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!Songwriter Chocolate Sunday!
…A Tribute to the Art of Song… (& Chocolate;)
The 1st Sunday of each
Month
October thru May
Time: 1-5pm
Songwriter Chocolate Sundays are hosted by Internationally
known local singer/songwriter Annie
Wenz and artist/gallery owner, Peggy McTeague. Each
month Annie & Peggy bring a special guest to help explore
into the mind and soul of songwriting. Hear original songs
by nationally touring performing songwriters in our own
beautiful garden…Surrounded by art…Hear what's behind the
song…Talk with the artists…Share your own song. (Bring your
own comfy lawn chair)
Eat LOTS of CHOCOLATE! Sip Wine
ENJOY!
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We will be assembling our
2008-2009 Songwriter Sunday schedule over the summer. Please
check back - we look forward to seeing you at this
coming season's Songwriter Sundays |
A Taste of
our Songwriters
 Annie
Wenz
is an award winning songwriter who travels
throughout the world performing & presenting songwriting
workshops at festivals, arts centers & concert halls, from "New
Zealand's Millennium Celebration" to festivals in Costa Rica,
jazz clubs in Stockholm, the far-off corners of Pakistan,
Thailand, Bali, Mexico, & the US. Annie is known for her
unique way of blending contemporary sounds with roots,
traditional & multi-cultural influences on guitar, piano,
indigenous flutes & percussion instruments from around the
world. Her powerful, spiritual, & ethereal story songs paint
portraits about life, love, travel abroad & other cultures, &
are inspired by her journeys, backpacking & kayaking around the
world, working as a registered nurse, a rafting guide, an
activist and a teacher. She has 7 recordings to her
credit on her own indie label including her brand newest
instrumental CD "Winds of the World"! Originally
from New York City, Annie now lives on Pine Island & can’t think
of ANY place she’d rather be!
“If you don’t ‘get” Annie Wenz, you’re not fit to live;)” …Steve
Seskin/Songwriter /”Grown Men Don’t Cry- for Tim Magraw
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Laurie
Jennings Oudin & Dana Keller
Laurie is well known as the former proprietress of The Main
Street Cafe, which was viewed across the country as the premier
acoustic music venue in Florida. A former Shakespearean actress,
Laurie has been a singer and songwriter for many years. Since
the cafe's close in June, 2006, she has been devoting her time
to her musical career with Dana, and has had quite a bit of
success via her songwriting with getting into numerous festivals
around the country.
Dana Keller is a veteran pedal steel, dobro and guitar player
who has spent many years performing on stage or in the studio
with such luminaries as Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Stevie Wonder,
Larry Graham, Marvin Gaye, Dave Mason and Johnny Rodriguez, to
name a few. He has opened for, among others, Pure Prairie
League, Gordon Lightfoot, Waylon Jennings and Buck Owens. Dana
has been an endorsee of the Gretsch Guitar and Drum Company
since 1980. Dana's pedal steel, dobro and guitar work has been
called 'jaw-droppingly good'
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SARAH MAHAN
comes from a family & long line of amazing songwriters. Since the
age of 8 she has been singing, writing & playing her acoustic guitar
with passion & purpose …bringing you along with her through soulful
bluesy, rock & country performances in song. From Pennsylvania to
Nashville, Pensacola to Alaska & Costa Rica, to her home on Pine
Island, her unique style always provides for a great & memorable
time. In 2003 Sarah released area favorite CD “Born A Fool” with her
mother, the incredibly talented & loved Joannah Mahan. Over the
years Sarah has shared the stage with the likes of the Nighthawks,
Billy Joe Shaver, Steve Earle, Warren Haynes, an all Costa Rican
band & almost all of the fabulous area artists on Pine Island. She
plans to begin a new recording project very soon!
“Sarah has the ability to define experience with lyric, melody &
structure that has inspired me since I was a child” – Songwriter
Extraordinaire (& brother) Michael Mahan.
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ANNA WOLFE
©COPYRIGHT 2005 ANNA WOLFE ~ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Anna Wolfe is simply unforgettable. Maybe it’s
her intriguing, yet innocent voice, belying an ancient, simple
wisdom in her lyrics that leaves a lasting impression. It could
be the combined experience of a young heart and old soul,
resulting in songs that earn her praise with her peers and with
an ever increasing legion of fans. Or perhaps it’s the
combination of softness, laced with brilliance, in her blonde
hair and blue eyes that gives no hint at first meeting of her
inner strength and fortitude. Whatever it is, Anna seems to
leave a profound piece of herself with everyone who hears her
music.
