Jim and Anne at the Coffee Gallery Backstage – Photo by Valerie Nestrick
We are all sad to witness another “end of an era” after hearing the announcement that the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena, California will be permanently closed. Backstage owner, Bob Stane, made this very difficult decision while recovering from a recent hospitalization.
The 49 seat Coffee Gallery Backstage was truly a unique and very special place for us as performers as well as the audience; more of a listening room than a Coffee shop and owner Bob Stane was more of a friend than a proprietor.
Here is the official creative description of CGB from their website:
The room “location” is a coffee bean warehouse somewhere in Central America. You are comfortably stranded while your cruise ship rides out a storm at the mouth of the river. You, fortunately, are ashore and have stumbled upon this warehouse where a group of musical and witty, mostly American, expatriates are earning their cups of exotic coffee by entertaining with voice, guitar and humor.
There seems to be a never-ending supply of them; it is almost always a different group every week night. The entertainers seem to be overjoyed with this bean storage facility as the audience is starved for “good” music and comedy and no machinery of any kind makes a sound while they are performing. Grinders are not allowed. Each individual bean is crushed, quietly, by hand by underpaid field workers.
Jim and I were regular performers at the Coffee Gallery Backstage, and we appreciated the “no grinder” rule more than anything. We could sing the softest, sweetest John Denver Ballad and never heard a pin drop from the actual coffee shop outside the backstage room.
We called Bob Stane “The Voice of God” as he liked to make announcements through a microphone he kept close at hand from his seat in a darkened corner of the room. Bob ran the lights and sound and occasionally the air conditioner (if we begged him to) and he would gleefully announce to the audience the availability of indoor plumbing and lead everyone in the “seductive dimming of the lights” ceremony at the beginning of each show.
We love you and will miss you Bob! There is not or will ever be anything like the Coffee Gallery Backstage. We continue to wish you a full recovery (nothing else will do….) and lots of joy in your garden for many seasons to come.
We are all familiar with the “April Showers Bring May Flowers” saying. But what do you get with March showers in Southern California? The answer to that is WEEDS….lots of them! We have a big back yard and we mostly grow food in the garden so we don’t use herbicides of any kind. Our cool and rainy winter provided the perfect growing conditions for a bumper crop of weeds.
It wasn’t until now that we’ve had time to focus on the mess in the yard – but I am anxious to begin planting my spring/summer vegetables so I need to make room! Jim is pulling out the big ones and I am getting the little ones…yay teamwork!!
So if you don’t hear from us for a while – you know why! We need to get this done, then get ready for a road-tour by the end of April. Check our website calendar for upcoming dates and locations. https://jimcurrymusic.com/future-concerts
You may recall a photo I posted in December. An incredibly talented wood carver, Jim Miller, came to one of our concerts and surprised us with a carving of Jim and his guitar.
We love this little guy! He sits on a shelf in our living room and makes us smile.
Jim Curry, Jim Miller and “Little Jim”
Flautist Diane Ireland loved the carving too and she took a picture of it. Then she did something unusual – she animated the carving with a downloadable app to make it sing! The photo of the carving was animated by the app and a soundtrack of Jim singing “Country Roads” was added.
This is just for fun and it’s a fascinating thing to see something brought to life this way.…are you amazed at this technology? Or is it just a little frightening?
Just a few days ago (Jan 28) we were performing our John Denver tribute concert with the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra played beautifully and from the first notes of “Rocky Mountain High” to the very last note of “Poems, Prayers and Promises” we were all transported by the lyrics and music of John Denver.
Near the end of the concert, I invited the audience to visit our website to read my monthly blog. I also mentioned that January 28 was the unhappy anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster (which happened in 1986) and that there was a John Denver connection.
Here it is:
John Denver loved being a pilot and he had a strong desire to experience space flight. He helped develop a program where citizens could go on NASA space missions, and was in line to be one of those citizens, having passed all the physical and mental tests required to qualify him for space flight. John hoped to be the FIRST in line, but that was not to be – school teacher Christa McAuliffe was selected instead. McAuliffe was chosen to fly on the Challenger space shuttle, which broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all 7 crew members.
John was inspired to write a song in memory of the Challenger crew called, “Flying for Me.” I included the link below if you would like to listen to the song, including John’s introduction.
Flying for Me
Trivia Alert! There is also a rumor that the instrumental ending of the song is the exact same time as the total flight time of the Challenger mission. I couldn’t find any official statement about that so I timed it….. 73 seconds.
December 31 is John Denver’s Birthday! He was born in 1943 so today he would have been 79 years old! Here is a video of John at 51. This is one of the best videos made of John at an “older” age (the Wildlife Concert- 2 years before he died) When you watch it, imagine what he would have looked like and sounded like 28 years older!
