05/22/2009
Victoria Canada turned out to be a beautifully peaceful port. Taking the bus deep into downtown and walking for miles, meeting people, seeing them work in their yards, talking, shopping at a music store, asking directions, the general feel was awesome, the scenery just beautiful, a rural feel to the town and nice waterfront views. Vancouver is a picture postcard. When leaving the ship it had mountains by the bay with snow capped peaks, seaplanes landing among sailboats and other watercraft. Stanley Park with its totems, gas town with its steam clock, walked for a few miles, had a sandwich atop a restaurant. Quite a heavily populated town. Funny, I searched the rack for a few special postcards, the Chinese clerk wouldn't sell three when price was four for a dollar, nor one when price was two for ninety-nine cents, so I ended up buying none. Was a bit ridiculous but funny at same time. Had a wine, watched the tourists, left the tourists' area and walked around where the civil services were, police station, etc. Vancouver has a very heavy homeless problem. As it is, people that have problems have needs, despite their reasons. The view is breathtaking, the general population nice, it is the world.

05/20/2009
Rain and hail greeted us upon arriving into Astoria Oregon, but still folks regrouped and had good walkabouts. Today we tried to port into Victoria Canada and the seas weren't friendly, currents and wind conditions prevented the first docking, so after tides changed and we spent another hour and half out at sea we returned to retry docking safely. Weather is partly cloudy, and a flowering beautiful seaport town awaits us to visit and have coffees and walks and shops to add to our memories. We are remaining here until midnight, giving amble time for our guests to explore a safe and inviting environment.

05/19/2009
Chasing a light rain into Astoria, Oregon...about 50 miles northwest of Portland, we port today and get to see a bit of the small town before heading into Victoria Canada on the way to Vancouver. The flowers are bloomed out in Victoria despite the slow spring and chilly weather, around 50 degrees F. Victoria is a neat package, nice waterfront activities and cafes, while Vancouver is a power city with a million people and enough concrete and steel for them all. This will be the first time we have ported into Astoria and shall do it weekly until around June 21. I'll tell you more about it tomorrow.

05/16/2009
How reassurring to read the yahoo green blogs concerning the cfl lightbulbs. People aren't as uninformed as we sometimes think. They are responding and resisting the idea of being sold under the banner of a green itrem and see the threat and reality of CFL's and the mercury threat they contain. Also the failure to live up to their longlife claims. It is clear the bulbs are an economic sell out and what is worse is they will present a threat to our water tables in the years to come. In fact, they are containers for mercury, and thats the bottom real line. Every now and then when I wonder if we as a people are aware, some thirteen year old young man will walk by my stage and say."That's a Bob Dylan song written in 1965", and I will smile and know there is hope in information being passed along and received.

04/09/2009
Today we have ported into Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Two vessels, adding approx. 8000 people to the population. It is a beautiful town. Cobblestone and rough streets, adobe and other such buildings, shops side by sideE, Kinda quaint yet bustling. mountains in background. the movie Predator was filmed here as well as other movies. is not a small place, many streets walkable and shops and restaurants and cigar shops and tourist type places, waterfront and yachts.today was a good day, tomorrow shall be also.

03/20/2009
Vacation in memphis was great...I got to visit with my mom extensively, lots of laughs and memories and gained a few pounds. At Neil's, I played bass behind Bobby Lawson...if you're in memphis and like blues go to neil's the first and third thursday nights. I also sat in at a hoot at a downtown bar. Now vacation is over, and I'm aboard The Splendor, which is adjusting soon to her seven day schedule doing the western Mexico ports. Before that we will have John Mayer and entourage courtesy of sixthman productions for four days. The Splendor is a beautiful vessel, the newest a sail for Carnival right now, until the M/S Dream is launched. We have currently 2000 happy guests that have been aboard 49 days, and we are completing an 18 day cruise from Santiago Chile tomorrow at San Francisco Port. Enjoyed the time off, and am looking forward to cruising with our wonderful guests. Tonight I will perform in the cigar bar, kind of an English pub atmosphere for smokers, and Friday in the Atrium.Be sure to check out my tunes over on the left , all are free, and with only two or three exceptions , are authored by me

01/16/2009
I urge you to become aware and actively protesting the use of Energy Saving Light Bulbs being sold by such companies as GE. In England these bulbs are being distributed free. The design is auspiciously to save energy, BUT the bulbs contain 300 times the lethal amount of mercury. They are said to last 5 years, at which time proper disposal is recommended. I seriously doubt if the everyday common man is going to properly dispose of them, and there is a likely possibility that our ground water will receive the contamination from these bulbs. I also suspect the real reason for these bulbs is because of western economic ties to China where they are made. Go read the label in a store shelf, visit their website, think how poorly people recycle. Hell, in some states garbage is still stacked in dirt pits and buried with no liner to prevent ground water contamination. These mercury bulbs are not a wise decision. Better filament bulbs would work just fine.

