Dear Listener,
It's time for an update!
New Road Home Launch Party!
On March 17, 2019, we joyfully launched my third solo album New Road Home into the world with a standing-room-only house concert in New York City. Over 90 friends came out to hear us play the ten songs from the new album. I was joined by Charlie Giordano, Chris Tedesco, Richard Hammond – my backing vocalists Sherryl Marshall and Elise Morris, and special guests Hugh Pool and Monica Passin. It felt phenomenal to look out and see each dimension of my life represented in the crowd.
The band afterwards, minus Chris Tedesco and Richard Hammond!
Women of Substance Radio
Throughout the year, Women of Substance Radio featured songs from New Road Home, including Gamble Everything for Love, Muddy Weather, Lady Liberty, You’re Gone, When I Slow Down, and New Road Home. Thank you, Bree Noble for including so many of my songs on your radio programs and podcasts! Check it out some of the newest Female, Indie Artists at www.wosradio.com.
"You’re Gone" and "Muddy Weather" on the charts
Finally! We had radio play success on two songs from New Road Home, through the efforts of Laura Patterson from Star1 Group Promotions. Thank you Laura and team for keeping your finger on the pulse of radio stations across America who focus on Americana and Bluegrass based singles. I was interviewed on over 20 radio stations and our videos were accessible via radio station websites.
From May until December 2019, I had at least one song on the New Music Weekly charts!
"You’re Gone" debuted at #43 and ran for 13 weeks, peaking at #5. I received great feedback from the stations that loved the song.
“Muddy Weather” debuted at #29 and spent at least 18 weeks on the charts, peaking at #4.
Peace Drums Fundraiser
In April 14, friend Peter Abrams invited me to perform at the Peace Drums Project fundraiser in Philly with the Trevor Street Band with Tommy Conwell and the Philly Pan Stars! What an honor!
The Peace Drums Project is a unique interfaith initiative promoting peace among Jewish, Muslim and Christian youth. This is accomplished by creating workshops for young, International students to first learn how to play steel drums and then to join the Peace Drums Project Steel Band and finally, to perform at venues to raise money for more student involvement and more steel drums!
Peace Drums Benefit Musicians!
Other gigs
In April, I sang with five(!) other backing vocalists for Sherryl Marshall’s gig at Tom Clark’s Treehouse at 2A in the East Village. Sherryl likes to double her harmonies for a sound that is rich and velvety! Her musical style harkens back to the days of girl groups with lively, rhythmic, melodies and harmonies!
I am a member of the Middle Collegiate Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir. We sing throughout the year at church and at functions and events. We usually sing every other Sunday and also for special Easter, Spring Concert and Christmas Eve services. My MCJJGC choir mates are a very special group of people. Our director, John del Cueto, is a tireless leader who insists on us delivering our very best to honor our faith and practice as an open minded, spiritual community, based in Christian faith. I love the power that comes out of this choir and I am so grateful for the opportunities we receive through it.
The Singin’ Seniors class that I teach with the help of our illustrious accompanist Clare Cooper practiced hard and performed beautifully for both their Spring and early Winter recitals.
This group of well elderly members can now read sheet music, sing harmonies and emote wonderfully as an ensemble! The group always brings so much life and enthusiasm to the class. We meet on Thursday afternoons at Lenox Hill Senior Center in midtown NYC. Funding for Singin’ Seniors is made through a grant from friend and fellow musician, Valerie Ghent’s non profit organization, FEEL THE MUSIC. Thank you, Valerie and Nicolle!
The Singin’ Seniors and Band! December 2019
Twistin’ to the Fallout Shelter
I have had fun singing harmonies with Sherryl Marshall for Monica Passin at the groovy little nightclub in the East Village, Pangea. Monica’s new show, “Twistin’ to the Fallout Shelter” is a downtown Cabaret show that zeroes in on Monica’a unique brand of memories of her own childhood, growing up in the 60’s, in New York, with her mambo dancing parents and her limbo dancing grandmother! The story focuses on the year 1962; the politics, the fashion but mostly the music and how it influenced various dance crazes to absolutely explode on the scene. Mike Weatherly on bass and Johnny Jake on guitar complete the band.
Sadie Nash Leadership Project
In June I invited some of my very favorite friends to a fundraiser for Sadie Nash Leadership Project, a fantastic non profit organization in NYC that focuses on minority teen girls ability to speak about leadership and activism in the public arena as well as learn how to speak their truth when applying to colleges and being interviewed for jobs. It was a fabulous night!
Powerful Words at Sadie Nash Leadership Project
Personal Updates
No sooner was New Road Home launched into the world than my energy turned to a different sort of creative project – a major move!
In May, Mike and I began the massive project of moving out of our NYC apartment on East 12th Street, our home for 25 years. It was a HUGE job and it took months. It is one job I do not envy anyone having to do. Repainting, repairing, packing, sorting, donating, rummage sale-ing, tossing and finally moving just about killed me but thanks to a fantastic moving, packing, cleaning team, we did it!
As of August, we have officially moved to the stone farmhouse in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that for twenty years was used to escape from New York on weekends. Now it is our full time home. In addition to our home in PA, we have found an smaller, sunny apartment in NYC, just blocks from our former address where we stay when we come in for music events, doctor’s appointments, rehearsals, socializing, dinners out and shopping.
So, we moved to Pennsylvania on August 9th.
That very day, after the movers relocated our entire NYC life to Pennsylvania, my sister Brenda rang to say our Dad’s health had begun to decline rapidly and that if I wanted to say goodbye, I should come soon. So on August 11th, I flew to Seattle, took the shuttle bus up to Coupeville on Whidbey Island, Washington and spent what would be the last days of my wonderful dad’s life on earth with him. A small contingent of our family were able to make it up to Coupeville as well, so he had a circle of love surrounding him. We told him stories and thanked him for his lessons.
He passed away on August 15th, in the early hours of the morning. My heart has not felt the same, since.
Darrel in New Zealand, February 2010
But happiness returned in abundance in October, when our eldest son, Daniel married Ms. Tanya Drozdova in a beach wedding in Stone Harbor, New Jersey The ceremony was beautiful and dynamic, with the wind whipping the bridesmaids’ dresses and the dark clouds forming dramatic postures. But no rain! We held the reception in a covered tent along with the quaint and charming Women’s Civic Club of Stone Harbor. We feel so blessed and so happy for Dan, to have found a wonderful, kind and beautiful woman to share his life with. Happy Dance!
Wedding Day, Jersey Shore, October 26th
Mike surprised me with a New Year’s Eve trip Nashville to hear John Prine, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Robert Earl Keen. We got to wish everyone a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020 from Opryland!
Nashville New Years
And then there was Ralph.
Our mini Australian Labradoodle came to us quite unexpectedly. Ralph is the littermate brother of my dear friends dog, Jolene! Barbi and Karen insisted I take a look at Jolene’s brother who had not been spoken for yet, and so we did. And when we did, our hearts melted. So Ralph joined our family on January 6, and has brought us much joy and laughter.
Ralph “Pinecone” McCarthy, enjoying a sunny winter day in PA
Thanks for taking the time to read this update! I appreciate your words of kindness, humor and interest!
As Dad used to end his conversations, … To be continued…
Love,
Deborah