I know he would still be perfect! To me, John’s voice improved with age, his breath control seemed effortless and his tone mellowed. John shines with confidence and is obviously very comfortable performing for a live audience – something learned from years of experience.
Happy Birthday John Denver! May your legacy live on and on.
Watch John Denver, 51 years old sing “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
Jim Burton is playing the dobro, Alan Deremo is playing bass. Pat Hawk (Alan’s wife) is singing harmony, Pete Huttlinger on banjo, Chris Nole on piano and Machito Sanchez on drums.
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This October 12th marked a very special commemoration for fans of John Denver all over the world. It’s been 25 years since the terrible accident that claimed John Denver’s life in 1997. Throughout the month, there have been special gatherings, concerts, radio shows and podcasts, etc. John’s legacy continues after all this time.
Memorializing John and his music is one thing that Jim and I set out to do when we decided to perform John Denver tribute concerts and in doing so we’ve been greatly rewarded by the support we’ve gotten. The music of John Denver continues to bring people together and it uplifts them in remarkable ways.
At this special time, we recognize and celebrate John Denver for bringing us all together, and we thank each one of you who have made our journey part of yours. Earlier this month, we received this letter, which is a great example of the connection we feel sharing the love of John Denver with others.
Dear Jim and Anne, I don’t know if you remember my dad…. He was a huge John Denver fan, as well as a huge Jim Curry and company fan after your band started. Dad’s health declined, and he could no longer attend your concerts, yet he continued to follow your music and newsletter every month. I wanted you to know that my dad passed away, and we scattered his ashes back home as he had wished. He was a country boy at heart, and we played John Denver songs as we celebrated his life. Thank you for filling a void in my dad’s life with the beauty of your music. He loved your music, and turned me into a huge fan as well. He will be missed.
Do you have a memory of John Denver to share, or a comment about his legacy? Feel free to post it here.
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We’ve all heard of destination weddings (a wedding that is held in an area that everyone travels to). It’s usually an exotic or fun location or something that suits the personalities of the bride and groom.
Well, what about destination concerts? I’ve been thinking all month that most of our concerts are held in very beautiful locations or places worth seeing! For those of you that can travel or can spare a little extra time out on the road, it might be a great idea to use our concerts as an excuse to get out and explore! Some of our friends already do this – they show up and surprise us in random places. Sometimes all you need is that extra little push or reason to go someplace new…..and what better than knowing you will also be hearing your favorite music! (You might even be blasting it in the car all the way there and back….you know who you are!)
This was a GREAT Destination Concert at the Silverton in Las Vegas many years ago!
These past couple of month, we have played concerts in major tourist areas: Lake Tahoe, NV, Rapid City, SD, Des Moines, IA, Townsend, TN and Berlin, OH. Even the smaller concert locations (Oakley, KS and Coggon, IA) have beautiful landscapes, wonderful people and provide a nice break from the same ol’ same-o!
Every place we visit is unique and has its own reason to be special. We have some very exciting places to visit next month too! So check out the shows below and consider joining us at a destination concert!
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I took the opportunity to fly home during a break in our schedule. I was flying solo – something I’ve only done twice in my lifetime, but I’ve flown numerous times with friends, bandmates and family, no big deal, I know the ropes.
When we booked my flight, Jim and I took the opportunity to upgrade to the aisle seat in the emergency exit row. Those seats cost more but Jim thought I would enjoy the extra leg room (lol, totally wasted on me and my short little legs!) I should note that the airline I was flying on charges extra for everything. I think they even installed pay toilets on the plane (not sure though, short flight).
As we were all being seated, I heard at least one gentleman look at the two empty seats beside me and tell the flight attendant that he would be happy to sit in the emergency exit row if needed – the attendant quickly told him that the plane was full and directed him to his seat.
As I waited for the rest of the passengers to board, I read the pamphlet to re-familiarize myself with how to remove the door to the plane. The door weighed 30 pounds – no problem – my guitar and case weighs 25 pounds, so 30 pounds should be easy peasy for me…but the scenario I have always had in my mind the few times I’ve sat in an emergency exit row was that my job was not to remove the door, my job at the aisle seat was hold back the stampede of terrified passengers while the person sitting next to the door removed the door. You see, the door has to come inside the plane sideways before you throw it out…impossible to do if people are pressed up against it, right?
I waited to see who would be sitting in the seats next to me, who would share in the life and death duty that we promise (audibly) to fulfill and who would share my responsibility of saving the lives of the people on the plane. But the plane was not full. The doors closed and I still had 2 empty seats next to me (and LOTS of legroom) so as the flight attendant went through the pre-flight rules, and told everyone to locate their nearest emergency exit, several people turned around and looked to ME as their savior. I was picturing a whole new scenario now as I imagined myself opening the emergency exit (a two –handed operation by the way) and holding back passengers with my leg extended behind me. Can I lift a 30 pound door standing on one short leg and holding back passengers with my other short leg? (Take a moment to visualize this, it’s worth it). Every scenario I imagined ended up with me smooshed up against the unopened emergency exit door with a pile of passengers pressed up against me.
