Mark Twain: Words & Music - The Release

Everything happened so fast, it was almost blurry.  Think of it.  Carl Jackson and I first spoke in 2007 about doing this project.  (And remember, this was after having not seen or spoken to each other since the early 1970s.)  After our reunion phone call when he agreed this all sounded like a splendid idea, we kept in touch by phone and email, and then I stopped in Nashville and had dinner with him on my way to Florida in December of, let's see... 2009?  Must've been.  Well, the hours we have logged on our iPhones, the emails that've flown across the World Wide Web, the hundreds of songs and words considered, the devilish details, the serendipitous surprises... it has all culminated in the actual release of Mark Twain: Words & Music.

We had a release party.  That is to say, Carl and Val Storey came to Hannibal to be on hand when the first CDs were sold at the stroke of midnight (Tom and Huck's famous hour), so we led up to the appointed time with a first rate party followed by Carl and Val singing songs from the CD.  You're familiar with the line-up: Jimmy Buffett as Huck Finn, Garrison Keillor as the narrator, Clint Eastwood as Sam Clemens, & Angela Lovell as Susy Clemens.  Then there are the singers... Emmylou Harris, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent, Bradley Walker, Carl Jackson, The Church Sisters, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Marty Raybon, Val Storey, Vince Gill, Joe Diffie, and Ricky Skaggs.  The CD is released on the Mailboat Records label.  It is produced, of course, by the one and only Carl Jackson.

Now, let's go to the party...

The Museum Gallery was decorated "just so"
In hopes that all of our best friends would show

Megan and Beau brought wine from the Cave
I sampled them all, now which is my fave?

Chocolaterie Stam donated mouthwatering chocolate
I'll have to confess to stashing some in my pocket

The downstairs was ready for what would come later
Upstairs there was food that LulaBelle's catered

The Rockwell Gallery was full of folks
Sharing good time, laughter, and lots of good jokes

With LulaBelle's catering, the food was superb
Most everyone made it, but we sure missed you, Herb!

Journalism students and prof spoke with Michael
Their blog is the best, glad we got into their cycle

Danny and Emily co-wrote "Huck Finn Blues"
Brad Paisley recorded, now THAT is good news!

There's Micki and Michael and Carl and Ryan
I can't remember all names - I swear I am tryin'!

Val and Nancy catching up with a chat
Mixing and mingling, you just can't beat that!

Gregg and Vikki check out the exhibit
That describes the CD and tells how we did it

Everyone's laughing and giggling and grinning
I guess you could say we were all just "Huck Finning"

While the party continued the stars sneaked downstairs
To warm up their voices for a few empty chairs

We've heard of air guitar, but never wine
Henry's tuned and he's ready to have a great time

Finally it's time for music and more
Of our beloved Sam Clemens, there's so much in store

Kristy is mesmerized, Dena is smiling
This musical evening is truly beguiling

The fans were nestled all snug in their seats
While Carl and Val did not miss a beat

Carl played lead, he and Val took turns singing
That sweet Martin guitar, like a bell it was ringing

After the show folks waited in line
To buy their CDs, then have Val and Carl sign

Okay, so the captions aren't award-winners, but you get the idea.  I mainly wanted to share pictures for those who couldn't be here.  Now, aren't you sorry you didn't come?  A highlight of the evening came when Carl got ready to sing "Indian Crow," a song he co-wrote with Jerry Salley.  The song calls for a respectable dobro, and boy, did we get lucky.  Rusty Young (of Poco fame) and his lovely wife, Mary, had come to the party, and with no warning, planning, or rehearsing, Carl called upon Randy to come up and help play the song.  Breathtaking.  (Rusty, we gotta book you for Music Under the Stars somehow!)

