OCTOBER AGAIN

October 1, 2019
Here it is October again....This year has gone so quickly, even faster than ever....I would like to remind you  that my music is still available  as digital downloads.  It is available for streaming on cdbaby.com      youtube.com     and most of the other streaming  sites...  My last CD  "Kari Scott Sings Kari Scott and Friends", is a group of some of my self-penned songs that I wanted on  a single CD.   Some of these songs have been on either  "In The Beginning volume 1"  or "In The Beginning volume 2" .  Others are songs that are new to a cd.  So, look  these CD's up and give them a listen..  Hope you enjoy them..  Remember...they are only available  by digital download..  Have a  great day...

Goodbye to Another Musician

Herbert  "Jerry"  Dare     December  8,  1937  ---January  22,  2018...   passed away at his home in Milton-Freewater,  Oregon...     Jerry   entertained   for over  50 years...  He was in the Puget Sound area  doing music for many years..  Most of this time with his wife, Anni  as "The Double Dares".. We spent many an enjoyable evening listening  to him pick and sing mainly country songs...   He could really play that guitar...    Thanks, Jerry, for all the good music...

March 20, 2018...   Today, Tuesday,  at 9.15 A M,  Spring  made its appearance..  So,  Welcome to Spring...

I made a mistake on Michael's age...I wrote 72  but he was 74 years young... I stand corrected... Sorry for that, Michael....

Another singer/songwriter is gone....   Michael  Travis West passed away January 16, 2018 in Aberdeen, WA..  at age 74..   a life long singer and songwriter...  Some of his songs can be listened to on cdbaby and other sites...  They are available by digital download only....
  Man From Montana....  Dusty Little Girl...     West Texas Waltz...   In Montana...   The Moon Came Out Tonight In Montana...   are some of the songs on  the cd  "West Country"  by  Michael Travis West...    Rest in Peace, Michael......

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well, we have crossed into a new year... I hope all of you are on your way to a good  and healthy new year..... Try to eat healthy and exercise... Walking is especially good for you... Plenty of restful sleep, also....   Make a list of things you would like to do in your lifetime...   From this list,    break it down into things you could maybe do this year...  Then   in your spare time, try to accomplish some of these..    So, Happy New Year  2018.....

At last I finished  this cd.....I started putting it together in 2002  but many things kept going on so did not get back to it until  towards the end of 2015..... I went back to the studio that had all the songs on  their computer.....They  took all of the songs that I had written or co-written and placed them  on one cd....Then to CD Baby and  input it...Now  CD Baby has it listed on its site and other  sites such as iTunes.    cdbaby.com   then on their search bar type in Kari Scott.....This cd,  Kari Scott Sings Kari Scott and Friends   and my other two will come up......In  The Beginning  Volume I   and In The Beginning Volume II...   Then you may click on  one at a time and see what is on each...You will find some of the songs on this new cd  on one or the other  cds.. Vol I and Vol II.  Both have  other classic country songs which you probably are familiar with if you are somewhat of a country fan... This may be my last hurrah  but we will see what the years ahead hold in store for me...

The roses are into their, what I call,  second blooming,  so quite welcome at this time of summer.   These two are both  Chicago Peace Rose, from the same plant but one has  a more orange cast...Both are  so pretty..The second blooming, the roses are never as large  as with the first blooming.....  Anyway,  I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures  as much as I enjoy seeing them in real life.....

Still To Rock No More

This was recorded  at Ripcord Studios in  Vancouver WA  also..... I wrote this song after my Dad passed away.  I got to thinking about how Mamas and Daddys were the hands that rock the cradle....As I got going, it slipped into just Mamas...You don't always have control over a song...Sometimes it takes off and does what it wants to do....After  I was through, I decided it was the way  it should be so I left it.  People say that you should keep going over a song and try to change this or that... But sometimes you say what you have to say and that is that.......This is available on cdbaby.com  and iTunes  plus many other sites.  on cd In The Beginning vol 2.

Your Cheating Heart

One of my favorite songs so  did a cover of it...Recorded it at Ripcord  Studio in Vancouver, WA... Gene Breeden on lead guitar and on the boards.   Very interesting time of life...I am glad I had the opportunity to  take part in recording  at this point in history...

These  are two   bouquets   from the Davis Farm  booth at a local Farmers' Market..The top one was from Kristina to me  and the bottom one was from Sandra....The Davis Farm  flowers are always so beautiful......The vegetables too are great...

This is the Chicago Peace Rose..It is much more colorful than the older Peace Rose which is one of its parents..Also has nice fragrance.  I probably should have had a ruler by it to show its size... about seven inches across  guesstimating it.. All of the roses were really nice this year....Have been cutting them back because they seem to want to try to grow as tall as the roof line....  They must like where they are growing.

