not succeed myself. And who knows, circumstances, meeting the right person, a great idea could bring fame… Obviously everything is done in the economic system to prevent new real talent to emerge. Of course there are exceptions… That feeds the dream...

You perform a lot with other musicians. What do you look for in collaborations? How can people learn from these and what are the value of them? The basis is humility: I don’t pretend to be a great musician, but I still want to do something that sounds good to my ears! Despite incredible tools that are given to amateur musicians I still favor the warmth and the richness to have real instruments and good vocals in my songs. When I started to ask for help I was very afraid that I would receive negative answers or laughs! But instead I had only good experiences and the results were always beyond my expectations. Well, sometimes singers are real divas, very hard to satisfy. Today I can’t imagine not asking for external contributions to make new song. I always learn from others. I’m often dazzled by their work and their ideas. Then I’m very happy to promote our common work and my best pleasure is to read a compliment for my partner(s).

Offer a few anecdotes about yourself. What makes you the musical you?

When I was a young boy I already created songs that I sung or myself, in my head. But I did not realize that. I remember that I used to go to the grocery store with a list of things to purchase for the family dinner, every evening after school. I watched the other boys screaming, playing soccer in a field. I thought to myself “what kind of boy am I, what makes me different than others?” I had only negative words with which to answer, the same that I heard at home. Now I know: I was preparing my future passion, that irrepressible need to express myself in the best way, I mean to show some beauty from inside me to those who did not believe in me.

Yvalain's music can be found here: http://fandalism.com/yvalain

Find your new direction through music, and help build a harmonious world

Robin Rendell, songwriter and musician

Carol Forsloff — So you've retired with time on your hands, like to sing, play an instrument and be part of something wonderful. Or you are a young person who has learned a few new tricks and want to share them.  Maybe you are one of those old folk singers who believe your music has long since past, or you are a rocker and wonder if the general public will find and love you. Well, folks there are places that will remind you that you can at any age find your musical direction, have fun and make friends, and maybe even rediscover yourself or develop new talents.

Robin Rendell is that mature fellow who has lived long enough to have experienced much of the world. He is that traditional folk artist, the kind many of us revered in our youth. Yet he plays that eternally loved music, writes and makes wonderful musical masterpieces that can only delight people of all ages. And he is part of the Fandalism community, a community where ageism, sexism, national bigotries and all go by the wayside as people forge new bonds in music. Robin is one of those people who leads folks through his collaborations and creations.

But Robin isn't alone.  Michelle Baker, a young housewife from the South, learns, grows, and fits music into those everyday household responsibilities. Yet she brings her wit, charm and warmth to this site called Fandalism and for a few moments in her day, she is a star, shining brightly and appreciated by a world of fans.

Dan'l Young shows off his wonderful, extensive family and his music as well.  Another senior, in those years some folks think is the end of a music career, Dan'l doesn't have that off button some think needs to be used at that "certain age." Instead he proves that certain age is no barrier in having fun and being appreciated.

All over the world people are finding their new direction in music. Whether you are an Amadea or an Ivana Fisher from Eastern Europe or a French composer of infinite skill, such as Yvalain LePoste, or a country singer from Arkansas, like James Rice  in those mid-life years of trying to find one's ultimate purpose,  or the time you think you ought to be hanging up your boots but instead are a country singer with the continuing enticement that comes from doing it well, or a show tunes diva like Kathy Songbird, there's a place for you on Fandalism, touted as the site of the world's greatest musicians.

And some of the world's greatest may yet be found by the general public, and you, good reader, may be one of them, whether you are from India, Canada, or some island in the Pacific, with a direction that at the very least will bring you a measure of joy and the good health that comes from the music of the world.

‘American Dreaming’: Robert Hickland shares glimpses of his life

Ernest Dempsey — Robert Hickland’s life has been about love and art, or love with art, we may say. Growing up in Florida and finding a career in painting in Los Angeles, Hickland came to trust vision that came from inside, making life a rich experience in a non-material sense. Recently, he published his first book American Dreaming which tells the story of his life’s adventure through romance, marriage and fatherhood besides his profession of choice that brought him coloring some of the most famous film stars in the world. Robert, who is also the brother of singer and soap star Catherine Hickland, had a fresh interview with the Journal of Humanitarian affairs, as follows.