We really did have an amazing time, and now the fun will be watching how it sells and hearing how folks like it.  We've already had many letters, emails, and phone calls with lots of folks re-ordering after they've played theirs.  Looks like Santa Claus might need to stock up.  Remember, this is a benefit for the Museum, and the artists donated their time and talent to this project to help our cause - caring for 9 historic properties.  Please help us get the word out.  The Associated Press ran a great article yesterday that seems to have generated a lot of interest.  I peeked at the Amazon rankings earlier this evening, and the CD was ranked #46 in Country Music and #2 in Bluegrass.  Kind of amazing considering we've done no advertising.  But then, the whole thing's been kind of amazing.

Thank you to all who believed in this project.

Mark Twain: Words & Music CD Release

Just when I think my week can't get any better (I "work" at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, after all), a small package arrives that sends everyone into a tizzy.  The small package that arrived this past Tuesday contained a precious handful of our new CDs - Mark Twain: Words & Music.  Now, this has been a work in progress since the idea began in 2005, so to hold an actual CD in my hand after all this time - well, let's just say I'm not over it yet.

Our first peek at the finished product!

What is this CD project, and why all the fuss?  The quick answer is: This double-CD with a 40-page booklet of liner notes tells Mark Twain's life in spoken word in song.  The glitzy answer is: This CD features Jimmy Buffett (as Huck Finn), Garrison Keillor (as narrator), Clint Eastwood (as Mark Twain), Angela Lovell (yes, MY Angela Lovell as Susy Clemens) and songs by: Emmylou Harris, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent, Bradley Walker, Carl Jackson, The Church Sisters, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Marty Raybon, Val Storey, Vince Gill, Joe Diffie, and Ricky Skaggs.  The most important answer is: This CD is a labor of love that will generate much needed revenue for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum.

A double-CD with a 40-page booklet of liner notes

Back in 2005 I was trying to come up with a creative project for 2010, also known as "The Year of Mark Twain" because of the confluence of three important anniversaries: the 100th anniversary of his death, the 175th anniversary of his birth, and the 125th anniversary of the American publication of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  For two years my favorite CD had been Livin', Lovin', Losin' - Songs of the Louvin Brothers, which won two Grammys in 2004 and was produced by Carl Jackson, a childhood friend I hadn't seen in more than 30 years.  I met Carl when he played banjo for Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys, a top notch bluegrass band.  Carl was 14, I was 12, and we became friends and pen pals.

Carl Jackson playing banjo with Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys

Carl left Jim & Jesse and played several years with Glen Campbell.  He later toured with Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Vince Gill, and Ricky Skaggs.  Being raised on bluegrass music, I kept up with Carl's music even though we lost touch.  On the Louvin project, which won the Grammy for Best Country Album, Carl had paired the perfect voices to recreate some of the Louvin Brothers' greatest songs.  Adding to the magic of the album was the inclusion of archival audio footage of Ira and Charlie Louvin onstage, talking to the audience, introducing each other, and talking about their songs.  I loved the way the songs blended with the chatter.  The idea for a spoken word/song compilation CD about Mark Twain's life felt like the perfect way to honor Twain's legacy in 2010.

Livin', Lovin', Losin' - Songs of the Louvin Brothers
The CD that started it all... produced by Carl Jackson

Although I hadn't spoken to Carl in more than three decades, I got his number from a mutual friend.  I called, he answered, and six years later, here we are - with real CDs on hand.  I have to say that I was thrilled for two reasons when Carl answered that call: 1) he remembered me; and 2) he said he liked the idea and would do it.  Now, if Carl Jackson is not a household name in your family, it's because Carl does not do any self-promotion.  But he is, without a doubt, the best acoustic producer in Nashville (which also means in the entire country).

I set to work writing the script, listening to songs, and planning the sequence.  Carl also set to work, reviewing everything I sent him, doing a lot of listening on his own, and contacting friends to write songs, play, and sing on the CD.  (And yes, Carl wrote new songs especially for the CD.)  Carl and his friends generously and graciously donated their immense talent to this project.

And speaking of generous folks, a handful of unsung heroes (The Hutchison Brothers: Herb, Bob, and Tom; Keith and Heather Harned; Joan and Bruce Coffey, Cheryl Amman, Mina Brown, Jimmy O'Donnell, the Riedel Foundation, and the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau) stepped up to the plate and wrote checks to cover the costs of making a CD - everything from studio time to legal fees.

