This week, I hafta start out by puttin' in a word for a few of my good friends and colleagues, starting with James Marino.

When the weather gets warm and Central Park starts to turn green again, it's always a rush for me when people on the street, all over Manhattan, shout out to me and ask when I'm gonna start singing. Happens every day, on the subway, standing in line at the bodega, at the diner. Y'know, as an independent artist... that is, with no record label, no agent, no nothin'... just a guitar and a bunch of songs and stories... it is an amazing thing. This website is an amazing thing! That a website like this even exists is so cool. It's amazing that there are 6 albums and several singles. It's also hysterical that I get to play great concert venues like Merkin Concert Hall and Cami Hall in the off-season.

The biggest part of the perfectly explainable miracle that is my life, is the circle of friends and artists that has formed... that I feel lucky to be a part of. And, it continues to grow.

James Marino is the guy who runs this website and who booked the upcoming concert this Friday night at CAMI HALL. This concert was his idea, and he's the one who put the whole thing together. He's also the guy who runs this website... built it, makes it work, maintains it. (I'm not very computer savvy. He is the evil mastermind behind this site.)

I know alot of people stop in here from all over the country and around the world. It's soooo cool that I can update it every day so easily... that there are music clips, video clips, photos, and every entry is archived. There is a kickin' message board right over there called the "Forum", where you can post your thoughts and feelings about anything.

All of this was constructed and is maintained by James.

Y'know, I've got friends like Dennis Riley, who was one of the executive producers on the most recent album, "Common Ground". Friends like David A. who started the whole damned thing with the first album "The People on the Hill". I've got friends too numerous to name who show up at all of the concerts and smaller gigs. (You know who you are.)

One of the finest guitar players, and greatest guys, I've ever met often shares a stage with me because I am lucky enough to be able to call him a friend and partner... Roger Bartlett.

Whenever somebody jumps on board this little train, y'know, says they wanna get involved in one of these projects, the concerts, the CDs, the internet, my career, my life in whatever way... I always tell them that I can promise them two things.

Promise #1. You are going to have fun, working passionately on something you love... with people who are all passionate, nice, smart, good and love doing what they do for all the right reasons.

Promise #2. Someday, we're all gonna make an awful lotta money doing this.

Then I tell them, "And, if I break the second promise... what d'ya got left?"

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Not a bad thing to do with a life, hah?

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Anyway, the next thing is the concert... this Friday Night at CAMI HALL.

And, like I said, I'm gonna share a stage this Friday with my good friend and partner, "Dodger" Bartlett. We'll kick off a new season. I'd love it if YOU... yeah, you reading this... and, if you and maybe a few of your friends could join us! Make plans right this minute to show up. It's gonna be a special night, I can feel it already. If you ever been to one of these indoor gigs, you know what I'm talkin' about. Let's get together on Friday, then I promise... I'll get out to Central Park soon.

I've written some new songs over the winter. And, I've decided to do a few more cover tunes that were done by some female artists. I think you're gonna be surprised at some of the stuff I've come up with. (I'll probably do a couple this Friday night at CAMI.) So, call a few friends and tell them that this coming Friday night, you're all gonna meet after work and come to the concert at CAMI HALL to launch the summer, okay? It's a Friday night, so you guys can all go out afterwards, maybe. Y'know... go into the message boards (Forum) and pick a local place to hang out after the show. Meet up.

It's on West 57th Street, right across the street from Carnegie Hall. YES! You'll probably be able to walk right up and get tickets the night of the show. It's general admission seating. (first come first serve) So, the doors will open around 7:00 and the music will crank up at 7:30.

Gotta get to work.

Maybe I'll see you in the "Forum" a little later today. Hope I see you on Friday night.

Thanks for everything.