Growing up in Ohio, in a 150 year old “haunted”
farm house, set the stage for Anna’s intuitive and observational
abilities to emerge, translating later into a significant
advantage for the future songwriter. At home, communing with
horses, the vastness of nature and being sensitive to and aware
of the energies around her, Anna developed an intuitive and keen
ability to delve into and identify what’s been buried below the
surface.
Anna subliminally was influenced toward the arts
by her family. Her paternal grandfather was a playwright,
director, and classical musician. Her father is a sculptor and
Anna dabbled when she could on his treasured antique grand piano
and old nylon-stringed guitar. And her other four siblings also
followed in artistic pursuits. But it was in Anna’s subconscious
innocence, that she corralled the childlike freedom of casually
and freely composing her own songs as a young girl. This all
came to fruition for her in high school when Anna won her
school’s scholarship program to record what was to become her
first album. However, Anna was also becoming a budding actress
as well, garnering many leading roles along the way.
Encouraged by her success as a thespian, Anna
decided to attend college in Boston as a theater major. But
moving to a big city was initially a shock for this rural
teenager. The comfort she had sought from her childhood farmland
was replaced by densely-packed spaces and an overload of people
to interact with, compared to her youth. Deciding to leave her
studies behind before graduation, Anna embarked on her own
life’s journey, eventually leading her back to her music and
into successfully integrating her intuitive abilities into her
art and life.
It was that journey that laid the groundwork for
Anna to earn her reputation with other noted songwriters. Anna
had four albums under her belt, performed over the years solo
and with her own duos and bands, logging countless performances
and successes locally behind her. But, it was when she attended
Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Songwriting School in the summers from
2001-2003, that veteran teacher Paul Reisler knew Anna’s
songwriting prowess was undeniable. Introducing her to other
well-known writers, they also encouraged and supported Anna’s
path.
Anna’s career took a definitive leap forward in
2003 as well while attending a folk conference in Nashville.
Beth Nielsen Chapman, who had met Anna through Rocky Mountain,
introduced her to Wendy Waldman. Upon hearing one of Anna’s
earlier performances, Waldman was single mindedly determined to
catch every subsequent showcase that Anna was playing until the
wee hours of the morning.
Impressed and moved, Wendy offered to produce her
now current CD, “My Treasure,” (2005). Recorded in 2003/2004 at
Waldman’s own California studio, Wendy’s production brings out
every nuance of Anna’s writing, with a strong supporting cast of
musicians and backing vocals, contributed by both Wendy and Beth
Nielsen Chapman. Recently relocating to Nashville with her
husband Philip, Anna and her new CD are set to make an indelible
stamp on the acoustic music world.
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 Wendy
Webb
has shared her haunting voice & unique songs from
the coffeehouses of Chicago to the clubs of California, from
stages of “American Bandstand” to the pages of NY Times award
winning author Randy Wayne White’s novels. Her passion for music
began at the early age of 13 when she received her first guitar…
She’s continued to hone her craft since then, & later added
piano to her repertoire. After taking a hiatus from music,
she reemerged on the scene with her acclaimed first recording
“Morning in New York”. Though she tours throughout the US, &
lives right here in paradise, she rarely appears locally. We are
fortunate to have her share her talents!
“Wendy’s her own woman with her own way of bending the notes and
twisting the words into lyrics that plummet deep into the epicenter
of those who love or at least try to love. Her messages wander from
musical to mystical, from juiced to jaded, as her creative honesty
lures the listener simultaneously into both her heart and her hurt.
honesty lures the listener simultaneously into both her heart and
her hurt. “ Gerry Wood/former editor/Billboard Magazine.
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Valerie Wisecracker
:
Comic. Acoustic
and Eclectic Performer. Irreverent but
relevant. Well grounded but high strung. An earthy alto. The
original “Miami Mother Folker.” Singer/songwriter and
guitar/banjo slinger. 2-Time Florida Old Time State Singing
Champion. Founding member of Miami's longest running Public
Radio comedy show, PANDEMONIUM. Somewhere in between Annie
Oakley and Ethel Merman.
A regular at Florida Folk festivals, concert clubs and the
occasional funky watering hole, Val brings a rich background of
professional experience to her music and messages.
She has shared the stage with JOHN HARTFORD, JOHN McCUTCHEON,
CHRISTINE LAVIN, MICHAEL JOHNSON, ERIC ANDERSON, MICHAEL SMITH,
STILL ON THE HILL and many others.
