*Click photos to enlarge.
January 23, 2010
My friend Matt Urmy invited me to come in and sing on his new record, and his sister got some great shots while we were tracking. The music he has made sounds great and the recording studio where he cut the tracks has one of those Nashville legendary back stories that warrants repeating.
His record is the first professional recording to be cut in there since Columbia shut it down in 1982. In 1954, producer Owen Bradley, along with his brother Harold Bradley, purchased an old house at 804 16th Avenue South to convert into a film and recording studio. The Bradleys tore out the first floor of the house to create recording space in the basement and attached a Quonset hut to the back of the house to use for filming musical performances for television. In 1955, the basement proved to be too crowded and so the studio was recreated inside the Quonset Hut after its initial venture proved unsuccessful. The recording facility became an instant success, attracting business from both Decca and Columbia records.
The legendary studio operated from 1955 through 1982 when it was closed by Columbia Records, and converted into office space. In 2006, philanthropist, Mike Curb bought the structure and restored it. Today it serves as a Belmont University hands on recording classroom.
The Quonset Hut produced some of the biggest recordings in music history such as Patsy Cline's, Crazy, Brenda Lee's I'm Sorry and Bobby Vinton's Blue Velvet. Also Roger Miller, Jonny Cash, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, and many many more produced legendary records in the Quonset Hut.
December 26 - January 2nd: Costa Rica Songwriting Workshop
I’m just back from my Costa Rican Songwriting adventure with Darrell Scott and Beth Chapman, and I now have a tan, a big smile on my face, and a stack of wonderful memories. This was the second year Darrell and I taught a songwriting class at Pura Vida Yoga Spa, and I think we will do it again next year. Beth was a wonderful addition, I love teaching with her and just simply being around her, she radiates love and joy and childlike wonder, and she is inspirational, amazing teacher.
Pura Vida is a fantastic place to teach and learn, it offers all kinds of wonderful bodywork as well as yoga classes two times a day, everything offered conducive to growth and healing There offer many kinds of massage, energy work, Watsu and even astrology. The therapists are well trained and they know how to help you release stress, tension and emotion.
The spa is located in the mountains in Allejueho, and looks down onto the town of San Jose. There are tropical flowers, plants and trees, and the hot tub is a nightly must. The food is fantastic, made with fresh herbs and local vegetables. They offer lots of amazing fresh squeezed juices like star fruit juice, tamarind juice and watermelon juice, and the meals are primarily vegetarian with an offering of fish or chicken each night as well.
The students this year (like last year) came from all over the world, and we had a wonderful time working on songs and discussing truth, honesty and what that means in our writing. As an artist I am always interested in the distinction between truth and fact. I know that a pile of facts does not equal truth, but a pile of truth with no structure does not equal a good song. So we worked on distinctions, and we worked on our songs, and time flew by as we grew together as a group and got to know each other. Everyone comes into these classes at a different place in their writing, but somehow by the end of the week everyone’s understanding of their own work has deepened.
I got to go on a helicopter ride across the country, and the view of the mountains and the ocean was amazing from up there, you could even see the crocodiles in the rivers.
New years Eve was memorable, we sat in the large group room with people from the other classes at the spa and lit a candle, one at a time, stating our intention for the year. I enjoyed hearing other people’s intentions, and it was fun singing while people were lighting their candles. Then we kicked on the music and danced barefoot on the wooden floor and banged like hell on drums and tambourines until the fireworks began in the valley below, signaling that it was a New Year. 2010, welcome! I watched the fireworks for about 45 minutes, and went to bed, sleepy, happy, and surrounded with the peace that cones from being where you want to be and doing what you want to do.
December 8, 2009: Walbridge Elementary School, St. Louis MO.
Go to the News Section to read about Mary and Ed Romanoff writing the song, Lovefull, with these 3rd graders. Check out the video on the UTube page
Mary Gauthier, Marshall Chapman, David Olney, Gary Nicholson, and Ed Romanoff at the sold out Southern Festival of Books show at Bluebird Cafe, Oct. 10, 2009.
Backstage with John Prine and Nanci Griffith at the 2009 Americana Music Awards at The Ryman Auditorium
Mary and Mike Farris presenting Justin Townes Earl his New Artist of the year award at the Americana Awards show. Yea Justin! Congrats!
The Rocky Mountain Folks Festival 2009
Mary, Karin Berquist from Over The Rhine, and Ed Romanoff
Mary and Ed Romanoff at the end of the set
Mary Live in New Orleans
