Hey, Everybody! The last few days have been full of pleasant surprises, including some cool weather here in Houston! It’s quite a relief after such a long, sweltering summer. Today, I’m enjoying sitting here sipping delicious European hot coffee in my old white, wood frame house in the forgotten barrio at the edge of downtown, writing to you while watching the little neighborhood children out playing on the street all bundled up in their coats and long pants for the first time in many months. It’s probably all of 55 degrees, but to us it might as well be Christmas.
Good news—I received an email letting me know that I was honored with the ASCAP Plus award again this year! ASCAP is the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, a membership association of more than 435,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music . . . “ASCAP protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works.” And “the ASCAP Plus Awards program provides cash and recognition to writers who create music with a value beyond the scope of performance surveys.” I was recognized by the Pop Division Panel whose domain includes Cabaret, Children’s, Country, Electronica, Folk, Hawaiian, Hip Hop/Rap, Jazz, Latin, Musical Theater, Pop, R&B/Soul, Religious, and Rock genres.
http://www.ascap.com/
Also in my inbox was an invitation from the Nashville Songwriters Association, Houston Chapter to showcase some of my original material Monday night (October 8) at Blancos in a songwriter round between 9:15-10:30 p.m. Located at 3406 West Alabama, Houston 77027, Blancos is old-school H-Town—a perfect setting if you’re up for a step back in time and that authentic urban cowboy feel amidst a close, rustic space inside the Loop. Blancos is known as a landmark Houston honky tonk and a great place to dance to live country & western bands, but tomorrow night will be all about the song. The first songwriter round begins at 7:30. Each round features three writers. Blancos also serves food!
http://www.blancosbarandgrill.com/
And most of all – I hope no matter where you are that on Thursday, October 11 you can find time to tune in to KPFT.org (or listen at 90.1 FM if you’re in Houston) at noon CST for a half hour of live music and an interview with Roark Smith, the host of Wide Open Spaces. I’ll be accompanied by Greg Henkel on fiddle, whom some of you will recognize as a member of the Houston Press multi-award winning veteran folk act, The Flying Fish Sailors.
http://www.kpft.org/
Then, on Thursday, October 11 from 10-midnight we’ll perform a romantic rooftop concert high above the little artsy speakeasy-feeling spot I love, Khon’s Bar in Midtown, with a skyline view of Downtown! Khon’s is conveniently located at 2808 Milam, Houston 77006, and offers an intimate, uptown casual atmosphere with its own spacious, well-lit parking lot right in front. I’m planning to send out a brief reminder on the 11th, but I wanted to make sure to give everyone some time to plan ahead for this special event.
So call the babysitter, or cancel your babysitting gig – come one, come all. There is no age limit and no cover charge. Romance is in the air in October in Houston, and the best place for it is Khon’s Bar in Midtown this Thursday night, October 11, on the rooftop to a backdrop of moon light, city lights, and the visionary tunes of Glenna Bell supported by the imaginative stylings of Greg Henkel on his magic vio-fiddle.
http://www.29-95.com/bars-clubs/khons-wine-darts-coffee-art
Don’t forget to check it all out at www.glennabell.com and
Y’all come!