Ernest: Hi Robert, it’s a pleasure to have you for an interview at GHN. Please tell us a little about your growing experience in America and some of your childhood fascinations?

Robert: I shared part of my childhood with my two sisters, but I was separated from them and my parents at 10 years old. I believe, due to that trauma, my memory begins at right about that age. I grew up in the yet-to-be developed tropical landscape of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Beautiful sky, the Atlantic Ocean, and the extraordinary quality of light. I was fascinated by the hurricanes, the sheer force of them, and how they churned the ocean and rearranged the topography. My fondest memories are of the exhilaration and freedom of flying through the waterways with my speedboat at an age much too young. I did not have any rules or much supervision, so much of my memories consist of looking out for myself. I started driving cars at 14.

Ernest: What was your biggest dream and how did you take to its pursuit?

Robert: I didn't really have “a dream”. It seemed like every day I woke up, a dream would begin, just to survive and navigate to the next day. There is a saying, “If we are close to our angels, the dream world and the waking world will not be far apart.” Eventually, I chose the profession of hair colorist. At that point, I had already had a fine arts background, so I packed my bags and moved to Los Angeles to pursue my trade in a larger-than-life way. It was a perfect choice, as it allowed me independence and artistic freedom. I had no childhood heroes, but when it came to cowboys and Indians, I always wanted to be the Indian. Also, and importantly, I had mysteriously lost part of my vision as a child. I later gained it back. The appreciation of being able to see again was probably pivotal in my view of life.

Ernest: When and how did you have your “boy meets girl” experience?

Robert: There was this girl a few neighborhoods away from where I lived. I thought she was so pretty, and she had a bad reputation. I had just turned 14, she was 17. I borrowed a car, picked her up, and had a big night. I was never quite the same after that. We tried to carry on for a while, but her brothers, the neighborhood kids, and our age difference made it impossible. I longed for more.

Ernest: Did you feel at any point then that a romantic relationship is taking most of your energy or draining you of the passion you had for achieving your dream profession?

Robert: I have always felt more passion for a person, or a relationship than for a profession. A profession is a way to make a living. A romance is a way to really feel life fully.

Ernest: Have there been any major shifts in your taste in art or general involvement with music and other forms of entertainment while you were in Hollywood?

Robert: Even though I make paintings, I hardly ever go look at art in galleries. I'm not into any “art scene”. I only paint to express myself. I have a nice studio to paint in. I'm a lucky man. I live a relatively quiet life now. I have an assortment of instruments in my studio. I had an experimental musical trio for 3 years. Much of our music sounded like movie soundtracks.

Ernest: How often have you collaborated with Catharine in creating or performing music?

Robert: I love both my sisters very much. Although Catherine and I have shared much of our lives together, we have never collaborated on anything artistically. One of the highlights of my life was watching her perform the role of Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway. I sat in the front row and cried me a river.

Ernest: So when was it that you first thought of writing a book?

Robert: I always used words in my paintings. Maybe that was the seed of the fruit to come. I always thought it would be too difficult to write a book. I wrote the stories in my own voice, just as I would speak. Then I had to piece them together. I really enjoyed the process.

Ernest: Tell us a little about American Dreaming? How long it took you to complete it and what are the main elements of interest for general readers in your book?

Robert: I have writers and other people in show business as my hair color clientele. I would tell them some of my stories during our conversations. One writer said, “You have a book there in these stories.  Write them down.” So, I did. I wrote American Dreaming in the quiet back room of the Beverly Hills Public Library. It took 2 1/2 years to write. Some readers said that it felt like they were dreaming it as they read. That's where the title comes from.  “Did that really happen?” they would ask.

Ernest: How do you see today’s Hollywood? What has changed most prominently and whether for better or worse?

Robert: Hollywood was almost provincial when I arrived in the late 1970s. The digital age has changed everything. There are (almost) no more record and bookstores. Films have become more violent. I think that speaks for itself. This will always be a company town, so film and music will always thrive, as will the live music scene all over Los Angeles. It's a very vibrant place to live.

Ernest: What is your current most attractive interest?

Robert: This fall I am working on a special one-night gallery show. There will be my paintings that are featured in my book, and some famous person reading a few passages, as well. I might do a live sound-collage piece. Should I ask my sister to sing? I've also begun to write another book.

Ernest: Robert, thank you so much for taking your precious time for this correspondence. We hope to continue seeing more of your work in near future.