01/16/2009
We arrived into Nassau bahamas early this morning. It's a cloudy windy day, another ship is also just pulling in. Everyone wants to get ashore, last two stops have been beautiful, today is a different sort of Carribean day. Tonight my final five hours of performing for this contract. The audiences have been good this cruise, good participation, autographs, regular fans returning to the bar nightly, etc., so i've enjoyed this last cruise before I go to memphis for vacation.I'm thankful for the privilege to do what I do, it feels right and still feels like a growing , learning situation, still a challenge to meet....may tommorrow find you appreciating the day also.....later

01/10/2009
What a nice way to end this series of cruises. We have Lynyrd Skynyrd under the auspices of Sixthman Productions, along with Molly Hatchet, 38 Special, and a host of other bands and trios. I actually get to jam tonight with a few and, hopefully, more tommorrow. We also have The Marshall Tucker Band. Before these guys came I, being the only longhair dude aboard, well, things were a bit lonely for me. Now, with these guys and their fans, 4200 of them, people(crew) talk to me and sit with me that didnt use to, If that makes sense, they may have not known how to approach me because their culture does not usually have such longhairs I guess. Everywhere you turn these harley shirts, long haired men, and tatooed women, Though the later has never been my preference. I'm not into women that smoke or are tatted, Hahhaaha, Guess we all have our preferences, huh? Guess that's ok too, either way. So the 17th I'll be signing off for a couple months. Will be good to land and walk among the trees.

12/16/2008
Often people have asked me of my native american ancestry.It derives from the Cherokee nation.Myrtle Beatrice Simmons gave birth to my great grandfather. Myrtle was full Cherokee. My great Grandfather was James Anderson Durham, and he fathered my grandmother Haille Durham, who birthed my father .This doesn't make me "indian", to me it makes me a man with ancestory mixed as many have in their family trees, walking beneath this sky on this earth. To me, by definition, to be "native", you are either Lakota, or Lakota -Cheyanne, or Seminole and Inuit or Iroquois,- not "indian", and if you aren't of one of the Nations, then you are like I am, of mixed heritage. So many euro-mixed persons living here are ashamed to be themselves, lacking connection, and deriving some identity with what they really don't even know nor follow in truth or spirit, standing the wrong ground and feeding the wrong beast. How can one pretend to be "NDN" -as some whites like to use the phrase- following bits and pieces of what they rob from native spirituality, when they aren't living the walk? If you are Lakota, then walk Lakota......toasta key(chuckle)

12/05/2008
Sequat came from the waters, a reed gatherer, where his people made from the reeds baskets and fans and utensils. Seeking new trade, he entered the village of the people of Whemathe, whom he met. Whemathe's people were farmers of earth, and seeing the baskets of Sequat's people, trade was desired and agreements transpired. Whemathe spent much time with Sequat, showing him his lands, mostly, though, bragging.
For it seemed no matter what Sequat mentioned, Whemathe knew more, his people had done it greater. Whemathe was narcissistic; everything was about him, and he loved to brag and even lie.
One day Sequat and Whemathe came to a place in the river unknown to both, and there was a bridge across to an island. The island had such beauty, peaceful grasslands and beach and shade and fruit trees. They decided to cross over. Upon reaching the bridge, though, a guardian stood. "This place is the place of peace", spoke the guardian, "and you Sequat are welcome, but Whemathe cannot cross." Whemathe was hurt and at first angry, full of venom with his anger. He fed the wrong beast inside, and sought to harm the guardian, which was a mistake. However, Sequat urged no harm to Whemathe, explaining to the guardian that Whemathe's ears were hot from the coals of reproof. The guardian agreed and bound Whemathe with the ties of truth, saying until Whemathe confessed his errors and sought to feed the right beast inside, he could not cross yet, and would wander a braggard and deceiver yielding fruits of such narcissism and would be alienated from the crossover.
Sequat went to the other side, but he still awaits for Whemathe to humble himself to this day.