Oh, and then there's the lovely Sally Poole and her excellent staff (I'm talking about you, Sheena Kendrick) who took all the words and images we provided and created a work of art in the design of the CD.  Yes, this CD was a team effort - TEAM TWAIN.

And now we are about to unveil this amazing project with a heart full of gratitude and hope...

14 story segments + 13 songs = 1 life story of Mark Twain
(Or, you could rewrite this as 2 CDs + 40 pages of liner notes = 1 unique project)

The CD will be released September 21, 2011.  In fact, we're so excited, we're having a party on the evening of Sept. 20th!  (Tickets are only $25!  Call 573-221-9010, ext. 404 to order yours!)  Carl will be there along with other special guests, and at Tom and Huck's favorite hour - MIDNIGHT! - we'll begin selling the long awaited CDs!  For folks who can't make it to the party, it's easy to pre-order this beautiful, historic project from the Museum's online store.  Priced at only $18.95, your holiday shopping could not be easier this year!  The CD has something for everyone: history, literature, American roots music, some of your favorite stars, and some brand new stars.  And remember, you're not just getting the best road trip CD ever created, you're helping to preserve the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum properties in Hannibal.  Who ever knew that doing a good deed could have such a great payoff?

"Like" the CD on Facebook and tell your friends about it!

P.S. Carl and I dedicated the CD to our parents and to my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Ronald E. Riese.  Mr. Riese introduced me to Mark Twain a long time ago at Newberry Elementary.  It just goes to show you how much impact teachers have on their students.  Thank you, Mr. Riese!  (And thank you, Carl, for making my dream come true!)

Mark Twain's Hannibal: The Clemens Conference

A MAGICAL WEEK

Last week (August 10-14) we launched our first scholarly conference here in Hannibal, the Clemens Conference. As Calvin and Hobbes  might say, the days were just packed. Everything about those days felt magical, starting with the weather. After the three-digit temperature heat wave we'd been experiencing, Mother Nature generously delivered perfect blue skies, cumulus clouds, temps in the low 80s during the day and high 60s at night, and the very breeze immortalized by poets. Luck was upon us, and everything else fell into line.

Henry Sweets offered a tour of Hannibal for early arrivals (and repeated the tour Sunday morning for those who missed the first one). Several carloads of folks took him up on his offer and formed a caravan touring Hannibal's historic and notable sites, such as Riverview Park, Lover's Leap, and Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Shoichi Nasu, Barb Snedecor, and John Pascal read the
tombstone of John Marshall Clemens, Sam's father

More scholars arrived Wednesday evening, as did Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, and Jerry Salley - our very special performers for last week's Music Under the Stars concert. We all met up that evening at the Museum Gallery for a wine reception and tour. Tom and Becky stopped in to perform their engagement scene, and the mood for magic was set.

The conference kicked off officially on Thursday morning. Twain scholars, seasoned and new, presented on a wide range of topics. Conversation was lively, and camaraderie seemed to be the word of the day. Longtime scholars were extremely supportive with those breaking fresh ground on Clemens.

Dr. Martin Zehr presents on Hannibal's influence upon young Sam

At last Dr. Barbara Snedecor, Director of the Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College, delivered her keynote on Livy. Most folks know that Olivia Langdon Clemens never accompanied her famous husband to his hometown on the three trips he made here after they were wed, so in many ways this felt as though Livy had finally made it to Hannibal. Barb's talk focused on a collection of letters written by Livy, offering new insight into this genteel, educated woman whom Sam Clemens adored.

Later in the week, Dr. Barbara Snedecor found work
as a cub pilot on the Mark Twain Riverboat

After a full day of excellent papers topped off with Barb's engaging talk, scholars moseyed downtown to enjoy Music Under the Stars, the Museum's signature summer program held every Thursday night in front of Sam's boyhood home. We enjoyed a rare treat with local singer/songwriter Murray McFarlane and T.C. Pierceall opening for Carl, Jerry, and Larry.  