Robert: It was my pleasure. Thank you.

~ ~ ~

Readers may follow Robert’s career through his website http://www.roberthicklandart.com/.

Ole Cram: Fandalism's, America's inspirational composer offers immortalmelodies

[caption id="attachment_15949" align="alignleft" width="300"] Ole Cram, instrumental, inspirational music composer[/caption]

Carol Forsloff --Someone once said the person with the "leather pants" in a band is the one who plays a complex instrument, like the accordion.  But within the ranks of the greatest contributors to music are the composers, like Stephen Foster, whose compositions remain integral to the core of American song and music everywhere.   One of these composers is Ole Cram, a composer of that same tradition, who brings that classical edge of melodies that remain with us forever.

Ole Cram is one of more than 500,000 musicians on Fandalism, a website for musicians and their supporters.  In terms of numbers of followers, Cram is in that top ten or twenty on the site.  Every morning he entertains with a brand new composition.  So Cram is not just talented with music; he is prolific with both composition and performance.  And his ability to play the keyboards transcends most musical artists as well.  This means an overall presentation that elevates his music to the highest levels.

Music has been a part of Cram's life since he was a young child, his compositions beginning at the age of 10.  His was a musical family, a family that encouraged music during family gatherings.  The young Cram started drumming at age 10, then added keyboard after that.  He did this in spite of a slight hearing loss at high frequencies, for which he compensated with hearing aids when the deficit was discovered.

For those parents who fret over their youngsters'  interest in rock, rap and sometimes the ridiculous, there is a message in Cram's musical development, as his heroes came initially from pop culture.  However, as his abilities strengthened in music, and he matured, his interests expanded as well.  His music is now defined as inspirational, with all the complexities and level of tone and presence that one finds in the great music that becomes immortal.

Once the repository of major music, the Christian community has inspired Cram for many years.  That is why his music is inspirational.  It comes from a deep belief in God and a solid sense of gratitude for the gift of music.  Yet Cram takes once a sectarian, and sometimes closeted music style, and brings it forward to the modern world in a way that classicists and even young rockers can admire.

Cram tells us, "I feel so connected to God whenever I play.  It is my time to give Him my cares and concerns of the moment as He gives me His wonderful music as a gift in return.  I always feel so absolutely blessed to receive such wonderful gifts and treasure every song. I personally get great satisfaction listening to the music He gives me as much as when I'm composing it with Him. Also, during the time of composing, He gives me answers many times to the problems and concerns I have at that time.

I will say during my younger years, there was a lot of motivation to be a "rock star" and make millions. Music was going to be my venue to making it big and getting all the benefits of stardom.  So, there was a lot more selfishness in it.  However, maturity and making it through many hard trials over my life have now brought me to this point in my life where the music comes first. I now feel it is His music, not mine. It is up to Him what the next steps will be. I am open and wanting to help share His music with as many people as He wants to have experience it.

When asked how he chose the style of inspirational music to compose and play, Cram says this, "So, I don't chose the style I play, God gives me what he wants played. It is so spiritually uplifting to me and I am so honored.

Fandalism is a community for the world's musicians, and Cram is very active in that community.  Like many other musicians on the site, Cram is grateful for the opportunities afforded by Fandalism, a site created by Philip Kaplan, or Pud as he is delightfully known.  This is how Cram describes his experience.  "Fandalism has by far been the best venue for presenting the music God gives me to the world.  I have made so many new musician friends from around the world as well. I love how everyone is equal on the site.  There are no "fame gods" that are untouchable. Everyone on Fandalism is so friendly and gracious and accepting of each other. It truly feels like one big family helping each other to succeed.  I absolutely love it and love helping other new members come on board and get their music heard."

As for the future, this is Cram's vision: "I only want to serve God in all that I do. Having done "my way" for so many years as a very driven business man and investor, it is so nice to finally be at rest within myself having let those selfish motivations go.  I do hope to leave some legacy of music for my children and future generations to come. I also hope to be able to make enough money to be a good provider for my family.  If God should bless us with more money, then we will want to share the abundance with charities that can really make a difference in the lives of many others. I'm ready to joyfully serve in whatever capacity He needs."

