Monday, February 27, 2023 - The Frontier

I’m doing Alaska and other points north songs on Wednesday to celebrate the running of the Iditarod sled dog race this week, and that has me thinking about the frontier and all it has represented throughout our American history. I have always had a romantic affinity for the folks who came west in the 1800s and then later some up north to Alaska. The adventure and uncertainty appeals to the wild explorer in me although who knows if I could have done what my predecessors did. I once wrote a song with my friend Don Richmond about what it would have been like to journey with the pioneers called “Horizon Line”.

Green shoots of spring on the plain, Sunshine that falls through the rain
Not knowing what we leave behind, Or what beckons that we can't explain

CHORUS
There's a light I would find, on the horizon line
Shining beyond the mist and the mountains to climb

Dreams that we wear on our sleeve, Stories we barely believe
Gold that lies strewn on the ground, And more wonders than we can conceive
CHORUS

BRIDGE 
Fly up to the moon, sail across the sea
Walk among the stars above, will you go with me

Seems we have traveled so far, It's so hard to know where we are
The pathway still rises ahead, Straight toward a beckoning star
CHORUS

That song seems to capture a lot of the emotion and excitement of these folks. I also just finished an A. B. Guthrie Jr. book about trappers, and I’m reading another about pioneers now, so I’m really thinking of what it would take to be daring enough to set out for the territory. Wednesday we’ll celebrate these folks who went to Alaska through a bunch of songs.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and they were all so much fun and so worthwhile. It is a privilege to sing for these folks!

My private Valentine’s show on Monday was wonderful too with such sweet folks. One of the couples there fell in love while starring together in a production of “Brigadoon”, and it was so much fun singing a song from that and hearing their stories.

Wednesday’s show of Burt Bacharach was also a fine time with so many great tunes with clever beats and melodies. Burt really wrote some memorable tunes. He’ll be missed.

Sunday’s show of requests and favorites was great fun too with a great bunch of friends and followers. I am blessed to have such good people around me.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. I know there will be some great moments this week.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the Alaska and other northern songs I wrote about above. I may have enough songs just about Alaska without any Canadian songs if I can get several more songs under my belt by then. Come on out if you want to hear some great northern songs.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be requests and favorites as always. Each week I make sure I have songs ready for all of our regulars even if they didn’t have a specific request for that week. It’s always a good time, and you’re always welcome.

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That’s it for this week. We’re starting March, so I’ll be tuning up my Irish guitar and starting to play songs from the great Irish songbook. I look forward to this time every year!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 
What:  playing and singing an online concert of Alaska songs
Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  
When:  Wednesday, March 1, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 
What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 
Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  
When:  Sunday, March 5, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

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