Murray McFarlane and T.C. Pierceall warm up the crowd

A record crowd packed the mall area in front of the Boyhood Home, and the crowd soon learned this was to be no ordinary evening. After a flawless performance by Murray and T.C., the veteran songwriters took the stage and surprised the audience by playing ONLY their original compositions - many of them Number 1 hits. After a while Carl began talking about our new CD project, Mark Twain: Words & Music, and the audience went wild as the trio played several selections, including "Huck Finn Blues," which Carl co-wrote with conference participants Danny Wilson and Emily Hayes.  (Brad Paisley recorded the song for the CD.) And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, Carl sang "Comet Ride," a song he penned that tells the story of Sam Clemens coming into the world and later going out with Halley's Comet. No one seemed surprised when not one, but TWO, shooting stars fell from the sky behind the stage area, wowing the crowd with their uncanny timing. Yes, it was magical.

Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, and Jerry Salley
"Music Under the Stars" Nashville-style

A happy crowd in front of Sam's home

The trio from Nashville did not take a break and played an extra half hour. The crowd didn't budge and would likely still be there if the music had continued. After these first rate musicians packed up their instruments, they were still in the mood to play. We grabbed folks who were handy and made our way to the auditorium of the Museum Gallery. The jam session lasted until nearly 2:00 a.m. I even recorded Carl, Larry, and Jerry singing "Happy Birthday" for my sister, Becky, who lives in England.  (Thanks, guys!  She loved it!)

Henry Sweets IV, Larry Cordle, and Carl Jackson jamming

The conference continued on Friday with excellent sessions. Henry had planned a trip out to Sam's birthplace in Florida, Missouri that included a special side trip to Quarles Farm, the site where young Sam listened to stories told by Uncle Dan'l, an enslaved man owned by Uncle John Quarles. Like Hannibal, this is hallowed ground to all who love Mark Twain.

We had a faithful and affectionate good friend, ally and adviser in “Uncle Dan’l”, a middle-aged slave whose head was the best one in the negro quarter, whose sympathies were wide and warm and whose heart was honest and simple and knew no guile... I have not seen him for more than half a century and yet spiritually I have had his welcome company a good part of that time and have staged him in books under his own name and as “Jim”, and carted him all around—to Hannibal, down the Mississippi on a raft and even across the Desert of Sahara in a balloon—and he has endured it all with the friendliness and loyalty which were his birthright.

Owner of the site, Karen Hunt (far right) explains the archaeological
dig to Twain scholars. Karen is rebuilding the Quarles' farmhouse. 

Friday also included performances by award-winning author and storyteller Gladys Coggswell and Twain impersonator Jim Waddell. Gladys performed A True Story, Repeated Word for Word as I Heard It, and Jim shared Civil War recollections.

Jerry Salley, Gladys Coggswell, and Carl Jackson
Glady performed as "Aunt Rachel" (Mary Ann Cord)

After a full day of scholarship, everyone was ready for some fun.

By-and-by someone shouted:

"Who's ready for the cave?"

Everybody was.  Bundles of candles were procured, and straightway there was a general scamper up the hill.  The mouth of the cave was up the hillside--an opening shaped like a letter A.  Its massive oaken door stood unbarred.  Within was a small chamber, chilly as an ice-house, and walled by Nature with solid limestone that was dewy with a cold sweat.  It was romantic and mysterious to stand here in the deep gloom and look out upon the green valley shining in the sun.

Everyone was ready for the cave.  Mark Twain Cave owner Linda Coleberd and manager Beau Hicks split the group in two and guided us on a custom-made tour from a Clemens perspective. Pat Ober has been researching Dr. McDowell's story and was elated to find himself in the actual chamber where the good doctor conducted his experiments. (True story: McDowell suspended his deceased 14-year old daughter in an alcohol solution in a copper and glass cylinder in the cave.  Creepy!) Scholars ooohed and aaahed and kept an eye out for young Sam's autograph, which to this day still hasn't been located. Talk about an enchanted evening. Church ain't shucks to a circus, and ballroom dancing ain't shucks to cave exploration.

