ABOUT THE SONGS:

1. South Beach A birthday trip about 4 years ago with our good friends
   Jean and Danny inspired this song, and we told it like it was: Spanish
   guitar, tans and flan, Sun Surf and Romance, on the ocean, ‘Oy Paella’!
2. Colorado Moon. Bill Hill, a Composer and Percussionist with the
   Colorado Symphony, says, “…..this song has one of the most beautiful
   melodies I have ever heard! I went right to my piano as I was compelled
   to learn and play it myself!”
   This song was written many years ago and has gone through several
   evolutions, being performed with our ShowBand “Starburst Colorado”.
   Erik wrote several different arrangements until we agreed upon this last
   one for the CD. Adding the incredible Guitar stylings of Miguel Espinoza
   was pure genius and makes this song definitely a “Colorado Tapestry”.
3. Straight Ahead Cat is written about Musicians like our Friend Derry
   O’Leary. Old School, Cool Cats that really know how to Swing!
   A Jazzbo who can really play the keys, this song is straight outta the
   ‘Jazz Lounge’ . It captures that sound and feel from an era of smoky
   Clubs, dim lights, Playboy after Dark, and the struggles and passions of
   a Musician who would never give up the integrity of his music.
4. In Our Dream - an ethereal love song full of fantasy and promise.
   Debbie says: “This was one of the most challenging songs for me to wrap
   my brain around! I believe I sang this song a thousand different ways
   before I finally ‘got it’! Erik’s guidance on this one made that
   difference.
   Erik says: “As we go through life searching for wants and desires, we
   make mistakes. And learning from those mistakes is dependent upon
   dreams. It’s these dreams that help us through good & bad times to
   eventually find our peace.”
5. Sinatra Knew.
   Ol’ Blue Eyes absolutely affected all of us in some way with his style.
   Keeping that Romance alive, is the intention of this song. Remembering
   that our past is certainly as important as our present and dictates our
   future.
6. THANK YOU LOUIE (ARMSTRONG) !!!
   Erik’s first influence in music was Gene Autry, singing “You are my
   Sunshine”. His biggest influence was Louis Armstrong. “Once I heard
   that sound, that phrasing, and that genuine love for life, I wanted to be
   part of that great man.” This is my tribute to Louie and that style of
   music that will never go away.
7. Hornman
   Erik: “I was influenced by Rafael Mendez in my early teens totally
   Amazed at his tone and technical prowess on the trumpet. This amazing
   trumpet player started his career as Poncho Villa’s personal musician and
   came across the border to embed in all feeling Americans the beauty and
   style that a poor Mexican can attain when given opportunity.
8. A Nice Salad
   Debbie: “My Mother Mary Ellen, loved to tell her children (all EIGHT of
   us) about her Fine Dining experiences as they were special occasions for
   her. She would report,
   “Oh we had a Niiiice Salad, and a steak as tender as your eye!” Her
   favorite cocktail was a Perfect Manhattan. She was a very funny woman
   filled with romantic notions about life, music and family, and always the
   center of attention. She not only inspired this song, but also my life long
   career as a Performer.”
9. Take a Chance. In our Travels, we were fortunate enough to re-0pen
   the BlackHawk Hotel in Davenport, IA where seventy years earlier, Bix
   Beiderbecke amazingly influenced and held spellbound the newly
   emerging Jazz Culture. This song was written to remember the flavor of
   the great paddleboats that streamed Jazz on the Mississippi River,
   between Iowa and New Orleans.
10. Hold That Thought: “The War is Won, and the Battle is Fought.
    Now you’re thinking about me, how would you like to Hold that Thought?”
    enough said
11. Winter. Wrap yourself up in the Warm Blanket Love of this song, and
    you will never look at a cold snowy winter the same again.
12. Take Control.
    A Cry to all Americans to “Raise your Voices.
    Stand up and let them know”.

This song intends to be deliberately ‘in your face’ with what’s occurring in our Society, in America, and a call to all to get off your complacency and Pay Attention! Your own voice (and Vote), can make a difference! This song is not about Democrats VS Republicans; Red States VS Blue States; but its about the Truth! Deciphering what is real and true, Seeking it out, and making up your own mind with out being unduly influenced by the ‘Left’ or the ‘Right’; the Media or the Corporations! We will only clean up Washington if all Americans are United, and not Divided.