Valerie fronted Miami's original folk spoof band Jabberwocky for
over 20 years. She has recorded her song “Rusty Banjo” with
legendary fiddler VASSAR CLEMENTS. Her radio, TV and stage
credits include musical performances with Pulitzer prize winner
Dave Barry as well as solo banjo on one of PBS's highest-ever
rated shows with Dick Clark.
A South Florida fixture and long time Keys resident, Val offers
a humorous perspective on life in the Sunshine state -- songs
about its government, guests and environment. Ditties like “The
Dirty Little Rat That Ate Orlando.” Tunes that come from her own
unique perspective.
WHAT A HOOT
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.jpg) JOHNNY
MCKENZIE
is a poet and singer/songwriter with a long and
strong track record. His latest CD, Traveler Of The Wind,
exemplifies the maturity of a writer who has the capability to
write Folk, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Pop and Country, & to
blend the boundaries between them. Johnny began his career as a
staff writer for Capricorn Records in Macon Ga. in the 1970‚s
where his (still to this day) cult Hit, The Wonder, was cut by
the folk rock act, Cowboy, who toured & recorded with the Allman
Brothers Band. McKenzie then moved to Key West where he played
the same rooms & shared song writing with Jimmy Buffet in the
days before Margaritaville. It was in Key West he got his
nickname ROCKADAY, and evolved his unique stylistic approach to
harp playing which one reviewer dubbed "Florida harmonica." His
harps are an integral part of his current stage show, which
features soulful vocals supported by clean and intricate guitar
work on his Gibson acoustics and Fender Strat. The Key West
Citizen has described him: "explosive and tender in turn"!
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CINDY WALSH Cindy
grew up in a small town in southern Indiana. When she was
fourteen she taught herself to play guitar and by high school
she was in a rock band. In college she found herself
entertaining at coffee houses and social events while broadening
her song repertoire during jam sessions with friends. She felt
drawn to live her life by the beach, so after college she joined
the Navy. What started out as a four year enlistment turned into
a twenty year career. During that time she was forced to put her
music on the back burner so she could focus on her military
duties, but she still enjoyed picking up the guitar and playing
for fun.
Because of her job, Cindy lived in the Washington, DC area for
about ten years, but travels to Key West, Bermuda, the Bahamas,
and the Cayman Islands made her dream of residing in a tropical
location. A Jimmy Buffett fan since the early 80's, she found
herself listening to Buffett more and more because the words and
music helped keep her dream alive. Finally, with no more
military obligations and the freedom to go anywhere, Cindy
discovered Cape Coral, Florida and in the Fall of 2004 decided
to make this tropical paradise her permanent home.
Cindy covers a wide range of songs from popular hits that
everyone knows to more obscure songs by local artists. She
typically adds in a few newer country and rock songs to her
Buffett and classic rock base to provide a well rounded mix of
music. Cindy has also written many songs and sometimes performs
a few of her originals as well.
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 KRAIG
KENNING
is a Chicago based American
Fingerstyle Guitar wizard who earned first place honors at
National Guitar's 1st Annual Slide Competition & was also named
Best Unsigned Artist… Call him contemporary folk, blues, roots
rock, American Fingerstyle or Americana. Regardless of the
genres crossed, Kraig Kenning manages to leave every audience
feeling like they've just spent some quality time with an old
friend. Few artists (except Annie Wenz;) are as capable of
connecting so directly with such diverse listeners while playing
over 200 dates a year, receiving airplay on 40 stations
nationwide, and selling 60,000+ recordings of six self-produced
CDs. But Kenning has shaped himself into one of the most capable
performers on the planet, touring non-stop for the past decade.
"There is an exchange at a spiritual level in a great
performance. My goal is to journey with all my listeners to this
magical place." Together with his trademark dobro and passionate
lyrics, Kraig reminds us just how personal--and potent--original
music can be.
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KIP LAWRENCE
has one goal in life and that is to write songs as much
aspossible. All day, every day. His life on Pine Island in SW
Florida is filled with music. He writes a popular column for The
Pine Island Eagle called "Sounds Of Pine Island" and plays in a
band called The Yard Dogs which perform original Cajun blues
rock which Kip calls Florida Cajun. Kip loves The Pine Island
music scene with a passion.Many touring musicians flock to Pine
Island for its beautiful scenery,sunny temps and awesome
audiences.Kip is a regular in St. James City at the infamous
"Island Hardware Concerts" along with New Orleans blues great
and fellow Pine Islander John Mooney. Kip sometimes co-writes
with a great friend and fellow songwriter Johnny McKenzie and
they collaborated on "A Fishermans Song" contained in this cd.
Check out this release and check out his cd with The Yard Dogs
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