Don't look now, Mom, but your son is out there playing on the "high-speed internet highway" again...

Only this time, he looks like he's just about the same age as his son is now...and twice as dumb!

Check it out at http://www.tarwaterband.com/videos.html 

It'll take a couple minutes to load, but Mom, you've waited this long to get a good gander of what he was doing Out West during the year of the Bi-Centennial.

Here's the blurb folks...you can believe it or not, Naples Beach was voted #1 in 2005!  & JRobert was all over the Naples portion of this video.

I thought they were going to kick me out when I sang "Paradise can be Hazardise to Your Health" but they put it in the flick!  Along with my ugly mug!  It was actually video taped out on Coconut Island on a damn cold day in October...the actresses had to take off their jackets to show off their Beach Attire.  It was sunny, anyhow.  I refused, I simply put my Florida-Hawaiian shirt on over my woolies!

Travel Channel's Beach Week expert panel, which consisted of Tim Jarrell of Fodor's, Dana Dickey of Condé Nast Traveler and Veronica Stoddart of USA Today, combed the globe to pick the best of the best when it comes to U.S. and international beaches.Pack your bikini and sunglasses, it's time for the Travel Channel's countdown of the top beaches around the world. Here are this year's best.

America's Best Beaches 2005
From Hawaii to the U.S. Virgin Islands and up to the shores of New Jersey, this year's list takes us all over the States.

www.TarwaterBand.com gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, at County Q Studios, home of chief engineer and part-time Famous Motel Cowboy, Robbie Matson.

This was to be 1st recording we've done in almost 30 years...So you can imagine all the back-slappin' that went on in Studio A that week!

The story began when David Lyle Evans and K.W. Turnbull appeared on TV at the CMA Awards Show in NYC and all the Rockin' TW Folks just about fell out of their rockin' chairs! to see them up there playing with Garth Brooks! 

...then ol Buck Ramsey from "Space Wood" Texas came into an inheritance that was burning a hole in his pocket to see us all get back together...and connected all the dots...and blam!  Here we were all pickin' & grinnin' like nothin' new at all has happened for the last 10,678 days...

The website says it all...including videos of us from 1976 when we sandwiched an appearance at the Washington State University TV studio in-between a concert with Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, and the Idaho State Penitentiary gig.  We really were out on good behavior. 

David Lyle, KW, Teddy, Sergio, Rob Matson, John Bateman, are denizens of Nashville, Mickey Wells flew in from LA, Pinto Bennett hitched a ride from Boise, Idaho,  and JRobert  appeared out of thin air!

We laid down some world class Honky Tonk music, folks!

If you get a chance, go on line www.TarwaterBand.com and order up a couple copies for yourself and your pals down at the Chickee Bar!

During the week of Hurricane Charlie cleanup, we had no power at our house.

So, I cranked up the Honda generator from my boat and started recording this quick sketch of tunes...Janet came over and helped.  It's pretty much sequenced with live fiddle, guitar, banjo, and vocals.

I did a series of Hurricane Relief parties for Red Cross at various country clubs and private venues.  I'm sure we collectively raised over $50,000...but it still feels pitifull when you consider the property damage, loss of life, and suffering people witnessed.

All proceeds from Hurricane Hunters goes to Red Cross.  The CD is available in 10 different languages at Hurricane Hunters CDBaby   and individual songs are available on iTunes at Hurricane Hunters iTunes

Now there's a mouthful...

"Welcome to Florida!" Show   

I'm not kidding, apart from a Publix or Target, what better place could I set up my monkey-bar-like music equipment to sing and play for Mr John Q Public, than at the Grand Opening of the SW Florida International Airport!?

Not that I have anything against performing at the local Pub, Tavern, Honky Tonk, Lounge, Chickee Bar...or   "Lord, I've played some s__holes!" Kip Attaway used to wail!  And yes, I've done them all...check out me and my old pals  www.TarwaterBand.com   We were the original "Kings of Honky Tonk Bad Breath City!"

However, I only see a narrow strata of society down at the Little Bar.  Good Food, Good Drinks, and Good Jokes.  Good ol Boys & Good time Gals...  But where are the Good Folk?  "Society at Large"...children, teachers, grandfolk, clerks, apprentices...people who have to go into a grocery store for the basic necessities, but can't afford a night out on the town. 

These people need entertainment too!

So I rose the challenge of being a troubadour, gypsy, or scop...I accepted the contract for JRobert Janet and Chainsaw to do the "Welcome to Florida!" Show for early morning flight arrivals and departees down at the brand new SW Florida International Airport!

There they were, my People!  Wow, I think I found a new calling!

Although it did have the distinct distraction of a multitude of reporters and TV cameras...

If I were to conjure up a gig down at the Produce Section of Publix...I wonder if I could improve their business?! 

With my shiny Steel Pan, I'm sure I could get them Dancing in the Ailses!

"Brotherhood of Starving Entertainers and Musicians"...a Benefit Concert for Friends.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

This Year, it's Mickey Wells from my old www.TarwaterBand.com who brought his poor old crippling arthritic bones to our gathering.  I bought him a plate of good old "grits & greens" at the Stagecoach for breakfast...he'll be feelin' better soon!

Musicians attending are my old Tarwater buddies, Bruce Hauser from Sawmill Creek, Pinto Bennett and the Famous Motel Cowboys, Brent Moyer www.GlobalCowboy.tv  and of course the MC and star of the show www.KipAttaway.com !!! 

We all love Uncle Kippy!  He's like Honky Tonk Santa Claus, he always brings lots of presence!

After an all day blowout at the Virginian, we adjorned to Idaho Falls, Idaho for a Tarwater Reunion at the Elks Club, Tuesday September 7th 

Lots of good folks!  Lots of memories, and Great Music!

www.BMI.com is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music.  Everyone from John Lennon to Willie Nelson. 

I've been a member of BMI for many years, but you couldn't prove it from my royalty checks.  Zilch.  But that's only because JRobert and none of his songs are famous.  I sometimes pay BMI to publish my own renditions of Jimmy Buffett songs...but that's an honor.

So anyhow, Francis Preston is the President of BMI and I have heard nothing but admiration and praise of her, not only from within the business, but from mutual friends who are neighbors of hers.  I was destined to meet Francis someday, I always wondered how, when, or why, but I knew it was meant to be.  I'd even tried to contact her a couple times while doing business in Nashville...another story. 