Cram struggles with the financial end of the music business, an issue experienced by many others, including some of the top performing artists at some time.  Cram is particularly concerned about the practice of pirating the work of others and the negative effect that has on the composer and artists who originate music.  He advises,  "So, artists must come up with new ways of generating income from their arts.  I have always been an entrepreneur creating many business ideas over the years.  This is just another challenge to me that is fun to try and figure out."

Music must come first. Musicians need to create music because it is part of who they are, not the means to fame and fortune. Make smart choices about how you present your music and if it is meant to be, the doors will open to other opportunities. If not, you always have the music. "

Those who want to listen to some of the best of the newest music of the world, might wander over to the following sites to listen to Ole Cram, the man with the ultimate vision:  to produce good music as a demonstration of love for others and the Creator from which all music is shared:

YouTube Music Videos: www.youtube.com/OleCramMusic

Fandalism: http://fandalism.com/olecrammusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OleCramMusic

OneSheet: http://onesheet.com/olecrammusic

Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/104148704580475588441

LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/olecram

Twitter: www.twitter.com/OleCramMusic

Tumblr: http://OleCramMusic.tumblr.com

Red state Louisiana gives Portland the blues

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Carol Forsloff - It was hot on the river with the sun overhead and the folks swaying to the blues Louisiana style.  If you think New Orleans has  the blues, you might want to wander West and find where that great Southern city has sent its favorite sons.

Portland, Oregon has been jumping and jiving in an annual blues festival that brings thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to the Oregon Food Bank.  This weekend the crowds were brimming over onto streets, boulevards, and city parks from all parts of downtown, but the park along the Willamette River held most of the multitude of fans.

Those fans sure got the blues, as some of Louisiana’s finest musicians merged with Oregon artists to bring a blues concert considered among the biggest and best on the West Coast.

The party started Friday and will continue through the 4^th of July with fireworks and other celebrations spreading out along Portland’s famed river front.  The beauty of the river combined with the colors and flavors of Portland’s own special melting pot have made the occasion something  special for residents and tourists alike.

On nine different stages from Friday July 1 through July 4 the blues will be part of Portland weekend fun with such noteables as Jaceo Parker, Lucinda Williams and Buddy Guy  just some of the name groups in town.

For the Zydeco fans Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys had them rocking in the aisles and all the way down to the water.

Yes, this City of Roses for sure got the blues  on a weekend of red, white and blue.

A melodious reminder of our dreams

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Carol Forsloff - 50 years have passed, and Portland’s dramatic changes can be seen everywhere, from the downtown sections of the city to its sprawling suburbs, as a journalist reflected on Portland’s progress, while learning once again how some things never change in a melody, a mandolin and joy in simple things.

Her red hair glistened in the sunlight as she sat on a bench in the park area next to Portland State University.  Her dress, her style, her way of strumming a mandolin was reminiscent of those college days in 1961 when young folks, in much the same way, looked hopefully at their lives and dreamed of a bright future in a world of simple things.

Hopes and dreams are part of youth that never change, despite the upsets, downsides and expansions in material ways, as our nation’s cities grow.  Portland’s growth has brought it front and center from a lumber, port and fishing Northwest town to a place that assumes  leadership in transportation progress, health and environmental gains.  It is also a town that celebrates its art, music and cultural differences, as represented by the many events that are woven into the fabric of what Portland has become.

But it’s in the faces of the youth and music that one finds hope alive  in this place on a Sunday in a park in Portland town.  A young woman’s radiance as she gently shared her music remind one of the pleasures that stay with us in memories and  dreams.  Olivia Duffy, the lovely player of that mandolin, has her own dreams for sure; but her instrument only hints what they may be.  The notes rise, hover in the air in moments, speak in whispers, then move on to touch the listener who dreams.

Dreams cement our lives, anchor who we are,  as psychologists remind us.  Dreams form our direction, purpose and our goals.   Some see in dreams a spiritual significance in connecting with past lives or finding messages of truth for every day.  For the young they give a vision of the journey that’s  ahead.  For the old they are fashioned memories that keep them still alive and turn back years to form reminders of one’s youth.

Portland State University stands like many college campuses, brimming with hope and youth and dreams.  The memories of those dreams are encapsulated in a sunny day, a young woman’s pretty face and melodies that make a Sunday special, for the elder who listens and thinks about the past, while the young folks look ahead.

Simple Sunday pleasures can still be found in a world where pleasures are sometimes smothered in the news of human pain,, but music makes our dreams return and remind us how some good things never change.