I am a songwriter and singer, guitarist, accordionist, and mountain dulcimist. I have experience of over twenty-five years of performance in mainstream venues including coffee houses, festivals and fairs, bars, restaurants, and concert theaters. I play solo engagements, have had bands, and have played as side accordionist in the bands of other musicians. I have appeared on television (the Mr. Peppermint Show; I appeared in multiple editions that were syndicated world-wide and showed for years) and domestic and international radio.
For a musical biography (including my musical dark ages, for inquiring minds) and links to some places I've played, visit
my back pages.
Enjoy this look at "Gather 'Round Children: America's Folk Song Heritage" when I performed in downtown Dallas. The video is by Tom Peal.
Take a peak at The Hi-Lifers: Romantic Retro Lounge in a video made by friend Allen Hare of a recent appearance at the Sons of Hermann Hall. Although The Hi-Lifers are featured at the end of the video, I like the way it portrays a whole experience of walking in on a SOHH event - all the people and noise and community - and, in a way, captures what I want my music to be all about.
My song writing:
My songs take their place among the most interesting and insightful being sung today in American folk music. Though I am influenced by traditional music (and in the case of my children's show, am a dedicated researcher) I am an artist of my time and place in grassroots Texas and American music.
Songwriters famed and obscure are singing the times all around and
it's thrilling to be part of this movement.
Whether we live in the city, the country or in a small town, we all have close ties to our physical environment. Through song we share the existential: personal experience resonating within the impersonal world. Absurdities
of our country's culture and politics, truths of human experience, observations
philosophical and physical provide our material. Songs may
be emotional or detached, grave or comical. They are called Americana, Texana, Acoustic Alternative, New
Folk, Urban Folk. To my knowledge no one has yet defined this musical movement.
We are not divided by language, discipline, or style because our songs
come into the world like newborn babies and have a right to be here.
Photos by Tom Peal, Alan Litt and others. "On a Limb" (c) Lisa Markley, performed by The Malvinas. Lisa Markley on MySpace. The Malvinas on MySpace. Used by permission. My music moved with me from Austin to Dallas in 2003: new marriage, new friends, old friends, old home town. My five years in Austin had taught me about artist community pride and reckless joy in performance, along with a heightened musicianship. Dallas (my friends and their music) welcomed me home. JMP
"Wishing Well" (c)Kevin Sullivan, The Hammerknockers. Used by permission. Photos by Tom Peal. This slideshow covers fall 2006 to fall 2007. Thank you to all my friends and family who make my life so rich and keep me singing.
Here are links to some other songwriters whose works share the common
spring:
