Thursday, November 13, 2014

Back to Work

We had some problems with the computer we use for recording, as a result it's been several weeks since we've been able to work on the Pirate CD.
But we've replaced the computer and will be getting back to work this weekend.

Anyone have any ideas for cover for the new CD: Pirate Songs, Sea Songs and Shanties, Volume III?

p.s. "it's" is the valid contraction of "it has" ;-)

Saturday, September 13, 2014

In Progress: New Pirate CDs

This summer, besides attending several Scottish festivals, Carl Peterson has been working on volumes 3 and 4 of his popular Pirate, Sea Songs, & Shanties CDs. Some of the great songs for the CDs include:

  • All for Me Grog
  • Bound Down for Newfoundland
  • Henry Martin
  • Kishmul's Galley
  • Roll Alabama Roll
  • Santy Anna O
  • The Ship the Never Returned
  • Sixteen Fathoms Down
  • Yo ho ho
  • Blow the Man Down
  • Shoals o' Herring
and more! Let Carl know if you have a favorite pirate or sea song you'd like to see on the new CDs!


Sunday, April 13, 2014

Jesse Winchester



Another piece of my past faded into memory yesterday, April 12th. I just learned of the death of Jesse Winchester. I knew Jesse from our time spent in Montreal in the 70s. I was playing in a bar called The Fife and Drum on the corner of Bishop and Maisoneuve, right across the street from the main building of George Williams University. One block over on the corner of Crescent Street and Maisoneuve there was a folk club run by the university where Jesse performed frequently, a great favourite. I had his first album, a vinyl record, and from it I learned The Brand New Tennessee Waltz, Biloxi and Yankee Lady. I sang these songs along with a lot of old folk hits from groups like the Kingston Trio, The Weavers etc. but I loved to sing other acoustic hits of the time like American Pie, although my forte was Scottish and Irish songs, one of the favourites  being Seven Old Ladies. Jesse would drop by every so often and we’d have a beer together although I did not get to know him real well. My time spent in Montreal was a special time in my life and Jesse will always be a big part of that memory.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

More good news



More uplifting news.

Carl,
Last summer at GMHG I purchased your recent album about the Faerie Folk
My wife and I enjoyed it and passed it on to my niece Katy
 Porter Perretto. Katy has an autistic daughter, Kristin, who enjoyed it
 very much. That makes it very special. Katy will be a GMHG this July and
 plans to look you up to thank you personally.
 Again, thanks for creating something that has meaning to one less
 fortunate.
 Your, aye .
 Steve Kelley

Monday, March 10, 2014

Hearing from 'old' friends

Just heard from an old friend, she writes


Hi Carl,

I am in Thailand right now just wanted to let you know.

We had a Thai barbeque, it was lovely and we all danced to your great Scottish Music.
The children and I had a grand time, and loved it. Thought you would like to hear that your music was appreciated in another far off land.

From the wee Greenock lass.

Mary

Thank you Mary, always nice to hear from you. My book is nearly ready for editing and publishing, I'll keep you informed.
Cheers, Carl 
PS Love to hear from others

 

Tartan Day

Well here we are, Tartan Day again and this year I will be in Alexandria, VA. Celebrations will take place Saturday 6th April from 9am 'til 5pm in the Waterfront Park, rain or shine (let's hope for the latter of course) with vendors, clan tents and entertainment including myself as vendor and entertainer. Going to their web site for more info to share with you I found this: Let's have a grand turnout, spread the word.
Cheers, Carl