BMI contacted me via Ocean Beach Resort to round up some buddies to entertain their festivities in Marco Island, March 4th thru March 9th 2004.  Cool.  Upon  their specific requests, I called Frankie Paul & His Italian Accordion for Sale la Pepe Night, Michael Oakland Samba DudeTrio for Jazz Under the Chickee Hut Night, JRobert played the Kahuna Sail, and Mitch Peters BMI Dove Award Winner accompanied by JRobert violinist on Marco Yacht Club Grand BMI Awards Night featuring John Secada!

John Secada! 

So there we were, Mitch and I, dressed up in our little tuxedos playing violin and grand piano in the Harbour Room of the Marco Island Yacht Club, really cruising along with our guests requests.  BMI tunes only.  It was actually a challenge to stump the band, countered by a challenge to see whether we could slip any ASCAP songs under their nose...without mentioning it even if we did.

So, here's Mitch Peters...long time piano bar artist at the Hilton and Marriott for over 30 years, BMI Dove Award winner in his own right, and probably 10,000 songs played by heart under his 88-key belt.  And he's accompanied by JRobert.  Mr Ears.  The guy who can jam with almost anyone in the business comfortably. 

Meanwhile, one of the CEO's of BMI European division walks over and hands us some sheet music from a John Secada Broadway song.  Sheet music, for chrissakes!        Silence.

Mitch doesn't read.  It would be like kicking a dead horse or floating a lead feather.  So he looks at me. 

I wasn't about to start sight reading a piece of music I've never seen or heard before and hacking it up into little bits in front of the author, John Secada, President Francis Preston, and God! 

So, we smiled, broke into an abbreviated version of Miami Sound Machine's "Rythm's Gonna Getcha!" and took a break.

Excuse me, I'm going down for a snooze now...

CHRISTMAS ISLAND STYLE is Here!

BLUE WATER CHRISTMAS is ready as of December 11th 2002...and how sweet it is!

...Mangrove Studio now has Pro Tools and E-Magic Logic Platinum! So expect BLUE WATER CHRISTMAS to even exceed quality BLUE WATER CRUISE.

SONG TITLES include...

Angels, God Rest Ye, Three Ships, Christmas Island, III Kings, Little Drummer Boy, Midnight Clear, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Christmas Moon, O Holy, Whadayaknow About Christmas?,and Joy!

CREDITS will be listed...

Musicians

Alex Antonelli Steinberger bass Michael Oakland Samba guitar Mark Pettey Roland D-50 Frank Carroll Guitar, Vocal Bobby Snyder Jr. Drums Nestor Hernandez Percussion Tony “P” Pastrana Percussion Jo Ann Hammond Vocal Roli Scholl Dobro JRobert Violin, Steel Pan, Guitar

Produced & engineered by J. Robert Houghtaling at Mangrove Music Studios, Marco Island, Florida Photos Joel Gewirtz, Marco Island, Florida Mastered by Mark Prator, Morrisound Studio, Tampa, Florida Guitars provided by Teigen Guitars www.Teigenguitars.com Cover art by Disc Makers ©© 2002 JRobert PO Box 1071 Marco Island, Fl 34146 www.JRobert.net

2002 is the 50th Annual Celebration of Florida's most excellent folk arts. I missed 2001 while recording Fait Plaisir 2001, Touring Switzerland, and exchanging Swiss Culture with Nashvillian Brent Moyer...but being a multi-generational "Florida Cracker," wild horses couldn't keep me away from this awesome event!

The folks who get together with home-spun music & story on the banks of the early-summer Suwannee River create some of the best moments on the planet!

After a very successful FAIT PLAISIR 2001 Spring Country Music Festival Tour, and got some great FAIT PLAISIR Tour d' Affair Stories, JRobert invites his Nashville, Tennessee friend Brent Moyer, down to Marco Island for a July 4th Celebration in South West Florida!

Our collective FAIT PLAISIR 2001 CD will be featured at every show...something we got together and recorded in Mangrove Studio and finished in Nashville.

All original songs included on FAIT PLAISIR 2001 include "Fait Plaisir," "When Love Gets A'Hold of Your Heart," "The Ballad of Alberta and the Gypsy Cowboy," "Trouble with Trout Fishing in On the Great Divide," "Silver Dollar Rag, Wella Wella Alright, It's A Saturday Night," "How Sexy Can You Get?" "Red Lips, Blue Eyes, Little White Lies," "The Florida Fiddler," "Some Lucky Stardust," and "Flower of the Sea."

I call this "The Brent & Bob Show"...similar to Captain's Log 03.28.99, 10.30.99-Swiss Tour or 11.15.99-Swiss Navy Stories...only different, because this time we're touring in SW Florida Summer!

So, the whole FAIT PLAISIR 2001 is packed with songs for which the Swiss people have come to know and love us...each with its own vision of what "Global Folk Music" might sound like when a Nashville Country Artist and a Sea Cowboy get together in the studio! Only in Switzerland could such amalgamated music be accepted...I hope Y'all love it as we bring it on Home!

Buy FAIT PLAISIR 2001 Here!

Date Wed Apr 18 2001 10:25 Author JRobert (jrobert@jrobert.net)

Brent mastered FAIT PLASIR 2001 with Vaughn Skow at Sunset Island Studios in Nashville, Tn while I completed the artwork and overnighted it to DisksDirect.com in California. We'll receive a shipment on the 24th...just in time to fly out with a bunch...I'll manage some sample downloads and leave some CD's home to ship out to anyone wishing to follow the bouncing ball with us......

Subject Arrival in Switzerland

Date Mon Apr 30 2001 20:03 Author JRobert (JRobert@JRobert.net)

Great flight...Miami to New York to Zurich.

Our tour manager Marcel Zuber and Brent met me at the airport and took me immediately to Maienfeld, Sz. for 3 sessions of practice for our first Festival Hünenberg Show with "Funny Hill", a popular band in Switzerland.

Our band members included the amazing Lana Brown from Charlotte, North Carolina, who is promoting her own new Nashville produced CD, and fabulous bass player Jerry Linn from Brent's Idaho days. Brent's Nashville drummer, Kirby Bivans now lives in Geneva, Sz. and will join us for allthe Festival shows. Superb. All original material...but it came together easily because 1. Brent's worked with all of us at different times. 2. We had recordings of each other's tunes... and 3. These musicians are ELECTRIC!

The Hünenberg Show was Killer.

Subject Brent Moyer & The Shithouse Band

Date Wed May 2 2001 23:36 Author Retow (retow@datacomm.ch)

Hi JRobert

What a great show at the best little Shithouse in the world! We all enjoyed your show and we loved you loving the music you make! It was the absoulte highlight in this year's country music calendar; we all look forward having you again in the Shithouse. Anyone who does not know the story behind the Shithouse...ask JRobert, he might tell...or maybe not...just try it!

