A few months back (October 2013) I brought you the news the Kopsas were recording their first family CD – Lord Lead Me On. Well it made it out by Christmas and I and a number of other attendees at yesterday’s Great Plains Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (GPBOTMA) monthly meeting got to see it for the first time. The four oldest Kopsa family members gave a live rendition of quite a few of the songs on the recording and their performance was very well received. I always enjoy hearing music performed by artists I have worked with in the studio since I usually know the songs quite intimately from our time spent recording them. There’s also the additional knowledge of “behind the scenes” happenings from fun studio interactions, stories about the songs or other passing tidbits.

It was a great way to kick off another year of meetings and jams of the GPBOTMA, which meets every first Sunday at 2:00 pm except for the summer months. A good crowd was there including Jenni Wallace (club president), who has been a music/instrument instructor for the Kopsas. I know she and many of us “older” members enjoy seeing the baton passed to younger generations and helping fulfill the education mission of the GPBOTMA. The Kopsas are picking up their music well and CD sales were correspondingly reflected. If you’d like to obtain your own copy of Lord Lead Me On, send a message through my contact page and I’ll put you in touch with the Kopsas.

Christmas In Our Hearts was presented again this month – held this year at the Salvation Army Kroc Center.  I have had the opportunity of providing sound for this collection of Christmas songs and readings for quite a few years.  This program is made available to residents of nursing homes and extended care facilities.  Paul Falkowski, Director of Community 360 (Formerly Desert Ministries) looks forward each year to this event, which for some who attend is all the “Christmas” they’re going to get.  Community 360 recruits and trains volunteers to visit those who are often out of sight, out of touch and out of mind with nearly everyone.  There’s lots of smiles and hopefully some sustaining memories as the travel vans return the residents to their “homes” for another holiday season.

My friend Allyn was there to help out again, and since he was more familiar with the house console than I was to begin with, I relied on him to set up the digital console for this event and teach me some ropes before we were up and running.  Thanks again to all the musicians, volunteers, care facilities personnel, and the KROC Center staff for making this event a memorable highlight.

Last month I let you know that Justin Nordstrom was working on one of his own songs on the heels of recording the Overcomers’ new theme song. Well we had a few more sessions to add additional bass and percussion parts, and then the final remixes. The piece turned out quite nicely and Justin had it replicated. This song was born out of some personal trials and hard times, and he’s giving it out as a thank you to folks and an encouragement to keep our “Eyes On You“. The song can be heard in our audio gallery. It seemed the nearest category was Gospel, so that’s where you can check it out.