2014 Events in Washington, D.C Area

The National Capital Tartan Day Committee (NCTDC) general membership approved plans for Tartan Day events in 2014. These will include:
  • The Tartan Day Festival in Old Town Alexandria will return this year and be held for the first time at Waterfront Park on Saturday, 5 April . It will be open to the public, at no charge, from 9am throughout the afternoon until 5pm. Pipers, fiddlers and dancers will entertain; vendors and clan societies will set up their tents around the square. The local chapter of the Scottish American Military Society (SAMS), will partner with NCTDC on this event. Ralph Wallace (of SAMS as well as of NCTDC) will take the lead this year on organizing the Festival, with assistance from James Morrison and Douglas Brooks. 
  •  Tuesday, 9 April is the day selected for the Annual Capitol Hill Reception and Symposium in honor of Tartan Day, given where Easter and Passover fall this year and taking into account the scheduled congressional recess. The usual space in the Capitol Visitors’ Center (immediately adjacent to the U.S. Capitol Building) has been reserved for these events on that date. Given all the recent interest in MyClanOnline, congressional staffers suggested “Scotland and the Diaspora: Getting Connected for the 21st Century” as this year’s Symposium topic. The NCTDC membership endorsed this theme at its AGM this Saturday. John Bellassai will again chair the Symposium. Kathy Garrity and Andrea Scott will manage the Reception. Several potential speakers have already indicated their willingness to attend and participate. Attendance at the Capitol Hill events will again be by invitation only, as space is limited. To get on the guest list, contact John Bellassai (at 202/258-4876, or at j.bellassai@yahoo.com).
  • A very senior delegation of Scottish Government ministers will travel to Washington for Tartan Day this year and will attend the Symposium and Reception on Capitol Hill on the 9th. And the Scottish Coalition, USA is considering making their Annual Award at our Capitol Hill events again this year.
  • NCTDC will again partner with the St. Andrew’s Society to again sponsor a Reception to follow the Annual Kirkin’ of the Tartan, at the Washington on Sunday, 14 April. The Reception will be open to all members of the Society and their guests. A modest fee to cover catering and other costs will be charged. More information will follow. To RSVP in advance for the Reception, contact John Bellassai or David McKenzie.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Celebrate your Irish!

Everything Irish on darachweb.com is 17% off for the month of March! Show your Irish heritage all year long with our Irish flag items! Lots to choose from: Ireland Tricolour flag, Erin-go-bragh flag, the Guinness flag, and more!
See all of our Irish Flags

Friday, February 21, 2014

St David's Day: March 1


St David is the patron saint of Wales. Don't forget!
A national day of celebration in Wales since the 18th century.
Get your Wales flags, stickers, etc!
Wales Flags


Monday, February 10, 2014

Ewan Colin Coupar and a Touch of the Fae



I’m still writing my book about Ewan Colin Coupar and his adventures in the Realm of the Fae, the faerie world and the nine members of the Cruach (a secret circle of friends). Together they become involved with the faerie folk, big and small, good and evil. Hopefully I will have the first book finished and ready for editing and publishing soon. I have decided to put out some of the content as teasers so I will start with chapter one. I will add more as time goes on but will not include the entire book for obvious reasons. Meanwhile I have started the next recordings of pirate and sea songs. Keeping busy and working on my schedule for the coming year.
Cheers, Carl 

Chapter One
"Come in, come in Mr. Coupar! 10 o’clock on the dot!"
"I’m always on time," said Mr. Coupar, "it’s been important to be on time all my life."
"We’ve read the first six chapters of the story," said Mr. P, the publisher.
"Actually you’ve read six of the first seven chapters. I have chapter one right here," and he put a hefty looking manuscript on the edge of Mr. P’s desk.
"Sit down, sit down. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Coffee please," said Mr. Coupar, "if it was 10 in the evening a wee single malt would be nice. I’ll fix it myself," as he walked over to the coffee table.
"Then have a seat," said Mr. P.
After fixing his coffee Mr. Coupar sat down on a high backed leather chair facing Mr. P’s desk. "So we have the first seven chapters, well. We love it. We will publish it and when your agent arrives we can go over a proposal. When can we read the rest of it?"
"Oh it’s all here, finished," said Mr. Coupar putting his hand on the manuscript in front of Mr. P.
"Oh!" said Mr. P, "all of it?" There was a note of concern in his voice. "Well, I never expected it to be finished. In fact, I was hoping it wasn’t, quite frankly."
"Why is that?" asked Mr. Coupar.
"Well, I was just wondering if you would be agreeable to a change or two."
"Oh, like what?"
"Well, I love it, I do, but I was wondering if it was movie material, you know. Sometimes books like this, a fantasy, is great for movie versions. Well, if this took place in England, it might sell better. You know English accents and stuff. Oh I understand the book just fine, but I was thinking of stories like Peter Pan or Treasure Island by Scottish authors, but English settings, you know."
"Aye maybe, but what about Brave Heart and Rob Roy and Local Hero, they were big movies too," said Mr. Coupar.
"That’s true," responded Mr. P.
"And how," went on Mr. Coupar, "how would you change the Loch Ness monster into somewhere in England, or put the silkie folk from Scotland in the Thames maybe. Besides Scottish faeries don’t like to be English and furthermore it happened in Scotland."
"Well I agree with some of your points," said Mr. P. "but it is a fantasy."
"Well sort of, I suppose, although I didn’t make it up. I just wrote it down the way it happened," Mr. Coupar went on.
"The way it happened? Are you trying to tell me it’s true, Mr. Coupar?" laughed Mr. P. "Or is it a fairy tale and are you going to start somewhere with a long long time ago or once upon a time?"
"Aye, that’s what I’m saying, in a sense. You see by saying once upon a time it puts the story in a definite point of time in the infinite. It all happened sometime but with no particular time that I know of. I know that’s hard to explain but then maybe it’s not"
Is this guy loony? I didn’t quite understand what he just said but I think I did, thought Mr. P.
"But if it’s true Mr. Coupar, you can take us to the Loch Ness monster, or show us faeries and dragons."
"I can’t do that, Mr. P. If you read the rest of the story you would understand why not. Go on, read it."
The book slowly rose and gently dropped in front of Mr. P and opened to chapter one. Mr. P, with mouth open, started to read.
Chapter One
"Come in, come in Mr. Coupar! 10 o’clock on the dot!" 
"I’m always on time," said Mr. Coupar, "it’s been important to be on time all my life."...