You all have a great time in Switzerland and remember: We're in the Shithouse now!

Subject Shithouse Orchestra

Date Thu May 3 2001 14:11 Author JRobert (JRobert@JRobert.net)

Man, playin' the Shithouse was the most realistic "kick-ass" session I've done in years...like "Honky Tonk In the Round!" ...An octagonal room built inside a manure silo complete with Budwiser Bar (this Anheuser Busch product was brewed to full force 5% in Austria...had a great taste, they say "it's the water")

Thank you Retow & Connie...also TJ & Morga for the beer & Spatzli und Wurst. Ursula und Paul from "Rodeo Ranchers" were there, so we had a great jam when she sang with Lana Brown. Also, we have some great pictures from Lottie und Monika which I will post when I get home on mz own computer.

We'll be back again soon...

Subject Borse Restaurant im Zurich

Date Thu May 3 2001 14:44 Author JRobert (JRobert@JRobert.net)

This place seems to be the "Home of Country & Folk Music in Switzerland"...you walk in the door & there's a bunch of pictures of Bill Monroe, John McEuen & Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Swiss Yodlers, etc.

Arthur from the Country Music Club took good care of us...Erika & Bruno Michele were there to greet us also. Swiss Country Music artist Tony Lewis invited us to jam at the Zug Festival coming up this Saturday.

What a great surprise too, to see Irene Schmidt, who presented us with photos and a 2 volume CD recording of our show at the Sheepfarm Sunday Concert.

Thank you once again, people of Zurich, for your attendance & wonderful hospitality!

Subject Down on Irene's Sheep Farm

Date Thu May 3 2001 15:03 Author JRobert (JRobert@JRobert.net)

Truly the Gatekeeper to Swiss Country tastes and Queen of Concerts...Irene Schmidt's Sheep Farm is an experience of a lifetime for me. Never since the early days of the Troubador in L.A. or Blue Bird in Nashiville have I witnessed a more attentive audience! The electricity between the people & performers was absolutely intoxicating.

Credit goes to Irene and George Schmidt, but not without a price...discipline! When Irene herds her flock into that barn, George shuts the doors and no one leaves, smokes, or speaks a word except oooh's, aaaah's, & cheers, until the concert is complete! Lord help you if you have a bladder problem!

Located high on the hills overlooking Lake Lucern, the scenery is spectacular...& with a compliment of wines, beers, homemade meat & cheeze loaf with Kartofelsalat, great music (N.K. Cole Band performed before us...WOW sheep & llama stories from George kept us anchored back on the planet.

The barn was packed cheek to cheek...only enough room on stage for the four of us and invited guest folk singer Richard Dobson. Stories and songs we shared represented a collective 145 years of experiences the band had gathered...and we sparkled! It was recorded, & I'll go through the photos and Irene Impressions when I return to Florida.

Once again, "Good Night Irene, I'll See You in my Dreams!"

Subject sheep farms and other such pleasures

Date Thu May 3 2001 08:03 Author Renee (georgeandrenee@mindspring.co

Well, Howdy there you Swiss cowboy you! What a treat to hear your friendly voice this morning, sounded like you were just down the road apiece. We hope you and Brent have a wonderful, exciting time on your travels. The Wild Flowers had a blast in the mountains, so much excellent music. The Kruger Brothers are amazing. They played with Mike Cleveland who is the fiddle player for Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, and blew everyone away. We saw Jones and Leva there and visited with them, and so many others. Yodel one for me.

Love, Renee

Subject Funny Hill Bar Hotel Hirschen Maienfeld Date Thu May 3 2001 15:47 Author Marcel Zuber (mzuber@funnyhill.ch)

Live in concert

Donnerstag, 3. Mai, 21.00 Lana Brown spielt in der Funny Hill Bar im Hotel Hirschen Maienfeld. Freuen uns auf Euren Besuch as Grüassli vum Marcel Zuber

Management Funny Hill, Brent Moyer&Band

Subject Gig at the Hotel Hirschen

Date Tue May 8 2001 15:32 Author Sepp from the Nevada Band (sepo@datacomm.ch)

I^m so very happy to play with you. Next week I^m thinking first we get some nice Trout, and after this faboulus Meal we get some Goospickels.

Your Friend Sepp ( Joe )

Subject Fribi-Hof Date Sat May 5 2001 11:07 Author JRobert (JRobert@JRobert.net)

Sandra und Kurt at Fribi-Hof really put on a show with us last night in their horse barn...lots of people sitting around on straw bales and kegs for tables. A chuck wagon set up for cooking steaks and lots of Gäms, Sz cider and beer! The acoustics were perfect, and the show has been rehearsed enough its starting to spin like clockwork.

Fribi-Hof basically means "Mountain Horse," and they have the best in the world! We got a tour of their top animals...I started to tell them the stories of North Idaho Appaloosas that were developed by the Nez Pierce Indians over 100 years ago...& they started laughing because some old nag had made a bad name for his breed a couple years ago. I guess the horse was a little skittish with heights, stumbled about, & had too big a rump for going down hill...so someday we'll take these folks out to the White Clouds for a pack trip on some REAL Appaloosas. But we'll never find a better bunch of Country Music lovers and Chuck Wagon in the Whole World!

Subject SPECIAL THANKS TO SANDRA AND KURT

Date Wed May 30 2001 16:41 Author BRENT (MOYERBRENT@AOL.COM)

THE FIRST TIME I PLAYED AT SANDRA AND KURT'S FRIBY HOF HORSE RANCH I KNEWIT WAS LIKE HOME...REAL HONEST TO GOODNESS, DOWN TO EARTH, HARD-WORKING, COWBOY PEOPLE, THE KIND OF FOLKS I WAS RAISED AROUND. IT'S A GREAT SETTING FOR A CONCERT AND I THINK THE HORSES LIKED IT TOO. I HOPE THE FRIBY HOF BECOMES ONE OF OUR REGULAR STOPS IN SWITZERLAND. I KNOW JERRY SURE ENJOYED THE SETTING...WE ALL DID!

THANKS AGAIN! BRENT

Subject Lucky ole sun

Date Sun May 6 2001 03:30 Author gary in Belgium (cartoontheatre@freebel.net)

Thankyou for your e-mails. Eliane is barely holding on..only days probably. If you can for me sing your"Lucky old Sun' song for us.

Bless you and love.

