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Year 2009
March 1st, 2009 Benefit for the Arts concert Hello Friends, It was two days ago since I wrote about the "Artists For The Arts" benefit concert and I am still buzzing from it. Featuring student musicians and singers from Agoura High School and Calabasas High School, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross and I with the invaluable help of our hosts, opening act and backing group Venice, this was a uniquely riveting concert. First of all Kipp, Mark, Michael and Pat Lennon and the rest of the band not only performed their own songs at the beginning of the show, but learned all the songs the rest of us sang and you'd've thought we'd rehearsed for a week to perform them together. They made it look very easy, but believe me, it was a lot of work. The student musicians were top notch, not only in their musicianship but in their talent as performers. They were laying it all out there, leaving it all on the stage, giving the audience their money's worth. They were driving the show. I played 5 songs, including "Sing For the Day, Fooling Yourself, Cost of Freedom/Can't Find My Way Home, Blue Collar Man and Renegade." The Calabasas Choir joined me on "Sing For The Day, Blue Collar Man and Renegade," although they'd only rehearsed "Sing For The Day." The worked up "Blue Collar Man and Renegade" right after soundcheck. They blew me away. Michael McDonald cannot sing a bad note. It just does not seem to be in his DNA. "I Keep Forgettin', Minute By Minute, Ain't No Mountain High Enough/Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing..." and this is with Venice, the Calabasas Choir, and the Agoura High School Orchestra. It was HUGE. Christopher Cross joined them and sang "Ride Like The Wind, Laura, and Sailing" before I joined them on the encore "Takin' it to the Streets." I knew Christopher had a beautiful voice, but that Texas boy is also a shredding guitar player! The place was up for grabs by the then. It was Rock/Soul overload and those in the audience got to enjoy a one night only performance that none of them or us will ever forget. I would like to thank Venice and all the folks from the Artists for the Arts Foundation for all that they do to provide music education to our schools, and for allowing me to participate in this amazing night of music. TS
February 28, 2009 Benefit for the Arts concert That's my big head in the shadow as I enjoy Venice's soundcheck with the Agoura High School Orchestra and the Calabasas High School Choir from the wings on stage right... - TS TS 
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