Does anyone have a piece of kite string?

After the cave most everyone was ready to get some rest, but it turns out Jerry Salley had located some Hank Williams 78s that day and was itching to hear them. After a late night jamming the night before, it seemed fitting to sit up late and play the old classics. A houseful of friends - all we could gather on short notice - made their way up the hill to my place. We cranked the old Victrola and listened to Hank sing "Jambalaya" and other favorites. I pulled out a few of my favorites, too. (Confession: We listened to Gene Autry sing "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and found ourselves in the Christmas spirit.) We were having too much fun to concern ourselves with the lateness of the hour.

Carl, Jerry, Cindy, and Larry

"SATURDAY morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and fresh, and brimming with life.  There was a song in every heart, and if the heart was young the music issued at the lips.  There was cheer in every face and a spring in every step.  The locust-trees were in bloom and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air.  Cardiff Hill, beyond the village and above it, was green with vegetation and it lay just far enough away to seem a Delectable Land, dreamy, reposeful, and inviting."

Saturday was the last official day of the conference, and the beautiful weather stayed with us. Our venue was Hannibal-LaGrange University, and we heard many compliments about the campus as well as the dorms where most folks were staying. Scholars shared more papers, and we heard from Scott Teems and Laura Smith (director and producer) about their new project, a feature length documentary titled, "Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey." Scott and Laura interviewed several Twain scholars during the conference and shot footage of Sam Clemens's Hannibal. We missed Hal, but Scott and Laura did a great job telling us about the progress of the documentary. We also heard from Dr. Robert Hirst, General Editor and Official Curator of the Mark Twain Project and Papers, University of California, Berkeley. Bob shared reminisces of his 44 years at the Project and talked about the upcoming volume 2 of the autobiography.

Dr. Robert Hirst shares his unique perspective and insights

Bob's keynote closed out the conference, but we still had to have our dinner, and where better than aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat on the Mississippi River. Captain Steve Terry indulged the scholars, letting them have a turn at the wheel.

The pilot-house was full of pilots, going down to 'look at the river.'

We cruised upon the muddy brown water, laughing, swapping yarns, Kodak'ing each other, and having a general good time.

Patti Philippon, curator at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut,
contemplates a career on the river.  (Mallory Howard, can you learn Patti the river?)

After a great meal and much too short cruise (was it really two hours?), happy passengers disembarked, some traipsing to Kerley's in the hopes John Bird (a regular there now) would play his mandolin, others sauntering Main Street toward the Boyhood Home for one last glimpse by moonlight. 

The full moon was riding high in the cloudless heavens, now.

Although we had neglected to check the calendar, Luck was still with us and had fetched us a full moon for that lovely ride on the riverboat. And while some folks made their way back to their college dorm rooms for one last night, we are pretty confident that a few others straggled out to the graveyard, possibly with Tom and Huck and a dead cat in tow. (Rumor has it that warts aren't a problem in Hannibal.)

A full moon lit the Mississippi River and Hannibal-town

Two or three minutes later the murdered man, the blanketed corpse, the lidless coffin, and the open grave were under no inspection but the moon's.  The stillness was complete again, too.

Sunday morning brought the sadness of goodbyes with promises of "See you soon!" Scott Teems and Laura Smith stuck around with their crew to get some more footage for their documentary. Pam and Mike Ginsberg (owners of LulaBelle's) volunteered their pontoon boat and took the crew to Jackson's Island and other spots on the river. We can't wait for the film to come out (probably 2013 - let's hope for a screening at the Elmira conference) to see how much Hannibal footage makes it into the final cut.

Scott, Julien, Daniel, and Laura aboard the Ginsbergs' pontoon boat

We look forward to seeing all of the Twain scholars in Elmira in 2013 and back in Hannibal in 2015.  (But we'll certainly welcome you if you can come before that!)

So endeth this chronicle.  It being strictly a history of a conference, it must stop here...