Seems that if the airlines are going to take this emergency exit thing seriously they would put a minimum of 2 people in each exit row, and give those folks a discount (or maybe a drink coupon – or a toilet pass) to thank them for taking on this vitally important responsibility.
I am happy to report that everyone lived under my watch. The question I have for you: “Is it a good idea for airlines to charge extra for an emergency exit row?” Let me know what you think by writing in the comment box below.
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I often get asked where I would live if I could pick anyplace that I’ve been….
I’ve tried to imagine living somewhere else, but picking a favorite place is like picking a favorite song…. It’s impossible.
It’s much easier to name some of the favorite things I’ve seen on the road, like Niagara Falls, Mt. Rushmore, Grand Canyon, Hubbard Glacier and Quebec City. That list goes on and on and on.
Of course the ‘big’ things are spectacular! But I am also thrilled by things that may seem ho-hum to others. For instance, I remember the first time (14 years ago) driving through Alberta, Canada, and how mesmerized I was by the seemingly endless fields of canola. The vibrant yellow of the canola against the blue sky as far as the eye could see was AH-Mazing!
Fast forward to today, my friend Harvey (who lives in Vulcan, Alberta, Canada) posted a picture on Facebook. He is standing (yes, standing) in a field of canola! I would love to see those canola fields again, but more so I would love to see my friend Harvey and his beautiful wife Shirley.
Suffice it to say, that to me, the treasures we find on this earth are wonderful to behold – but the people we meet along the way are the hidden treasure, just like Harvey hiding in that canola field. If you know me, you are probably not surprised to hear me say this!
I’d like to know of some spectacular thing YOU’VE seen…send me a comment below. You might give me something to look forward to seeing on my future travels!
Here is a letter we recently received from a disappointed concert attendee:
“The popular songs that your group performed were done very well however half of the songs were unknown to most and while I’m sure they were performed well, that is not what I paid to see/hear. I can appreciate that you know so much trivia about John Denver but the show was not advertised as a documentary. We see two or three shows there each summer and drive over an hour to get there. I, as well as the others in my group left the (venue) disappointed for the first time ever.”
I probably don’t have to tell you, THAT kind of letter really grabs our attention! As entertainers, we are essentially people-pleasers, and when we became entertainers we opened ourselves up to praise AND criticism. Praise is easy (we ALL want that!) – but with the praise, sometimes there is criticism – and in these days of social platforms, both are given freely whether asked for or not.
The first thing we do is check back at the set list, There were 4 unknown songs in the entire 2 hour playlist of hit songs.….one because it was specifically written about the very place we were standing. We explained that during the show. We thought it was cool, but apparently the complainer thought of this as part of our “documentary.”
The next thing we do is reply to the complainer. This is hard. We want to defend ourselves, we want to prove them wrong, make them feel bad for criticizing and we want them to understand the agony we go through trying to decide what everyone wants to hear out of a very large repertoire of excellent music. We want to send them copies of all the letters we received from people that LOVED the show – but in the end, all we could say to this person was “We are sorry you were disappointed” and in spite of all the praise we received from OTHER people who went to the exact same concert, this person’s comments will be a nagging reminder that, hard as we try, we can’t please everyone.
In 1971, singer/songwriter Ricky Nelson performed at Madison Square Garden in what should have been the highlight of his career. Instead, he was nearly booo’d off the stage by an audience that preferred to hear Ricky’s hit songs instead of the new songs he and his band wanted to present. Ricky was unnerved and cut his set short. From this bad experience, Ricky wrote the song “Garden Party” which became his first US top 10 hit since 1963.
Remember…. in this day and age, criticism is easy and it is encouraged by greedy retailers who’ve convinced us that the customer is always right. It is also encouraged by social platforms that allow everyone to share their opinions freely (PS they also make a lot of money doing this). Moving forward, we will always read, listen and reply to every comment we receive, and we will do our best to reply in a professional manner. In the end though, for our own sanity, we remember these helpful quotes:
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” – John Lydgate
“The only taste of success some people will get is when they have a bite of you.” – Zig Ziglar
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” — Lao Tzu
“You can’t please everyone, so you gotta please yourself.” – Ricky Nelson
"It was an amazing evening. We have had many different performers at our conferences; The Beach Boys, Tony Bennett, Three Dog Night, America. Jim Curry ranks among these acts. I would book Jim and his band again in a heartbeat."
Daniel Young Corporate Function, Keystone, CO
"I have to tell you I don't know when we've enjoyed a show as much as we enjoyed yours. It just swept us away and we did not want it to end! You are all so gifted. And the music of John Denver speaks for itself. It touches the heart."
