Thanks for checking in. I'm still off social media for now so in the meantime I wanted to share a couple of cha cha cha changes with you.
1. I turned 69 yesterday. Had a quiet birthday at home. Here I am with a new Duck to cuddle (We have to talk about the ducks), a water bottle that shows exactly how much I should be drinking each day and a new summer straw hat to wear when I sing at HealthCare Facilities. This is what 69 looks like for me. Happy & grateful to still be here. Can't believe I'm this age but who of us can believe it as we get this much older? And again, feeling blessed and happy to still be here trying to do the next right thing.
2. RADIO SHOW: After 7 and 1/2 years, I made the decision to turn the lights out on the Beth Williams Indie Americana Songwriter Show. I've recorded over 300 shows and have left a few of my favorites on Mixcloud.
BUT WAIT!!
After sending out the “Show is over” announcement, I'm happy to report most of the 70+ stations said they'd like to keep airing the show even if it was re-runs so I came up with a PLAN C which is this:
I'll record 1 new show a month and the stations will play shows from the “Beth Williams Songwriter Show Archive Vault” the rest of the month. Perfect!!
That means I'll have extra time to work on other things and if you've ever been a songwriter on my show, you'll continue to be heard around the world. Plus I can play new music once a month.
Super BIG thank you to all the stations who have supported and carried the show through the years, and extra thanks to those who plan on being part of Plan C which again is: One new show a month followed by 3 weeks of the "Beth Williams Songwriter Show from the Archive Vault".
3. STROLLING MINSTREL: After years and years and years of carrying around a mic stand, mic cord, guitar cord and being attached to the PA system, I'm now FREE and Fully Wireless! May not sound like a big deal but it's a definetly a big deal to me. Life is so much easier. Thanks to Elizabeth for sending this photo of me wandering around singing at Pace HealthCare.
On another note, I seem to have "come down" with serious arthritis (part of that getting older thing) on my left shoulder so most of the time I sit while I play. The pull of the guitar on my shoulder is something I try to avoid. But I do sometimes wander about whilst singing.
4. WEBSITE CHANGES: I'm in the process of moving my entire website over to BANDZOOGLE which I'm very excited about. It's geared more toward musicians and seems like a good fit. As usual I'm doing everything myself and moving ones website to another hosting company takes quite a bit of time. Very slow going. I think once the site is moved over I may hop back onto Facebook and Instagram. Hopefully I'll have time for social media interaction once I get that project done. I miss you.
4. VA HOSPITAL: My dear friend Peggy Malone was invited to sing at the VA Hospital in Rifle, Colorado and couldn't make it. They needed cowboy music for "Western Day" so she recommended MIZ LIZZIE for the job. Thank you dear Peggy for the referral!
What a fun time it was singing for and with the residents! Not sure I've ever had quite so many cell phones videotaping me! I find it a little unnerving to have people videotaping performances and not knowing where the video will end up. If you make mistakes (which I do!) and the video ends up on You Tube or who knows where else, you just have to live with it. It's one of those things I've learned to make peace with most of the time. Sometimes I put up my "Please don't videotape" sign. Depends on the day I guess!
Another dear friend joined me in Rifle so I asked if she'd be my percussionist. She's always up for something new and gave a resounding "YES!" I told her she needed a cowgirl name so she chose "Yellow Rose" and I brought an extra hat. Having her play along made everything even more fun and of course, all the residents adored her because with Vicki, aka "Yellow Rose",what's not to love?
After that we had dinner and hit the hot springs in Glenwood Springs. Woke up and did a tour of The Hotel Colorado (known for having ghosts), did a little light shopping & went for a hike. Twas a wondeful time.
I've recorded a couple of new videos for my You Tube channel. Here's a great Taj Mahal song. My first time to sing it....learned it just for this video.
Hope you enjoy and thanks again for being here. I can always be found at beth@bethwilliamsmusic.com
Vicki & I in front of Glenwood Springs Historic
The Hotel Colorado
Built in 1893 by Walter Devereux
