This past Friday, we released the first single from my upcoming album, “How Wrong They Were,” and I have to tell you, the response has been beautiful. Thank you to everyone who has downloaded it, shared it, written to us, and listened. As independent artists, every single response means the world.
Yesterday, the CDs finally arrived, and they’re already on their way to jazz radio stations across the United States and Canada. After so many years of bringing this music back to life, it’s exciting to know it’s finally finding its audience. I can’t wait to perform these songs live for the first time on September 5 in Sonoma, CA again on September 11 at Piedmont Piano in Oakland, CA during the Western Arts Alliance conference in California.
While the new album is beginning its journey, Cross That River is reaching an exciting moment of its own. We’ve completed seven straight days of rehearsals with our extraordinary cast, and our director has been nothing short of brilliant. This week we move into Michiko Studios for three intensive days before heading to Winston-Salem for the International Black Theatre Festival.
Every rehearsal reminds me why this story continues to resonate. It isn’t simply about the past. It’s about freedom, dignity, courage, and the choices we make today. I cannot wait to share it with audiences.
Like so many of you, I’ve also been deeply shaken by the murder of Nolan Wells. Incidents like this leave us asking the same painful question: What will it take for us to finally confront the hatred that continues to claim innocent lives? My heart goes out to his family and to everyone whose lives have been forever changed by acts of racist violence.
As I look around at our world—the fear surrounding immigration, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the growing divisions here at home—I keep returning to one simple truth. War has never been the answer. Hatred has never been the answer. As Marvin Gaye reminded us so beautifully years ago, only love can conquer hate. We seem determined to repeat the same mistakes generation after generation, but I still believe we’re capable of becoming the people we’re meant to be—human beings who care for one another with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Preparing for this musical has kept me so busy that I haven’t had nearly enough time to get out and hear live music myself, and I miss it. There is nothing quite like sitting in a club, listening to great musicians tell their stories through sound. I look forward to getting back into the audience as much as I look forward to being on stage.
Amid all of this, Pat and I have also begun an exciting new chapter. We’re building our country home on my father’s hundred-acre farm in western Pennsylvania. The thought of having a place where we can slow down a little, ride horses, write poetry, record music, finish the books we’ve both been working on, and simply enjoy nature fills us with gratitude.
We’ll still spend plenty of time in New York, and we’ll certainly continue traveling the world performing, teaching, consulting, and sharing music. But having a peaceful place to return to feels like a gift at this stage of our lives.
Next year, Pat and I will celebrate 50 years of marriage. That’s a milestone we’re incredibly proud of, especially considering we’ve spent most of those years working, touring, creating, and building a life together. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been built on love.
That’s exactly why we named our company Love Productions Records.
Years ago, when Pat was working with Jimmy Page, he told her that he had once wanted to use that same name. His manager advised against it, saying “Love Productions” would never work in the rock world. We decided to keep it anyway.
Because for us, love has never been a marketing slogan.
It’s been our foundation.
Love for each other.
Love for this music.
Love for the performing arts.
Love for the animals that have shared our lives.
And love for the extraordinary friends and audiences we’ve been fortunate enough to meet all over the world.
If you happen to know anyone in the Winston-Salem area, please tell them about Cross That River at the International Black Theatre Festival. We’ll be performing four times—July 31 and August 1—and we’d love to see them there.
Until next week, thank you for being part of this journey.
With gratitude,
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