When the children were younger, I would make the dental appointments for after school.   That then, would put us  into  the going home traffic..  Even though I drove the posted speed, someone was always pushing me..  One day when I got home, I was so tired of the traffic that I sat down and wrote Tailgater.   So it exists thanks to all the impatient going home drivers............ 

Pineapple Slicer

Here is a picture of a pineapple slicer. I bought mine a few years ago at the grocery store in the produce department. Works great...When it stops at the bottom, take it out, take the handle off and slide the slices off into a dish. The core will still be attached in the middle of the rind or shell..One could put a drink in it or maybe use it for a gelatin mold (right away that is).

ALL OF OUR DREAMS

This  Song was written shortly after my Dad

passed away.  My Mom always liked it so well...

It sort of tells the story of a person's life,

then being alone again.   When you lose a parent,

so many things go through your mind.  I guess

that is what happened to me after Daddy passed

away.

Thanksgiving 2013

Happy   Thanksgiving  to one and all.

BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain  has been a favorite song of mine all through the years.   So when I was looking for songs to record, I decided this was to be one. I did the melody then went back and did the harmony.   I did get good airplay throughout the country so that was nice.   But at the same time I had my record out, an artist in Florida had his out.   He had a very nice rendition of Blue Eyes but it was frustrating the same song was out at the same time..I would  think he was maybe as frustrated as I was.. Then a year later, Willie Nelson had his Blue Eyes out on record.
I recorded  Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain at Wiley Recording Studio in Tacoma, WA with Bill Wiley at the board//console.  Speedy Price was on the steel guitar again.... I had had  the arrangement in my head for a long time so it was fun to hear it take shape.       Blue Eyes is still one of my favorite songs and I guess it  will always be..

CATCH A LITTLE MOONBEAM

One day when I was listening to rock and roll on the radio,  I thought, "How hard can it be to write a rock and roll song?"   So I started in but  the song soon veered off track..Out came Catch A Little Moonbeam..It was certainly not rock and roll....I guess it is more of a lullabye...When I was recording it, (Ripcord Studio in Vancouver, Washington),  Gary Sharer did the piano..  When he finished the piano part he asked  if he could go back and try a harmony...He did and it turned out  great..I applaud his piano artistry...So, that was my only  try at rock and roll...  I realized my heart beats more in three-quarter time or there abouts so will stick to that...

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LONELY

We recorded  this record at Wiley Studio in Tacoma, WA  with Bill Wiley at the console.  The A side was  SNOWBIRD.  It was interesting recording with Harvey.  All of the music was done at one time by him on The Infernal Music Machine as he called his setup...He got so much music out of that. The first recordings I did with Bill were on  two track.  This was done on the four track  if I remember correctly... I did the whole process of sending out sample records to different  radio stations throughout the country..Then call to see if they received it and if they were playing or were going to play the record...Talked to lots of good people across the states.  A couple of times talked with people  that we had friends in common so  had nice visits with them.. Very interesting  times.  I wish we could have had the computer availability that we have today.  Things could have been done differently... All in all those years were interesting and a lot of fun and very busy since I was raising a family too..  But, I am glad I had the opportunity  to  have a try at recording and performing...They were good years..

The Fashionable Feminist Interview: Classic Country Singer/Songwriter Kari Scott

The following interview with me was first published on The Fashionable Feminist back in July of 2011.

The Fashionable Feminist Interview: Classic Country Singer/Songwriter Kari Scott

I am proud and privileged to feature acclaimed classic country singer/songwriter Kari Scott as my first Fashionable Feminist. Although Kari no longer plays live performances, her music is more popular now than ever and has the kind of staying power and universal resonance that transcends both time and place. Take a listen and let me know what your favorite song is. Mine is a tie between "I've Been Everywhere" and "Catch A Little Moonbeam."

When you got your start in the music industry, times were much different for women. How were your songs and performances received? Was it hard to break into the once male-dominated classic country scene?

I was still raising a family when I got really involved with music, mainly country music. Thus I was not free to go back to Nashville to push for a career. I felt my first responsibility was to home and my family.

Country music was mainly male-dominated at the time. Most of the women were in family bands so had pretty much equal billings as soloists and in duets. Other women were given spots with some bands but were limited. A few broke free and became stars in their own right and traveled with small backup bands.

Most singles or groups played clubs in their own area. If they got a record out so they were getting airplay, they would start going to other areas playing their clubs. Travel was usually by car, often station wagons. Ironically a few musicians bought old hearses because they were roomier than cars and had more room in back for their instruments than the trunk of a car.

County and state fairs started bringing in artists to make the fair fuller and more enjoyable. This gave all artists more venues in which to perform. Which, in turn, made them better known thereby gaining more airplay and so on.