Subject Eliane's Love

Date Tue May 8 2001 15:28 Author JRobert (Jrobert@Jrobert.net)

I got the news..."Lucky Old Sun" is yours, my friend. God bless you on your way. I'll call you.

Subject Vielen Dank (Many Thanks)!

Date Tue May 8 2001 10:01 Author David and Katie Brown (David@LanaBrown.com)

Katie and I are back in Nashville and wanted to thank you and everyone for letting us tag along for a while. We didn't get to tell everyone "auf Wiedersehen" but we wanted to let you know that we really enjoyed the shows and the fun times between. I've updated Lana's site, www.LanaBrown.com, to link here for tour updates.

Best wishes... David and Katie...

Subject Lana Brown

Date Wed May 9 2001 18:21 Author JRobert (Jrobert@Jrobert.net)

Anyone not familiar with Lana Brown-our feature vocal artist on this tour-must take a listen! She is so natural and absolutely engaging when she sings...and after spending weeks together on our tour I can tell you it's sincere. She hangs with people like singer-songwriter Ron Davies (Gail Daviesbrother...she sings several of his songs) and Dolly Parton. We're also blessed to have her sister Gail doing back-up vocals...killer combo!

Subject Jazz Bar- Hotel Albana-Weggis, CH

Date Fri May 11 2001 15:07 Author JRobert (Jrobert@Jrobert.net)

Daniel welcomed us back with hugs & shots! We always play a little jazzier when wE do this gig...something about the great art & atmosphere... Overlooking beautiful Lake Lucern in a comfortable scenic community of Weggis, Hotel Albana is owned and operated by Peter Wolfe and his mother Mrs. Wolfe. So much history and culture exudes from this beautifully appointed 1800's style European get-away...cathedral bells toll all together across the lake basin, sail boats drift by, and spring flowers abundantly blast your eyes with promise of a superb summer.

WE LOVE IT!

Mark came by and snapped a million pictures (including shots of our snake skin cowboy boots to send to Swiss recording artist Annie Boots) and Marcus jammed with us on "Johnny B Goode" while the Irish contingency danced their asses off!

Subject Howdy from Brent!

Date Fri May 11 2001 15:29 Author Brent Moyer (Moyerbrent@aol.com)

It's great to be back in Switzerland seeing lots of old friends and making new ones!

Very blessed this time to have my good buddy Jerry Linn from Jackson Hole with me this time...along with the beautiful voice of Lana Brown and information officer/fiddle player/mandolinist JRobert...we are having a ball. Lana's sister Gail is also along singing that high heavenly harmony that the rest of us can't find!

We love all your support.

Thanks, Brent

Subject Just to say "Hello!"

Date Fri May 11 2001 21:02 Author Denise (Lady-Harley@gmx.ch)

Howdy Folks!!

It was a real great show on the last Wednesday and the Thursday before in the Hirschen Bar! I hope see you again next Wednesday.

I wish you all the best

Denise

Subject Whirlwind Tour...Bären Rest, Zug

Date Sat May 19 2001 11:39 Author JRobert (JRobert@JRobert.net)

I've been writing lots of notes...but it's so hard to find a computer in-between gigs and beautiful walks around castles, streets, and country-sides. So I'll condense everything when I get home...so many great people, superb food, & exciting music.

Last night, Toni, from the Bären Restaurant in Zug, served the first hamburger we've had in almost 4weeks...and it was so good, I ate two...complete with sprouts and radishes!

Beata und Walti live in both Switzerland and Marco Island, so I got a picture to give to BK & Beth...I believe they had a great time because I saw them dancing around the room with friends a couple times.

The "Shark Expedition" of Swiss Folks who spend time studying Aqua-Life around Marco Island, showed up in full force. Francis, Marcel, Bruno.....thanks for dropping by. They're spending this year making reports on their studies in the backwaters of my Island. For instance, they tagged a bunch of shark cruising around my boat for 6 months. I figured, "Sure, a couple shark...what kind?" They said "O, Bull Shark, Lemon Shark, a couple specific Hammerhead, Nurse Shark, Black Tip..." Now, I'll think twice about cleaning my boat out in main channel anytime around sunset!

Irene Schmidt from Sheep Farm came in with stories of Greece and good times down on the farm...Remo jammed on spoons, shakers, yodels, and "Flying on the Wings of America."

Thanks to all!!

Subject Miss you guys...

Date Tue May 22 2001 09:06 Author BK (BK40@prodigy.com)

Sounds like you two mugs are havin' way too much fun!!!!! I can't wait for a "de-breifing" jam at the Little bar! Things are pretty much the same here on Marco....the Yankees are gone and the 'skeeters are here.

I'm glad you got to meet Walti und Beata. She's been my good friend for over 25 years.

Take care, boys.....see ya soon!

Subject Hi from the drummer

Date Sun May 20 2001 22:31 Author Kirby Bivans (bivans@freesurf.ch)

I had a BIG time playing and laughing with the band, with which I was engaged as the drummer for three concerts. I can't say enough about the fine musicianship and good will generated with Lana, Brent, Jerry and J. I hope I get the opportunity to do it again!

Best wishes, Kirby

Subject Switzerland Tour 2001

Date Mon May 28 2001 15:40 Author Lana Brown (lana@lanabrown.com)

Hello to Everyone! And I do mean everyone. I can't say too much right now, because I am still in such awe from all I have seen and done. An sooooo many wonderful warm-hearted new friends.

So for now I will say a huge thank-you to JRobert for helping me remember so much, until my feet are once again on the ground in Nashville, Tn. Thank God someone did their homework. I never was too good at that.

I Love You.

Subject WRAP UP OF SWISS TOUR D' AFFAIR 2001

Date Fri June 10 2001 14:55 Author JRobert (Jrobert@Jrobert.net)

A great article in the Marco Island Eagle about my participation in our Swiss Tour. I LOVE my hometown…everyone knows everything about everybody. So here's a little wrap up…

Illgau's Sigristenhaus was like a homecoming…Monika und Othmar with their kids Andreas, Cornelia…mother & sister…Jimmi und Kathi…all the yodelers. By the time we left, all the young toughs were calling Jerry "John Wayne"…I wonder why?

If you ever wish to experience real Swiss hospitality in an idyllic setting, visit their website and make reservations…world class!

"Falcon Bar" in Eichberg was a real life honky-tonk right out of Apache Junction, Arizona…complete dance floor & great acoustics…thanks to Guido and Elizabeth. Also great jamming with Danni and Jimmi from The Funny Hill Band. Their crowd helped pack the place for a great night. The next morning we had lunch with Benno Baumgartner in a picturesque restaurant overlooking the Rhine River and Austria. Picked up some great Austrian jokes…but they all kind of sounded like Irish, Italian, Polish, Yankee humor with the names changed to insult the innocent!

