These songs came together slowly. Some songs were written many years ago but only found their proper place recently. In the end, through no set out plan, this album began to look like ten characters speaking of their own individual concerns. One, about a neighborhood bar room. Another, about a young soldier. Finally, the song Pine River was written and it seemed to tie things together in it's title. So let' say all these characters are all in a place named Pine River.

Creating songs is free. Heck, one could possibly write an entire album in the car while whistling. But the recording  certainly is not free (studio time, musicians, travel, etc). Luckily, a generous grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency helped out with the recording process.

Now that this album is recorded, it needs to get out into the world. And that is why you are here reading this. More funds (as agreed in my grant acceptance) are needed in order to manufacture the physical cd's, generate publicity, and pay some excellent musicians to accompany me at a release party and subsequent gigs.

In the past many folks have simply donated for the sake of helping out. Others wanted to enjoy some sort of memento of the album. Should you choose the latter, based on your contribution, you may receive free tickets to a show, your own framed autographed print of one of my own drawings that were alternate album cover ideas, or you may even be named as executive producer!

Please give what you can, and know that your help and the connections we've made together along the way are deeply appreciated.

- MFA