It was hard to break into the music industry, period, even for men. But, if you got a good record out you had a decent chance for getting some airplay. Gradually the radio airplay turned pre-recorded, sent out by a big company. So, after that, you had little chance for airplay thus having to rely more on live performances and selling records there.

My performances, I think, were well received. People liked the idea of the live club performances as they could request songs and have them played right then and there. When "Snowbird" was so popular, one night we performed it seven or eight times! When we had done it three or four times and a woman requested it again, I said to her that we had already done it. She said, “I can’t ask Anne Murray to do it again, but I can ask you.” After that, no matter how many times a song was requested, we did it.

Many years ago we used to record a 45 rpm record, mail it to radio stations, ask them to play it, call the station to follow up, then wait for results. Most of the time the records were just used for giveaways of various kinds. And not much airplay… just once in awhile you would get a bit of airplay.

A few years ago I had my records and tapes uploaded onto a computer at a studio and digitally re-mastered to clean up noise. I then released two Cd's (In The Beginning Volume 1 and In The Beginning Volume 2).

The advent of computers, the Internet and digital downloads has enabled my music to be accessed from all over the world. It is extremely exciting to me to know that all of this modern technology has in a sense revived the music industry, especially in the classic country genre. Instead of my music being heard by the people in the small radius of a radio station, people all over the world are now hearing my music. The online social websites allow a person to share their music with a few clicks of a mouse, almost like magic. My goodness how times have changed.

How do your songs appeal to women? Are there any songs in particular that will resonate most with women?

"Tell Me Honey" (copyright Pillar Music BMI), is a song about a woman asking her run-around man to explain his behavior and longing to know if he will ever quit and come home to stay.

"Yes, I’m Just Looking," (copyright Pillar Music BMI), is about a woman in a bar or lounge looking for someone to share her life with and is definite about what kind of man he should be. “Yes, I’m just looking today, so please don’t think I’m forward, as I glance at you over my wine.”

"What Loneliness Is" and "You Know How It Feels To Cry" (both copyright Pillar Music BMI) are both songs about heartache probably after a break-up and the loneliness that settles in when you realize it is over.

"All Of Our Dreams" I think is more about someone left behind after a loved one passes. “Leaves turn, autumn settles in, bringing a sad refrain. Wishing that I could be, back in your arms again.” (copyright Pillar Music BMI).

Were you at all intimidated or apprehensive to cover songs traditionally sung by men? Your version of “I’ve Been Everywhere” is definitely my favorite and although Johnny Cash and Hank Snow did it well, you do it better.

Yes. I was uncomfortable doing a song that was written more for a man. I shied away from most of them, as they were so for a man. Once in awhile you could change a word or two such as his to her and because of how the song was written, it worked out all right.

How would you describe your personal creative process when it comes to songwriting?

When you are writing a song, you can get your ideas from anywhere including personal experience. For me, usually a phrase or sometimes a sentence or two will come, usually with a melody. I try to write it down immediately because the idea can slip away just as quickly as it came. I may or may not be able to go on from there right away. That is why most songwriters have at least one notebook with these ideas written in, waiting to be finished.

After I think a song is complete, I put it aside for a few days or weeks before going back to it and thinking about it to see if it is the way I want to leave it. When I am satisfied that it is complete, I copy it over then copyright it, then register it with BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) and it is ready for recording and production.

How does it feel to have your original songs featured in film?

Having two of my self-penned songs and a cover included in Indy film noir style comedy Quiet Shoes was quite an honor. It is gratifying to know that strangers liked the songs well enough to include them. The movie premiere had an excitement in the air that was contagious and made for even more enjoyment, especially since most of my family was able to be there sharing in it.

What does it mean to be a fashionable feminist? How do you use your musical talents to empower women?

Well, I don’t know how fashionable I am. I am not a card-carrying feminist. However, I do strongly believe in the empowerment of women and women’s issues. Many times I have written my state legislators and congressmen about issues I felt should be addressed for women.

What are five fabulous things about being you? What are you most thankful for in life?

1) I have always tried to be honest and trustworthy. To me, that is one of the most important things in a person’s life.

2) I have always tried to be a good and loyal friend.

3) I think I have a reasonable sense of humor.

4) Although my passion is classic country, I have developed an appreciation for all types of music.

5) I realized fairly early in life that I could do a little bit of a whole lot of things and I knew a little bit about a whole lot of things but I really wasn’t an expert in anything. But I accepted that because had I spent the time to become an expert, if indeed I could have become an expert, I would have missed out on so many other things.

I am so thankful for having been given good health throughout my life; for being a fairly intelligent person; for having been given good parents who taught me the honest basics of life and cared for me giving me a good foundation for my life; for having been given common sense; for having good friends all through my life. To top it all off is having a wonderful family, i.e. my husband, my children and grandchildren. They are the best.