Hotel Hirschen's last night was packed…Monica, Gabi, Barbara, Hans und Sylvia, Denise, Alex the chef, Sabrina, Dean, Bruno & Jazmine, Marcel…Thanks to Ernst from Funny Hill and Sepp from The Nevada Country Band for making the evening explosive. Sepp always announces in his beautiful accent "Nevada, the Contra-Band from Heidi Land" and I wonder "hmmm…what could they possibly have around here that's contraband?" Oooo, COUNTRY Band! He's also the guy who says my fiddle playing gives him "Goose Pickles!"

Tom's Beer Box in Chur still has over 101 beers from around the world…bier, cerveza, ale, birra, weisebier, biëër, biro, bräu…Australian, Chinese, Mexican, African, Russian… Nothing like going around the world in 80 beers! And the toilettes are incomparable; giant beer cans! Thanks to Tom and Tom…

Schiers Country Festival was superb…over 1,000 fans…and great jamming at the end with Funny Hill! The next day, all the bands, sound & light crew, hotel & restaurant people, and families of Maienfeld met up in a magnificent forest meadow overlooking the Swiss Heidi Land. We celebrated the end of our tour with an Open Air Concert and acoustic jam…dozens of children dancing around the circles within circles…and huge bonfire to say "Ciao! And Goodbye!"

Welcome to FAIT PLAISIR 2001 Swiss Country Music Festival Tour 'd Affair!

JRobert, Brent Moyer, & Lana Brown

Samstag, 28. April Festival Hünenberg Show mit Funny Hill

Sonntag, 29. April Schaffarm Merlischachen

Dienstag, 01. Mai Country&Western Club Bern, Im Bschüttloch, 3087 Niedermuhlern

Mittwoch, 02. Mai CMC Clubabend Rest. Börse Zürich

Donnerstag, 03. Mai Funny Hill Bar Maienfeld special Night Lana Brown

Freitag, 04. Mai Strohlagerparty Frybi Hof Gams

Samstag, 05. Mai Festival Zug (Baar) Show mit Funny Hill

Mittwoch, 09. Mai Funny Hill Bar Maienfeld special Night Brent Moyer

Donnerstag, 10. Mai Rest. Albana Weggis

Freitag, 11. Mai Country Night Hotel Nollen Hosenruck

Samstag, 12. Mai Country Night Rest. Falken Eichberg Besuch von Funny Hill

Sonntag, 13 Mai Kirche Maienfeld Taufe Robin Alan

Dienstag, 15 Mai Illgau Night at Sigristenhaus

Mittwoch, 16. Mai Funny Hill Bar Maienfeld special Night JRobert

Donnerstag, 17. Mai LA American SPORT Bar, Buchs SG Provisorisch

Freitag, 18. Mai Country Night Rest. Bären, Zug

Samstag, 19. Mai Country Festival Schiers Show mit Funny Hill

Sonntag, 20. Mai Country children & family day with Funny Hill Maienfeld Open Air (Lagerfeuer)

Tour Management by Marcel Zuber of Funny Hill.

"Bingo" Amps and Music Equip provided by Urs Winkler Guitars.

Transportation for the FAIT PLAISIR 2001 Spring Festival Tour has been provided by...

The big news is..."Blue Water Cruise" CD is complete!!! DIGIROM in New York City, has done final mastering and manufacturing of this little piece of "ear candy"!

I call the project "Smooth Sailing Music..." because it's designed for the journey. It's great for any boating, flying, fishing, or driving...nice space music.

Inspired by catching Gulf of Mexico breezes and anchoring off exotic Florida 10,000 Islands...it's kind of a "tropical jazz" all-instrumental album full of samba guitar, trinidadian steel drums, island violin, & easy percussion.

Songs include 5 originals like "Sanibel Tides", "Blue Water", "Coquina", "Zephyr Deluxe", and "Captain's Heart"...

"Sailing" by Christopher Cross has a warm arrangement...along with some old standards like a cool reggae version of "Jamaica Farewell" by Lord Burgie and a hot socca rendition of "Sloop John B" originally written by Carl Sandburg. I didn't know he was a sailor?

...& finally, interpretations of a Jimmy Buffett's "Changes in Attitudes" and "Pirate Looks at 40" that will simply send you into Nautical Nirvana!

I have the shipment of CD's ...and cassettes for the boat! Buy Here!

Thanks for checking in...& please sign the contact page so I can keep in touch with you.

Best wishes, JRobert

JRobert's new "Blue Water Cruise" CD cover!

For "Old News...but Great Stories" Check out "Captain's Log".

I recently returned from a wonderful trip to St. Thomas...hurried back to set up my band "Caxambas" at Marriott's Marco Beach Resort for Seagrams & the National Beverage Distributors when who's performing for the same group that night-Jimmy Buffet with Trini Club & Coral Reefers!!! Hey, Jimmy, I still owe you a drink!

My folks came up to White Springs, Fl to attend the 48th Annual Florida Folk Festival with a clipped picture of me taken from "Florida Trends" magazine...we checked in at the gate & people were saying, "Say, aren't you the guy I saw on the program cover this year?" Sure enough, there I was in full color & big sun hat...Ken Crawford, executive director of the festival explained, "Ah J, don't take it personally...it was just a design decision." ...but don't tell my mom, she still thinks I'm a star!

After "Seminole Days" in Chokoloskee, I bummed a ride with Chief Jim Billie to play fiddle with him at "Nation's Gathering" in Arizona-New Mexico April 27th...then fly to Merl Fest for the weekend! It was a great show with James & the Raiford Starke Band...so much fun I got inspiration for a folk song I launched around some Florida Folk campfires called "I Wanna Ride Jim Billie's Airplane".

Tourist Season in SW Florida is finally over...the June rains have begun to quinch up our 6 month drought...lots of gigs to perform...friends bopping over from Europe now to capture a little sunshine & beach.

Lots of Swiss friends are reading the "Bob & Brent Show" goes to Switzerland story found under Captain's Log-Swiss Navy...I hope I didn't leave anyone out.

I'm performing so many corporation gigs this time of year that I've anchored "Blue Water" in the mangroves right off Goodland, Fl. She's all set & ready for a day sail or overnight slumber on the water... It's amazing how far & fast into the universe you can sail within the schedule of an otherwise hectic day!

Thanks for checking in...& please sign the contact page so I can keep in touch with you.

Best wishes, JRobert

JRobert with master samba artist Michael Oakland

When I returned from Europe 1st week of November, one of the first messages on my answering phone was "Come & get her! She's done & we need the dock space!" So I barely put my landing gear down when I found myself "bright eyed & bushy tailed" Monday November 15th at St. James City on Pine Island paying the tab on the paint job & putting all in order for a day cruise back to Marco Island. But just before I cast off, one of the dock workers at Bob & Annie's asked in his familiar Liverpoolian accent, "Aye mate, did you happen to meet up with the Swiss Navy?" Hmmm...

It was a perfect Southwest Florida Fall day…sunrise over the mangroves breaking into clear blue…winds predicted NW 15-20 knots. I preped my headsail & mainsail for easy hoisting…halyards & sheets in place…double-checked engine necessities…and iced a case of beer with fresh memories of sitting up last night til 03:00 watching Capt Frankie "the Cuban Sail Connection" from Captiva Isle jammin' alongside the incredible delta blues artist from New Orleans, Mr. John Mooney, right across my dockage in St. James City. Incredible.

I cast off at 09:00 cutting straight across Pine Island Flats for the mish-mash of Intercoastal markers leading past Sanibel Harbor Resort and under the Causeway Bridge. I set sail and made headway past Ft. Myers Beach before I shut down the engine for a nice long 180 degree course home…

It was a solo sail…just me, the breeze, and the deep blue sea.

Out on the blue Gulf of Mexico, my recent round-trip flight from Miami-Chicago-Zurich-Chicago-Miami started to come back to me…in little bits and pieces.

Brent scooped me up from the Zurich Flughaph in a little Opel barely large enough to fit my fiddle/mandolin case, his guitar, our luggage, and a bag of peanuts…and zipped on up to our favorite "Swiss Hideout"- Sigristenhaus im Illgau. Oltmar und Monika, the children, and the whole village were just as beautiful as when we left a year ago. We went right to work warming up "old hits" and practicing new ones. That very first day we went down stairs for lunch and warmed up "The Brent and Bob Show" for a troop of 35 Special Olympic people on their fall tour of this mountain chalet. They were a wonderful treat to dance & sing along with us perhaps the most universal song…"You Are My Sunshine".

"Mahogany Hall" in downtown Bern, overlooking the beautiful Aare River was a great kick-off show. It's a nice concert feeling…when the houselights go down & the stage is lit, the magic begins! Renee Yorg did a great job of sound on his European Electro-Voice System…our music rocked the whole building. Peter und Kathi Trachsel, Beart und Lotte of the Aare Valley Country Club were responsible for booking us…many thanks! Sleeping in a beautiful old hotel overlooking the ancient cobblestone streets of Bern filled my heart with fantasy.

Valorie Joy, the young Swiss Country Music singer joined Brent and Bob at "Maya's Big Loop Saloon" im Kagiswil. I knew I was "down home" when I saw an "Appaloosa Club" sign on the side of a barn next to the bar! I immediately had flashbacks to my early fiddling days with Almon & Virginia Manes on the upper & middle forks of the Clearwater River in North Idaho…stories of Nez Perce Indians & the first Appaloosas to run the Sawtooth Mountains. I was sharing my stories with the bartender/owner Renee Barbitta & his brother Marco…but it turns out to be his horses! I got a chance to oogle over them early before the saloon jammed with country fans. I look forward to seeing Marco in Marco Island, Florida this winter…Bon Voyage!

No trip to Switzerland would be complete for Brent Moyer without visiting the "Queen of Country Music Radio" Irene Schmidt. Actually, she attended a couple of our shows including the night at the "Big Loop Saloon"...but our lunch the next day at Irene and Georg's Sheepfarm was spectacular to say the least. Located on a gorgeous Merlischachen hillside overlooking Lake Luzern, they've converted a barn into a private bar complete with stage and dance floor to entertain guests and put on special "Country Music" concerts. Inside their home, Irene has set up a studio to accomodate progamming her nationally syndicated Swiss Country Hit radio show. Once again we toasted "Good music, good food, good drink, and good company" over a fresh farm roast turkey! If you ever need a unique holiday resort, check out Sheepfarm Holidays in Switzerland and be sure to ask Col. Georg for a virtual flight to any destination in the world on his similated computer-jet aircraft.

By the time we returned to Illgau, it seems the whole country had been on alert for the "Brent & Bob Show"! Erica und Reto, Jens Lubben, Ruth, Ushi und Paul, "Birthday Kati", Dusty Boots Band, & a bunch of the famous Illgau yodlers were at Sigristenhaus for "Country Abend." This is the scene where "East meets West" yodeling style…Swiss style vs. Cowboy style…great beer was the universal language. If the walls could talk…the stories they would tell!

Going to Gams, I was told that we would witness "the other side of the Moon"…high mountains shimmering with early fall snow and brisk winds whistling through the streets, valleys, and walls of Werdenberg Castle. Urs und Ursula Winkler of Gams have the most incredible Guitar Shop! Our concert took place in a wooden barn with a thousand guitars resonating our songs as we performed a totally acoustic concert before a "packed barn-house". Great sympathetic vibrations…newly installed lights were also a nice touch. Urs is the master luthier/repairman in all of Switzerland…& every visiting guitar picker must stop by for a tune up & check out his collection of instruments…& say "Greuzi" from Brent and JRobert!

Everywhere we traveled I collected a decal for my fiddle case…my Thurgal sticker reminds me of the Thurgal High School we performed for Hans und Ruth Caspar, Andreas, Lieber Herr and all the student body. The Swiss always take 11/2-2 hour break for lunch which allows everyone to go home and dine together as family…can you imagine America? The youth are great…all the energy & urgency without the flippancy usually associated with their age. Makes me feel 16 just hanging out with them!

"Tom's Beer Box" in downtown Chur has to be the greatest Beer Box in the world! Tiny little corner tucked inside the old city along with international restaurants and fabulous jewelry/art shops. Every beer in the world!!! I dreamed I died & went to "Beer Heaven"…start at one end and drink your way to the other! & the urinals were a six-pack of Titanic beer cans down in the basement! Thank you Tom und Tom, Fluri und Paola, Uri, Kathrine & kids, Funny Hill dudes, & Brent says "Howdy!" to Irene & Pat.

Our "Best Attendance Award" goes out to Erica, Laurence, & Reto. They followed us everywhere x0x0x0x0.

"Ahoy!" to Sven, Anja, und Astrid...I hope the sunshines on all your beautiful snows this Christmas.

