OK, Perry has done it. I wanted to send all of you Heartsfield fans a Holiday Greeting and a Special Gift to thank you for the tremendous support of Heartsfield this year, but Herr Perry Jordan said, "NO." He said that I should not send a Howdy. So how would I accomplish my goal? (Ed. note: Hmm, collusion with Webmeisteress??) After all, I am just Perry's partner-in-crime and manager.

That means:

• I get to sometimes carry amps and guitars (but I am as big as a house, so that isn't too hard).
• I get to make thousands of phone calls to venue owners and bookers and fair and festival committees (I talk too much and this gets some of that out of my system).
• I get to remind the guys not to use crude language on stage or outside our rehearsal hall so they do not offend anyone (but I am guilty too, sometimes).
• I remind them to not do anything stupid on stage (but then I get out on the dance floor with unsuspecting fans--now, that is really stupid!! I am such a bad dancer).
• I get to sit in the corner at rehearsal and play my banjo (I try to do so softly so that I don't distract the guys as they are working hard, but mostly so I am not too embarrassed).
• I get to write checks.
• I get to do Perry's tax return.
• I get to (second best part of this whole experience) go to a lot of shows and meet a lot of you fans and hear the fabulous Heartsfield music.
• And, best of all, I have become friends with one of the most talented musicians on the planet but more importantly, one of the most genuine guys I have ever met who has assembled a group of extraordinary band-mates.

Now that I have stroked the boss (so to speak) I have to fill you fans in on a few things. He said I shouldn't send a Heartsfield Howdy because that is his exclusive domain but he gave me an official title: Dick, the Great Exalted Mystic Pooh-Bah. I guess that is GEMP for short. I told him he was full of poop.

His head should be pretty big after the compliments above, so now I am putting on the pressure:

• The new CD will be released in Q1 of 2008 (those of you who were at the Beverly Arts Center last Wednesday heard the first exposure to material from the new CD--it was really good).
• We will play more gigs in 2008 than in 2007 (we played more in 2007 than in 2006 and in more places).
• We will play more private parties and events in 2008 than in 2007 (for those of you who didn't know, Heartsfield performs at a number of private and corporate events each year--and those who've hired us have found that we are quite reasonable for those performances.) Call me and ask about your event (a little commercial there--sorry).
• We will have more fun in 2008 than in 2007 (I'm not sure how to measure this, but we will figure that out).
• We will have even more to be thankful for next year than this (difficult, but attainable).
  

I have to share a few more things with you. Perry has been working really hard on the CD. He has been working his fingers to the bone. He has written a lot of new material, done writer's tapes, played a lot of instruments (including some he doesn't even know how to play), gathered a ton of talented musicians, recorded zillions of tracks, edited, mixed, and even harmonized with himself. It has become overwhelming for him (somehow he thinks the solution is in the book):

Thank you all for a great 2007. Have a fabulous holiday season and a tremendous 2008.

Heartsfield Great Exalted Mystic Pooh-Bah (Heartsfield GEMP)--known by some as Dick

2007 Heartsfield Coupon Good for the purchase of one Heartsfield CD at half price. Fine print: Good only at the Penny Road Pub December 8, 2007 performance. Thanks from Heartsfield for a tremendous 2007!!

© Heartsfield 2007.