11/16/2008
Today we are in rough seas, pounding viciously at times. They just announced they closing the water tight doors on decks A B and C. No matter the size of a ship, be it even 5 miles long, it is nothing compared to the vastness of the oceans. We have actor Rick Springfield aboard with other soap stars and his band and John Waite performing and giving his fans the close pleasure of proximity. John had the hit, Im Not Missing You, in the 80s.It's been a happy cruise for all, tho this day the sea is a bit discomforting to many, new meaning to rock and roll. Hope all are well ashorre wherever your life has you. We expect to port into Miami in the morning. All had fun in Cozumel and Key West this trip out.Had ocassion to handle some nurse sharks. Their skin so to speak is very rough, in fact there was a time that sharks were hunted for the using of them for a kinda sandpaper. When they eat, they have enormous suction which captures their prey with lightening speed, using the teeth only if they have to to hold their prey, it's the suction that grabs the food. Bu t enough of that, very few sharks live on land, I bet less than a few million.......

8/29/2008
We dodged the hurricane, and at 5 am this morning ported at a slip of an island, only 13 people living there, beautiful beach and waterfowl lagoon , a half moon shape cove. I had breakfast with a russian woman, her beautiful face like the moon and blonde hair and high cheeks, so atypical, so lovely. Funny how we think of things as per our last exposure, whether it be tv or book or whatever. Moscow has 25 million people now, many have more than one vehicle, parking a huge problem...far cry from the days of one gray car per 10 people huh? The serbians are playing poker in the bar, have been all night, telling jokes and laughing. Peace should be world wide forever, people can get along from different nations rather easily...these shifting sands sort out I guess. Many times my music I'm playing is being heard by people that do not speak english....I also find that people don't want you to "stand down" so to speak and try to be their culture, they want you to be YOUR culture.

6/22/2008
Sometime this morning, it's around 5 am, I had the privilege of being on deck alone and fluting for a good 15 minutes inspired, and felt I had done something no one else had probably ever done out here on these seas some 200 NM or more from Miami or any land. I don't know that, though, if someone had ever before done this. So many songs sung, prayers spoken, tears cried in joy and sorrow, last words spoken unheard, sights seen and never told, that no man other than those there ever know of.........howbeit our small lives are not overlooked, we are convented by promise in that we have loved the Son, and the Father therefore holds and loves us, nuturing us in growth, and never ever forsaking us to the powers of darknes nor to the errors of our own weakness to be bound.....all this I see shall pass away, and become new in Creation plan....nothing hidden shall remain unseen by Father...all these false prophets who proclaim they love God and spill the blood of men in their selfish efforts of power and deception shall not walk away as tho nothing was done.

6/22/2008
As you may notice, the Seagull logo to the right of the banner above links you to the website for Godin Guitars. Look around at their instruments, They craft good guitars in a variety of styles. Currently, I use a Seagull model S12 Cedar Top Acoustic/Electric 12 I've had since 1990, Also, newly added through endorsement with Seagull I use an ARTIST Seagull 12 Sunburst Acoustic/Electric, and an ARTIST Seagull Cutaway Acoustic/Electric six string. The 12 features the I-Beam electronics and the six uses the Godin electronics. These are excellent instruments well worth the investment. Godin has devised a great carrying case weighing only two and a half pounds which straps on like a gig bag, or you can carry it via the handle,and it is thermal insulated to keep temperature and humidity consistent, so it is like a hardshell in the form of a gig bag.

6/7/2008
Such beauty in the skies, at night..no lights around, no mosquitoes, very little sound, just water and jewels for your eyes. Sat out way past midnight, thoughts drifting, watching the skies, counting falling stars, wondering what men long long ago might have thought about the stars and creation. Know the bible mentions how the sphere of the earth was hung in the heavens, they didnt ALL believe world was flat........the unknowns in crossing the seas took brave people,no matter where they came from to go....out in the distances of life, stepping out on faith to try .....we never know tommorrow, but we NEVER knew even when we thought we might have....it is the same God today that was your Keeper when you were but a child.....