A conference is only as good as its scholarship. We are deeply gratified that so many excellent papers were submitted. Special thanks to these Twain scholars for their fine presentations: Jeffrey Melton, Matthew Vercollone, John Bird, K. Patrick Ober, Martin Zehr, Dustin Zima, Barbara Snedecor, Debra Cochran, Nathaniel Williams, Ashley Ortiz, Ryo Waguri, Tim Jon Semmerling, Jenny A. Bucksbarg, John H. Davis, Debra MacComb, Jarrod Roark, James Wharton Leonard, John R. Pascal, Kotaro Nakagaki, Mark Valentine, and Robert Hirst.

Additional thanks to Kent Rasmussen for letting us read his upcoming book: Dear Mark Twain: Letters from His Readers. We are still laughing.

Thanks for support from: Hannibal-LaGrange University, Linda Coleberd, the Mark Twain Cave, John Ravenscraft, the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Hannibal Arts Council, and Karen Hunt.

Final thanks to the behind-the-scenes folks who made this happen: Henry H. Sweets III, Ryan Murray, Mai Conrad, Dena Ellis, Nathan Hammock (at HLGU), Emily Hayes, and Danny Wilson.

Andy Borowitz (hearts) Mark Twain!

Like everyone else, I don't have time to visit everyone's Facebook page to see what they're up to, so I peruse the News Feed and click the "Like" button every so often.  And then there are times when I read something that makes me sit up and take notice.  On Saturday afternoon, I noticed that one of my favorite writers and tweeters, Andy Borowitz, had created a Facebook page for his new book, The 50 Funniest American Writers, published by Library of America.

I checked it out and noticed that Mark Twain is listed.  (Of course, he's listed, but still...!)  The first thing I did was comment, suggesting Andy visit the Mark Twain Museum and do a book signing.  Well, the planets must be lining up, or maybe there's a comet running interference, but the big news is: Andy's coming to Hannibal!  Now, before you reach for your credit card and book a flight to St. Louis, let me just say that it won't be until spring, and we haven't set a date yet.  The book is scheduled to be released Oct. 13, 2011, and Andy will likely be a very busy guy touring and signing.  He's offered to speak at the Museum and do a book signing, and as we arrange the details we'll be getting the word out.

Andy has been a favorite of mine for many years.  His "Shouts and Murmurs" essays in The New Yorker always make me laugh out loud, even on the second and third reading.  And the Borowitz Report would no doubt tickle Twain.  We're eager for the new book, which will include several of my favorite funny guys and gals, such as David Sedaris, Dorothy Parker, and The Onion.  If you like absurdity and satire, this has you covered.  When I share Twain's "How I Edited an Agricultural Paper Once" with teachers during our teacher workshops, this is our emphasis.  I read it out loud and always have to wait for their laughter to subside to continue.  (I keep wondering which of Twain's work Andy included in the book...) 

Andy Borowitz's sublime march towards the ridiculous ensures him a long line of followers, myself included.  I can't wait to work out the details and bring him to Hannibal.  It makes me giggle just to think about it!

UPDATE: The performance is scheduled for April 3, 2012.  Tickets are $65.  Click here for details.
Don't know Andy?  Check out this CBS Sunday Morning story.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Curious about who made the list?  Check out this USA TODAY article that includes "the list."  (Yes, O. Henry's there!)

AND YET ANOTHER UPDATE: The book is now on the New York Times Bestseller List, and NPR has aired a great interview with Andy.  (And yes, they talk about Twain!)

If Andy Borowitz says they're funny, they're funny!
Will be available in the Mark Twain Museum Gift Shop
October 13, 2011. Reserve a copy today!