My own personal thanks to Margaret Roos, horse trainer and excellent visual artist, for saving my address book from an autobahn stop near her home.

35 years after my high school German class I got my first taste of Germany…and I must say they make the best Texas Chili I've tasted! These people collect every intricacy of our music history, so we won't have to worry about our Hillbilly Heritage ever disappearing. Peter Wroblewski and "The Country Friends of Kotz" are so hip to American Country Music…and Friedrich Hog collects photos and helps publish stories.

As I strolled the plazas and booths of Gunzberg, filled with Duetsch history & culture, it felt so rich breathing sights and sounds of people touching people and exchanging tastes in this marketplace…as they have for hundreds of years.

Gasthaus Schlussel im Beckenried is the perfect acoustic setting for a mini-concert. All wood interior, spacious dance area, and gracious hosts Daniel und Gabi…complete with a little "fly" painted on the men's urinal for target practice! Thank you everyone for attending "Family Country Day"…it's so nice to play music to the whole family drinking, dancing, & telling stories. Marcel und Marianna Zuber were so instrumental in organizing this show…as well as the "Swiss Pow Wow" of 1998. Marcel has privately divulged to me the secret as to why Europeans refuse ice in Coca Cola…ask him!

…And now I must take a moment to nominate our hostess at Beckenreid, Ruth as the perfect picture of "Most Merry Swiss Miss" of the entire tour! She has a robust personality as well as wit and smile to match.

Everywhere we performed our trek took us past Lake Luzerne…I got all the sailor's reports and caught a lust for the water, but rarely observed any wind this time of year. If I had only known there was a Swiss Navy about, it could have changed the whole course of "Bob & Brent Sail to Switzerland."

A favorite perch overlooking Lake Luzerne is from my room at Hotel Albana and the Jazz Bar in Weggis. Daniel Trachsel along with Peter & Mrs. Wolfe always roll out the red carpet for us…the finest accommodations and cuisine in the world. Last time we visited the hotel Brent kept smiling real big because he thought I was taking photos of him dining while overlooking the lake, but I was actually taking pictures of the food on our plates…it seemed so scrumptously exotic words would do no justice…so enough said!

My last European night "Brent and Bob" were honored to play for the Country Music Club of Switzerland at the Borse Restaurant in Zurich. Maya Hagenbucher had made arrangements for us at the Atlantis Sheraton Hotel and personally drove us downtown to the concert hall. The first display I saw entering the Borse was a photo-collage of musicial artists including Bill Monroe and recent acquaintance John McEuen and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band from 20 years ago. I knew this room had a history of good times!

The 24 hour trip from my hotel room in Zurich to my bedroom on Marco was a blurr…and here I am on an 8 hour sail with a cargo full of beautiful memories.

I never got to visit the Swiss Navy.

Still, my heart sings with wonderful visions I share with friends and spirits from all over this marvelous Planet Ocean!

James Billie is a wonderfully dynamic force on the planet today, and I'm so honored whenever he calls me to make music with him. Check out the cool Indian Web Ring at Official Homepage of Chief Jim Billie. Che hun ta mo, James!

This will be my 3rd trip to Switzerland...Brent Moyer and JRobert have gotten to be regular "Country Stars" to the people of this beautiful country.

Jens Lubben of Pelican Tours in Brunnen, Sz is responsible for most of the travel arrangements. I call him our "roadie", but he's probably one of the most sophisticated international tour planners in the world!

One of my favorite places to visit is the tiny village of Illgau, located overlooking the world famous Moutotaul Valley. Every visiting American should have the opportunity to stay a week with Otmar and Monica at Sigristenhaus House of Hospitality, in Illgau. You drive up a narrow little road north of Swiez, through a mountain tunnel and Presto! ...you feel like you're in the land of "Munchkins"! Romantic foot-trails with markers to direct you from valleys to glaciers...I've worn a lot of leather off my shoes and shot tons of film on this place. I dare you to ask me to show you my photo album!

You can find Brent Moyer on his Brambus Records page. Every night we'll be playing at different locations in Switzerlnd...so check out my Current Calendar for details.

We landed at Tallahassee airport 30 minutes after an easy Big Cypress takeoff… the eastern skies looked tumultuous as the onset of Hurricane Floyd was announced. In spite of periodical weather updates, we still didn't know whether we would be safe to fly back that evening.

A crowd began to shuffle into Border's Bookstore about the same time we were tuning up.

James always has a way of giving a dramatic twist to a story to suit the situation…

"We Seminoles are people of the Earth, but in our oral traditions we don't have flutes in our music. We believe that the flute produces a 'little wind' which when let loose in the universe will cry out for its Mother…well, nobody wants to invite a hurricane home!"

"Traditionally each of the seven Clans had certain powers that dealt with the different elements of the Earth. When it came to problems with the wind, it was our Bird Clan's responsibility to send their Medicine Man to council the one's in need. When Hurricane Andrew was threatening our Miccosukee neighbors, we sent Bobby down to handle it."

"Bobby practices the Ancient Arts and at the prescribed moment he's supposed to take a sharp object such as a stick or stone, or in these modern times, a machete, and stab it into the ground. In this way, we must split the wind with the mind of our people!"

After I heard that and the pilot set course for home, nothing could stop me! When we landed back at "Big Cypress International", Hurricane Floyd was ominously beating the hell out of the Bahamas and threatening Miami-Ft Lauderdale with potentially the biggest blow of the century. Tracking positions predicted a possible sweep to Marco Island.

So I raced to back to Smokehouse Bay, hurriedly set four anchors out off "Blue Water", took down the Bimini and secured all lines, stocked up on batteries, water, candles, fuel, and beverages. …Meanwhile, the whole time I was sharpening my machete, my mind kept contemplating what the Chief had said as I wondered aloud… "Hmm…out here on this boat, exactly where am I going to stick this thing?"

It's a unique show I always enjoy, especially the final night's "Gong Show"...this is the scene in which all the regular folks who sell Black & Deckers and roofing nails as their day job get to entertain with songs, jokes, and rascality. That's where I fit in...I call it "human karoke!" Eventually they auction off tons of hardware, tools, & displays brought to the convention by dealers. All proceeds benefit the St Pete All Childrens Hospital. Ten years ago we gathered only a couple thousand dollars. We've grown to raise over $50,000 a year the last few shows! I happen to know personally how much these funds are appreciated by the Childrens Hospital...& it's certainly one of the craziest final nights I've ever seen to wrap up a trade show!