Saturday, February 1, 2014

I was a guest and co-hosted a radio show on Wednesday 29th January from Edmonton, done by telephone of course with Pete the Rocker. I lived in Edmonton for most of the 60s and pretty well started my musical career there. If you want to listen to the show follow the links in Pete's message to me.
Cheers, Carl

Hi Carl!!
Thanks for Co-Hosting The Shoebox on January 29th!! It was a great show as we covered your career over the last 50 years!! The Show is up on the Shoebox website http://shoeboxradio.ca/index.htm and we have a blurb about the show on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shoeboxradiocjsr please add yourself as a friend to that page. Next week week Al Girard of the Rock A Tunes , Famous Last Words and Natural Gas with be Co-Hosting The Shoebox as part of The Legends of the Edmonton Music Scene Series.

Thanks again I hope you have a wonderful 2014!! We will be in touch!! Check our pages for up coming Legends shows and we will see you in 2016!! My friend is working on a Legends page for the Shoebox which will include cool pictures and facts about you!!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Pete Seeger



I just got the news of the death of Pete Seeger this morning from yahoo news on my computer. So sad but he went peacefully and was 94 years old. He influenced so many people, musicians, singers and others including myself. I remember him when I was a lot younger when he was with the Weavers and sang Good Night Irene. 
I first came to Canada in 1961, and it was during that time, or maybe 1962, that I went to a Pete Seeger concert. I didn't really know much about him then or even what he looked like, for he was banned on television for a long time and I don’t think anybody readily recognised him. The concert was a sellout in the high school auditorium in Fort William, Ontario. In the middle of the stage sat a chair and a table with a jug of water and a glass. A big, tall skinny fellow came ambling onto the stage, carrying a guitar and banjo. He leaned them up against the table started to take off his sweater. I thought this was a stagehand bringing the instruments on for Pete Seeger and I thought it was kind of unprofessional to come wondering on the stage as a stagehand and commenced to take the sweater off before leaving. He threw the sweater onto the chair picked up the banjo approached the microphone and started playing. At that point we all realized this was Pete Seeger, who had come on without an introduction. 
What a performance that was; for two hours he held the audience in the palm of his hand with stories and songs and sing-a-longs and the playing of his 12 string guitar and longnecked five string banjo. I was fascinated. I had been playing guitar and singing folk songs for maybe a year and I thought to myself that night the how wonderful it would be if I could ever reach the stage of my life where I could go on stage like that and entertain an audience the same way. 
I did become a full-time musician in 1964, while living in Edmonton, Alberta. I spent time with the rock groups and folk groups, made recordings, got radio airplay, did TV shows and toured the country of Canada from coast to coast. Eventually went solo in 1972 I did eventually accomplish my dream as a solo performer and singer and entertainer. I was signed by Community Concerts of New York around the end of the 1980s and for the next five or six years I toured across the United States and Canada. The only province in Canada I did not get to go to was Prince Edward Island, and the only two states that I never sang in were Alaska and Rhode Island. 
I learned from many other performers the importance of stage presence, telling jokes, telling stories, song introductions, mixing humour with serious songs, but I will always remember my first inspirations were from Burl Ives whom I was later to meet in my life and the one concert of Pete Seeger that I attended. I did meet and become friends with his half-brother Mike Seeger years later. I think I have every recording of Burl Ives and Pete Seeger with and without The Weavers. 
Tonight, Tuesday the 28th of January 1014 I will raise a glass of single malt whiskey to his memory. 
Thank you Pete Seeger.