Jimmy Buffett (aka: Huck Finn)

Every day something "blog-worthy" happens at the Museum, but these days we've all been so busy it's nearly impossible to find five minutes to write about it.  I'm going to make an exception today.  If you've been following Museum activities on Facebook or Twitter, you know we've been incredibly busy with getting ready for our CD release of Mark Twain: Words & Music.  Well, back on May 3rd I went to St. Louis to see Jimmy Buffett in concert and to give him a copy of the CD masters so he could hear the completed project in its entirety.  Jimmy told me he was heading to Jazz Fest in New Orleans and would be meeting the legendary Bob Edwards for an interview, and he promised to plug the CD.  Jimmy kept that promise, and the interview recently aired on Bob's Sirius XM show.  Yesterday we got to hear the podcast, and what a thrill!  In this one-hour interview Jimmy covered a lot of ground, talking about his early days in the business and some of his current projects, including our CD.  The show includes clips from the CD featuring Jimmy as Huck Finn and a sampling of "Huck Finn Blues" sung by Brad Paisley.  If you're a Buffett fan or a Twain fan, you've got to listen to this.  Jimmy's enthusiasm for the project shines through.  I swear you can "hear" him smiling during the interview when he starts "talking Twain."

When my kids were growing up, they knew two facts about their mother: I loved Mark Twain, and I loved Jimmy Buffett.  When they were little, they could sing any number of Jimmy Buffett songs, and now that they're adults, Buffett's music is always on their playlist, and Twain is one of their favorite authors.  (On that alone I can defend my claim of being a "good mom.")  They remember hearing me say, "If I ever meet Jimmy Buffett, we're going to talk Twain."  I said this, of course, because Jimmy is a sincere fan of Mr. Clemens's writing.  He's written three songs about Following the Equator (read my Amazon review here) and paraphrased Twain in several other songs.  Besides being a great songwriter, Jimmy is an impressive author as well, and you'll find homages to Twain in his books.  (One of my favorite Buffett characters is Tully Mars, a cowboy with a horse named Mr. Twain.  You can meet him in Jimmy's book, Tales from Margaritaville.)  On April 29, 2010 I did get to meet Jimmy Buffett before his concert in St. Louis that evening.  My son, Adam, was with me, and if you ever get the chance to talk to him, ask him about that meeting.  Jimmy Buffett was warm and gracious, and we did indeed "talk Twain" right up until it was time for him to perform.  And his show that night was full of references about our favorite author.  "Hey, y'all up there sittin' up there on the lawn... you're so far north you're almost in Mark Twain's hometown, Hannibal, Missouri!"  When he got to the final refrain of "Margaritaville," he sang, "Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, but I know that it's Mark Twain's fault."  The St. Louis fans went crazy, for although we in Hannibal claim Sam Clemens for our own, so does everyone who lives within a hundred miles of the river.

Thank you, Jimmy.  Thank you for the years of honoring Mark Twain in your songs, for finding (and sharing) such inspiration in his words, for coming aboard our CD project, and for this great interview on the Bob Edwards Show.  No doubt the old steamboat pilot is smiling down upon all of your antics, probably humming "Barefoot Children in the Rain" or "Fruitcakes" or something...

Listen to Jimmy quote Mark Twain in "That's What Livin' Is To Me" on this CD.

Life After Pepsi

Well, to have a blog implies you have stories and ideas and information to share, and truly I believe that is true.  However, we spent three months in pursuit of a Pepsi grant, and without sounding like sour grapes (we came in fifth), let me just say that I hope I never see another Pepsi logo again for the rest of my life.  But, on the happy side of the story, we were surprised and gratified at the energy and support that came in from Twainiacs everywhere.  So, thank you for voting for those THREE LONG MONTHS, and let's enjoy the coming spring with some other beverage... a Coke, perhaps, or water.  Twain compared classic literature to wine and his work to water, saying "...everyone drinks water."  So, water sounds good, and besides, the wine may have been made from sour grapes... 

In our other voting grant, Tourism Cares, we were successful and won $2,000 towards the continued work on the Becky Thatcher House.  And for all those generous souls out there who'd like to see steady progress on this important project, online donations are gladly accepted!

Please Vote for the Becky Thatcher House!

Please VOTE TODAY and DAILY through Nov. 30 for this Pepsi Refresh Grant!  You can VOTE ONLINE each day and VOTE BY TEXT: Text 104141 to 73774 (Pepsi).

Will you click 30 times and text 30 times to help us earn $250,000?  Please... and thank you!