"Yeh, if you don't mind pointing into a 21 knot wind at 43,000 ft. That really bites into our fuel when we're trying to maintain 800 knots."

I love it! …because this craft has no less than 3 GPS systems…one just to reference the two 27" tv monitors in the passenger lounge that scroll among four screens beginning with "Seminole Tribe of Florida" corporate emblem, switching to "Elevation- 43, 690 Waypoint Destination-431 miles ETA-30 minutes"…Then, "You are here!" …and a huge N. American Continental map folds out with a fat arrow just about to 'pop' the Florida peninsula right at the mouth of Tampa Bay.

Finally, my favorite screen appears. Topographical details balloon up, clear as a crystal ball…mainly green colored Florida flat lands with blue squiggles & puddles representing water bodies. I swear I could point out the exact location of Grandaddy Dooley's ferryboat landing at the mouth of Wild Cat Creek on the Little Manatee River!

By the time I scrambled back to my passenger window to check the accuracy of the ship's navigational indicators, we were sailing over the Skyway Bridge looking down on freightors & tankers lumbering under wing. The white wakes of powerboats zipping around the coast appeared as microscopic photos from an electron accelerator…or maybe sperm zipping around the evidence of the Florida peninsula.

I'm fiddling away at exactly 2 1/2 hours from Window Rock, Arizona where we'll be landing at 5, 679 ft Elevation.

"How many songs does it take to sing our way across Texas?" I wonder aloud…but there were so few, nobody kept count.

The chart on the bulkhead was starting to light up with shades of yellow, orange, red, and jigsaw shapes of terrain that definitely indicated we were a world away from Sanibel Flats!

When we landed, we were greeted by the Navajo Chief Speaker Kelsey Begaye and shuttled another hour drive from Window Rock high up into Juniper and Ponderosa country. Our escort, a young Navajo computer student from Dine' College, was giving us the scoop on Navaholand people, politics and gossip…

"Legend says that the huge redrock formation with a picturesque 'window' was created when a huge snake crawled through the rock."

"Our Chief sings and plays guitar too!" He said proudly, "But his gospel and country songs are only heard around his home fires."

Soon the sign "Welcome to Tsaile, NM Population 1,043" appeared. It's pronounced "Sail-ee", by the way, just like the Christopher Cross song…and my mind began to sing…

An audience of Navaho, Pueblo, Hopi, and perhaps a few Arapaho, Commanches, and Zuni were gathered outside the Arts Administration Kiva. Silversmiths, blanket weavers, and kachina doll makers were displaying their crafts. Buffy Saint Marie was the headliner…John McEuen was accompanying Chief Jim Billie… other acts included Red Earth, John Trudell, and Shouting Mountain along with singers, dancers, and storytellers from many Native Nations around the N American continent.

While I was warming my fiddle in the silence of the main Kiva…reverberating my strings with the ancient feelings inside this earth church, I was joined in chorus by a young guitarist echoing in the doorway. Soon he was singing a beautiful lyric of his wife and family. Our music was immediately sympathetic, and he invited me to perform a couple tunes on the mainstage. I accepted, and soon Derek Miller, the "Lou Reed of Native Music" was electrifying the people with his modal guitar, compelling verse, and a few complimentary brush strokes from my fiddle. Look out for this young voice to move mountains!

James Billie touched the crowd with stories of his people, land, and critters. Tribute was made to all the Native Americans who served for the United States Armed Forces in Viet Nam…including a Navajo rancher who pinned James with his own Navaho Nation Veteran's Medal.

The timing was perfect when James pointed to an ominous looking black Mesa in the distance & announced we were being invaded by a new "Encounters"…as the "Seminole Air Patrol" Gulfstream III jet circled the horseshoe valley and swooped over the crowd like a screaming eagle! We whipped into "Old Ways Will Survive" and bowed off stage to a tremendous climax of Indian enthusiasm.

We flew to Phoenix to drop John McEuen off with his sundry banjos, fiddles, & sequined River Boat suit…and landed back in the wet jungles of Big Cypress in a matter of hours.

The next morning I was back on "Blue Water" and cruising off Big Marco Pass thinking, "Man, to cruise from 8 knots to 800 knots in one simple leap of imagination…is flying anything like sailing, or is sailing like flying?"

We packed up Captain Jackson, Captain Morgan, & caught an easy north-western down to Cayo Heuso...with musical instruments in hand jammed with everyone I knew from "Hog's Breath" to "Green Parrott" and back again!

While we partied, "Bluewater" was anchored out off East Fleming Key and I returned to get a fiddle string just in time for the wind to shift from the east dramatically. As we pulled up underneath Fleming Key bridge, my eye could just catch "Bluewater" running adrift directly toward the Naval Reservation Grounds. I could just imagine the M.P.s arresting me for invading government soil...but I managed to re-anchor before the bars closed!

What an adventure! Here's a perfect Key West sunset from anchorage.

"My grandfater was a master boat builder in de islands…and when he died his tools went to me fater. But times had changed and no one bought de wooden boats no more, so my fater, he went to work on de docks…"

"My fater had friends in de panyard, and dat's where I got me first set of steel drums…I built dem myself, all de time watching de hammers…dey been doin it for sometime now."

"It was quiet back den…none of dis rock'n'roll stuff! Just preddy liddle island tunes t' play and preddy liddle island girls t' lub…"

"…And when we'd set sail, it's eider nort or sout to de next islands. And all de time we feel de breeze, and watch de sun by day and stars by night to show us de way…"

"Mr. J, I know you just picken up sailin'…but don't you be scared a nuttin but de big blow! Den make for de harbor or de Mangroves & stay put! Stay put good!"

"Udderwise, it's easy! When you run aground, den you wait for the tide and kedge off… you feel de breeze & set de sail til you get it right. We make all de mistakes in de world til we get it right…den when we've learned all our lessons and passed all de tests, we graduate! We graduate as Captains ober into God's hands…'cause He's always de Captain!"

"Ya know Mr. J… when we all line up outside de Pearly Gates, Mr. St Peter will be waitin for us all to be gaddered… Den, he's gonna inbite all de singers, dancers, pan players ob all de Ages to step forward and sweep on through de gates, 'cause de Good Lord wants plenty of music jammin to pass tru eternity wid. Der's gonna be all de colors ob de rainbow! …yellow, red, black, & white…and all de sounds under Heaben! …drums and horns, harps and pans… and den,

"…And den Ol Mr. Saint Peter's gonna tunder real loud ober all de crowd what's left standin der waitin, 'Now, the rest ob you folks… prepare to be Judged!"

Amen.