For Father’s Day–one of my favorite Dan Fogelberg songs. He wrote this for his father, and I read in an interview with him that if he could have only written one song this would have been it.
Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg; performed by Pete Marcantel
Boy from the Country by Michael Martin Murphey
performed by Pete Marcantel
photos by Pete Marcantel
I’ve always really liked this song. I first heard it performed on the banjo by Steve Martin in a small show on a college campus back in the 70’s–this was before he was STEVE MARTIN. Later I heard it on a John Denver album and decided to learn it. I heard somewhere that Murphey’s inspiration for the song was St. Francis of Assisi, but I haven’t been able to verify that. Makes sense, though.
It’s a great song that carries an even more urgent message now than it did forty years ago. Happy Earth Day!
For all my buddies (the ones I know and the ones I don’t know) who play music because they love it.
Some people just drift apart, never knowing when the leaving starts
Until they find they’re powerless to stop the flow
Life’s an adventure. Whatever your ship may be–sail on!
Didn’t want to be the only musician in the world without a cover of this song, so here’s my version. It has some interesting lyrics and it gave me a chance to do some four part harmony with myself.
Words and music by John Denver
This one’s for my wife, Tina, for Valentine’s Day. This song has always held a special significance for us. Thanks, John Denver, for this song and the amazing catalog of music you left for us.
Had a great time on December 19th sharing the stage at the Mind’s Eye Studios Holiday Show with some excellent bands–Phoenix and Dragon, Shifter, Oak and Stone, The Ganderers, and Adavant. I was the acoustic entertainment between the sets. Great crowd that came out to help raise money for some good causes.
Grab an eggnog, pull up a chair to the fireplace, and reminisce about the one that got away. (Just remember that the rosy glow from a fireplace can distort the reality of the way things really were.)
Pete Marcantel–Notes On Life 