Recent Blog Posts
Here's some stuff I've been thinking about lately...
“Pilgrim Man” Music Video Premiere
For best results, hit PLAY and then pause it, letting the whole video load before starting to watch. You can also watch at different levels of quality, too, if you’d like.
So…what do you think? Please drop me a note in the comments section below, and please share this video with anyone you think could stand a giant dose of hope.
Many thanks to the amazing JR Davis for creating this video. Need video work done? Please contact him via his website or via email.
Additional thanks to Craig Purcell, Suki Neblett, Jesse Walker, and Debra McCowan! And Julie Branhan and Soul Choir (www.soulchoir.com) including, Judith Baker, Tina Caveness, Jennifer Dixon, Tara Oliver, Madonna Williams, Justine Yates. Additionally, Stan Stacey and David Perry. And the awesome Craig Nunn, who makes a brief cameo appearance in one of the shots! And the park ranger lady who tried to shut us down and only made us more passionate about the whole thing.
“Pilgrim Man” track produced by Christopher Davis (www.christopherdavismusic.com) and mixed by Timothy Brown. Music & lyrics by Mark Smeby. Band/Choir charts and soloist accompaniment tracks are available! Just send me an email. Radio servicing being handled by Wendell Gafford of Creative Promotions.
In Defense of Baseball
I’m a huge baseball fan. But don’t ask me to join your fantasy baseball league. Heck, don’t even bother asking me stats or which player transferred to which new team. Those are irrelevant details—because my love is truly for the game itself.
This is opening week, a return to the grand, grass-filled sanctuaries filled with hot dog eating fans, and constant coverage on ESPN and the MLB Network. Life feels more like it’s supposed to feel when baseball is in season.
Still, whenever I express my love for the game, I’m prepared to hear people say things like, “Man, baseball is so boring,” or…nope, that’s it—that what everyone who isn’t a baseball fan says.
But Opening Day signifies a kind of new life, a fresh start, a rebirth of the old teams, a blank slate of possibility. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve said about my favorite team at the end of the season, “Maybe next year.” Well, next year is here. And there’s always a chance that something new and exciting will happen. Last year’s slump will become this year’s triumph. Last year’s basement dweller may just become a wild-card contender.
But baseball to me is more than just who wins and loses.
Easter Radio Special – Worship Music
“Just when it looks like the story is over, and the hero is done, the plotline takes a beautiful, redemptive twist. What we think is the end, is actually the most important part of story.”
Since this is Holy Week, I thought you might enjoy listening to some great worship tunes, specifically around the theme of Easter. I’m grateful to have worked briefly with Don Bittner on his syndicated radio show, “The Heart of Worship.” This particular week, he had laryngitis and asked me to fill in. What an honor! So he sent me the script and I recorded it here in my house, and then voilà! A two hour radio show! I hope you enjoy listening – there are some great songs in here. Don is now working on a great new radio show called “Keep The Faith” – you can check that out by clicking here!
Segment 1 – (17:46)
News Briefs
Details of the latest and greatest
Midwest Jaunt in May
I love going to the Midwest…especially because it usually involves seeing great friends, family, and of course…baseball! I’m hoping to make three MLB games this trip – Chicago Cubs (my 2nd trip to Wrigley), the Twins (with my family!), and a new, unexpected, first time trip to catch the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Along the way, I’ll be visiting a few radio stations to talk about my brand new single “Pilgrim Man” and somehow convince them that their ratings will increase if they play it. And their children will be better behaved and get scholarships to good schools.
I’m especially thrilled about a few concert opportunities to share my songs & stories with people along the way. Something happens when we come together and take a few moments to be authentic and vulnerable. Hope takes root, and people are encouraged. For that, I’m continually amazed and honored.
Hope to see you sometime along the way…
Don’t forget my new music video…and the opportunity to get a free download of the song here.
Christmas Tour Huge Success
Thank you so much to everybody who came out during the month of December to my HOPE of CHRISTMAS tour. What a blast! Over the course of the month, I drove 4800 miles and sang more than I ever have. I’m thankful to God for answering all your prayers for my safety and physical well-being. It was fun to get back to places where I’ve been before, and hear people singing along with some of my tunes (amazing!). I enjoyed going into new places like the PS Collective in Omaha where people had pizza and drinks during my show. I loved getting back to Tiburon, Inc. in Omaha, and speaking to them about how to survive the holidays. The concert in prison (with pre-concert pizza feast) was out of this world. Loved doing a house concert at the Anderson’s on my birthday, followed by a huge buffet of sweets. I did enjoy going for a run in Port St. Lucie, FL, until I got lost…and ended up going 11 miles. I also loved a couple free days I built into the schedule to hang out at the beach in South Florida. I loved getting to spend awesome time with my wonderful family, and see old friends all along the way. I’m a deeply blessed man.
Check out my Christmas Tour Journal, including a music video I made on the road…HERE!
So, what’s next? Let’s figure it out together! Let me know if you’d like to talk about doing a concert somewhere near you.
“You Are” Officially A Hit!
Thank you to all the radio stations & listeners who took a chance on my music and played “You Are” from my Christmas CD! I always have said that chart position doesn’t matter, but when the tune hit #8 on the national radio chart (CMW Inspirational), I couldn’t help but feel encouraged and thrilled that people were getting to hear this song. It was a great Christmas gift. You can listen to the song, and the rest of the album, HERE.
I wrote this song to be an exciting description of who Jesus is…Light to the world, Love to a heart, and Hope for today. Thanks to Tim Brown my co-writer and amazing producer, and to Wendell Gafford who has worked tirelessly to tell radio stations around the country about my music.