5/21/2008
It is early Wednesday.5/21....sunrise is to be at 6:04 am at this location, so I stood at the bow with moon full on my right and lavendar enveloping blue all around, the Turks looming ahead about 10 nautical miles, gentle winds in a waving sea, catching the sunrise to my left...clouds are low, sailing past us with wind in their sails...no one is on bow with me, behind me the bridge is active as we are approaching to dock, in the distance the light signals port. I imagine how it was for the British to man this island and claim it against all comers...way out here in nowhere. But that thought is fleeting...what I take comfort in most is, God has made the sunrise rise another day. As sure as He has set that in motion, so also will He tend to our spiritual growth and needs and hopes to be fruitful in our walk .....

4/27/2008
It's 5:30 am, I arose early to get to see the sky at night, and hope to greet the sunrise. Over to the port is Cuba, about 2 miles away, Havana sits under the moon and ocean waves break on its shores. As I look and see a glimpse of how large yet how small the world is, I see how much we have in common as people. I think of how life, human life, should be most important. In these waters now men were slain for leaving their country to seek improvement. On board now is a man that made his way with three others via row boat when he was 16. I also think how brave were those many hundreds of years ago who sailed across this vast unknown with no lights but the skies. It is awesome and humbling. Human life is most valuable, peoples father more peoples, generations become. Our breath and dreams become our childrens' realities. Thank you Jesus for laying your life down for people that come to know you and drink of your waterspirit. Thanks for all men who gave that their children and people might live, from the warriors of Wounded Knee to the soldiers of all nations....if only governments reflected the values of the people. and if only the people would seek the things of the spirit more.....

4/26/2008
A beautiful friday, the 25th. We docked into Nassau. Pianist Luis and I walked thru Nassau for hours, just absolutly no hassle from anyone, no street hustlers, none of that feeding on the tourist thing. Tonight after returning to ship I had the pleasure of mark unger from Pennsylvania joining me on stage with his harps. Was fun. It's indescribable the color of the ocean and sky, Nassau port is awesome. From the bridge we could see huge fish down in the water, we were like 60 feet up, these fish were five-eight feet long looking from up there, must have been bigger. water so clear. Now we are heading into Miami and should dock early saturday morning around 7 am.All I can say is "wish you were here too".I did take pictures of the Ruins at Tulum, and should have them back tommorrow, then I will forward to webmaster and to Bob Roy to share out, as I can't from here.

4/19/2008
This morning we pulled into Key West. I got up before sunrise and watched the ship manuver the channel and enter the harbor and dock, was awesomely nice...

4/11/2008
Today we are headed toward Miami florida, and will arrive saturday the 12th....I'm looking forward to getting into Miami after I finish performing for the disembarking, I'll sorta be the comic relief, hahah, well, the stress relief, a little guitar and soft native flute music while people wait for clearance thru customs .......it's a lot to move 2300 + or - , takes time, so usually I perform for about one and half hours beginning at 8:30, all depending...if things get real desperate I'll try to sing that early, usually THAT even speeds up customs (ha) this cruise we covered Nassau, Half Moon Cat and will pick up Saturday to leave for Ocho Rios and Key West, a short three day excursion........then we head for Cozumel Mexico, and there I will participate in a tour group seeing Mayan ruins a few hours inland. Fortunately a new guitarist from Denver Colorado arrived, and he and I will get to spend time jamming in between the theatre orchestrations, which he is a member of that .I've missed jamming, and look forward.....Catch ya next blog...

3/27/2008
Hi folks! Thanks for visiting the site! The news I have is that for the next several months I'll be out of the USA, and, thus, can't fulfill cd orders, so we are going digital. You can stil find my tunes here as digital downloads.  Enjoy looking around and listening!

3/1/2007
So, I was playing in Tunica, Mississippi. a couple summers ago at an outdoor event which also offered a large tip jar. As I was performing, one young child about 5-6 years old was given a dollar by his mom and told to go put it into the jar. He was approaching rather apprehensively, hesitated and turned back toward mom. She waved her hand , said "Go on, put it in". Caught my attention . He stopped after a few more steps, turned again to mom, said.."what's gonna happen?" Mother said "Ain't nothing gonna happen...go on and put the money into the jar." Well, that was all it took. He stopped totally, looked at me and the jar, turned back to mom and said: "If nothing ain't gonna happen, I'd rather just keep the money." I had to totally stop playing and laugh. Ha! Sometimes life has truths that are so refreshing, and so unexpected. We all enjoyed that moment together, his mom, me, and the others who were around when it transpired.