2006 is already proving to be such a terrific year for me and my music. I'm looking forward to performing at the North American Folk Alliance Conference at 8 pm on Friday (February 10) at the "Wendelfest" showcase in the Austin Hilton, and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity. This conference is one of the most prestigious events in the nation for folk/acoustic music, and it will be a chance to meet and socialize with so many extraordinary people with a like-minded appreciation for the genre. I can hardly wait to make the three hour drive from Houston to Austin on Friday, through the gorgeous Texas hill country, accompanied by Ronnie King with whom I've been collaborating on a fascinating project that I believe has taken my music to new heights in only a short time. Ronnie is a producer, arranger, and keyboard player from Palm Springs who has worked closely with platinum artists such as Mariah Carey, the Offspring, and Tupac, among others. He was introduced to Houston when he began coming to town to record rap and hip-hop music with some of the big acts that have helped make Houston the rap/hip-hop capital of the the world! In the meantime, Ronnie decided to establish himself here in the area and began looking for a promising Texas artist to produce and record: enter yours truly. Since mid-January we've been working every week on two songs that we will take into the studio next week, and the rough cuts sound fabulous if I do say so myself. One has a definite gospel influence, featuring Ronnie's stellar keyboard style, which critics say is the signature touch on the Offspring's hit single, "Hit That." The other song we've written is an old-school walz called "Can't Get My Mind Off You," that is rooted in the past but has a distinctively mainstream contemporary feel. I can hardly wait for you to hear them both! And there's more: Last night I had the pleasure to chat by phone with radio personality, Mitchell Keller of the Back Porch Show, based in Portland, Oregon. The catch-up interview was a follow up to a phone interview we did last fall. It's always so much fun to talk with Mitchell, whose enthusiasm is contagious and who's bringing some great country music to the world from his headquarters out West. When you have some free time, check out www.backporchshow.com or the link through www.borderlinenetworks.com to hear his show. And still more: I also received a lovely surprise from Denmark the other day when dj Mikey Hollaender of the Happy Country show emailed me to say he'd selected me for a "Best Of" feature on his syndicated radio program. I must admit that I was flattered to say the least, and am glad to know my music has found a place overseas in not only Denmark but Belgium, too, where, in January, dj Francois Braeken awarded Face This World the honor of being his second favorite album of 2005! And as for live shows, I have a few special appearances lined up that are highlighted on the calendar page of this site. Many people have been asking about performance dates and venues, and Mitchell in Portland says his listeners want to know when I'll be touring. Well, it's going to happen soon, but at the moment I'm eagerly anticipating my time in the studio and lots of songwriting with Ronnie King. In the meantime, you know I'll keep you posted as I always do. Y'all come!