Activity On The Music Front 

What’s Happening at RpT’s Library


The stack of boxes from all the remodeling activities is almost gone, my left hand is on the mend (I received an A+ rating from my therapist and he said I can start playing guitar again), and I am chomping at the bit to get back to recording.  I have vocal tracks to complete for the songs scheduled for release later this year including: My Father’s Son, One Horse Town, Mystery of Time, The Pain Deep in Your Heart, and It’s Hard to Imagine. Plus, I am working on a reggae feeling song with my buddy, Roberto Ramos, entitled You’re Mine. I look forward to sharing them all with you once they are finished.  

April Showers bring May Flowers!

But what happens when it doesn’t rain?

 

Well, at least at our home, there are flowers everywhere because we planted Texas Native plants and trees on our property. They are tough and used to handling the dynamic weather patterns here in Central Texas.   And our bees are happy too! I must say, Spring is my favorite time of the year.


The bees shown are native Texas Bees.

RpT in Concert

www.CentralTexasTickets.com


Oh, and I am starting rehearsals for the upcoming Bluebonnet Evening! The cast for Bluebonnet Road is almost in place, I can’t wait to meet them. I am responsible for teaching the chosen ones all the songs from the play. 


I have decided to name my portion of the evening, My Life in Song. The concert will include a dozen or so of my compositions along with the stories behind each one. Per Linda’s suggestion, I have chosen songs that are happy and uplifting. She is also preparing videos to go along with each song. The goal is to try my best to lift everyone’s spirits and have an evening of fun and frivolity. Bring your dancing shoes!


Tickets for this Bluebonnet Evening are available at www.CentralTexasTickets.com. The dates are Friday, June 24th and Saturday, June 25th both shows starting at 7:30 PM and Sunday Matinee on June 26th at 2:30 PM.


Out of town guests please contact me for a list of great places to stay while you are here in Salado.

 

I hope you will join us for an evening full of love, laughter and maybe even a dance contest.

Who knows what else will be in store?


FEATURED ARTICLE

violeta title slide.jpg

The story behind

Violeta

I used to spend a great deal of time in record stores during the earlier years of my life. At the time there were many stores to go to in the Milwaukee area, with my fondest memories being of Dirty Jack’s Record Rack on the east side. If you asked me, I could probably name a whole list of new recording artists that I was turned on to and purchased just because of the album cover – either the photos/artwork caught my eye or the liner notes on the back were intriguing enough to capture my interest. Acts like the Beach Boys, Rolling Stones and Blood Sweat and Tears, and many other first albums, were purchased by me long before I ever heard their music on the radio. Not only was Dirty Jack’s a great place to hang out and find new artists, but this store also gave our Blue Hour record label a foothold in the local community when we released new albums by Woodbine Roots and Susan & Richard Thomas’ A Burst of Life. 


Now that most of the record stores have disappeared (at least near where I live) and CD’s have print so small that I can barely read it, I have shifted my search for new inspiration to the streaming movie providers. I constantly search the titles for something new and unknown to listen to and watch. That’s partly how I continue to discover the amazing artists this world has to offer.


During a search not too long ago, I came across a movie dedicated to the memory of Violeta Parra, a songwriter considered to be Chile’s equivalent of Edith Piaf and Bob Dylan. It is entitled Violeta Went to Heaven.  I watched it for the first time late on Saturday night, March 8th, 2014. Her most popular song is Gracias a la Vida (Thanks to Life) was, at one time, one of the most covered Latin American songs including a version recorded by Joan Baez. Her music, art, life story and tragic death touched me deeply. In addition to being a collector of Chilean folk songs and a songwriter, Violeta was a world-renowned artist in several different Mediums. Her works have been exhibited in the Louvre at a special one-person exhibit. This was just one of the shows honoring her talent that expanding her reputation throughout Europe and South America.  I was overwhelmed by the extent of her creativity.


After the movie ended, I sat in silence for quite a while then moved into my home studio and started putting together a first draft of the music and lyrics.  I felt strongly that it was a song that needed to be played on a classical guitar. So, the next afternoon, while at a community wide garage sale, I found one for $40, no case. After tuning the guitar down a couple steps, everything fell into place, adding the texture I was looking for. I finished the song at Midnight on March 20th, 2014. 


Violeta is quite a bit different than the other songs I have written but it seems, at least to me, to capture her spirit and the loss I felt by her passing even after only knowing her from a movie of her life. RpT


My Video: https://youtu.be/4Q5dHsDGDS8

             

For more information about this fascinating artist, please check out the following sites:

Her Life: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violeta_Parra


A Biography: http://www.amazon.com/VIOLETA-PARRA-THE-WHIM-WIND/dp/0984302417


Her Art: https://www.google.com/search?q=violeta+parra+artwork&rlz=1T4MXGB_enUS593US594&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=a6jiU-mkKY7_yQT_0oK4BQ&ved=0CBwQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=673#q=violeta+parra+arpilleras&tbm=isch

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The Movie: https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Violeta-Went-to-Heaven/70228018


Patreon

You may be aware that the creation of videos and recordings of my songs is not a money-making proposition. The costs for projects like this and other recordings are fully absorbed by me. Any revenue they produce doesn’t come close to covering these costs. Toward that end, I have set up a Patreon site as a place to join with friends, share my thoughts, songs, videos & lots more.

 

Please take a few moments to check out my Patreon site and consider subscribing. Click on the link below. Thank you!

 

Patreon

 

Richard Paul Thomas

www.RichardPaulThomas.com

https://www.patreon.com/RichardPaulThomas

www.reverbnation.com/RichardPaulThomas

 

“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life – Music & Cats” Albert Schweitzer

RpT's Library

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