Here is an end of the year sampling of some of the artists that you have heard on "Rock N Soul Gospel" in 2018. More to come in the new year!!!

The month of December and the year 2018 are rapidly drawing to a close on this brisk December afternoon. As I look back on the past year I am so, so very grateful on the music, the art and the life that I have exposed to. Rock N Soul Gospel, my radio show, is well into its 38th year on WCWP radio, the public radio station of Long Island University located on the campus of LIU Post on the north shore of Nassau county on Long Island. Each time that I walk into studio 2 of the station I am well aware that I have the chance to share the greatest rock n roll on the radio with whoever takes the time to listen. As I am writing this piece I am listening to a tune called "Labyrinth" from the album "Sanctum" by Frank VanEssen, actually I'm listening to the entire album. To say that it is sonic magnificence is such an understatement. The music that I have had a chance to share this past year with my listeners and friends is some of the best that I have heard in my 69 years on this planet. Artists such as Frank VanEssen, Ashley Cleveland, Phil Madeira, Tess Wiley, Glass Hammer, The Choir, Derri Daugherty, Big Kettle Drum and others make the twice a week trip up to the radio station a journey of love. Besides the music, books that have come out this past year by such authors as Stephen Lawhead, Christopher Tolkien, Micheal Haldas and Malcolm Guite have kept my mind on a wonderful and wonder filled pilgrimage into the world of imagination. DVD documentaries by Steve Bell & Malcolm Guite, Andrew Wall's "The Fantasy Makers" and the in studio film from Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear are food for my soul. As good as 2018 has been 2019 looks to be even better with new music from Over The Rhine, Phil Keaggy, Tony Levin & Jerry Marotta's trio project called "The Bucket List" as well as the album from Jeff Johnson & Phil Keaggy are the promise of things to come for the new year. Plus there are rumblings of a new album from The Lost Dogs on the horizon. Don't forget about checking out "Rock N Soul Gospel every Friday at 9pm & Sunday at 8pm, NY time, on 88.1fm & WCWP.org

This coming weekend, October 19th & 21st marks the 37th anniversary of my radio show "Rock N Soul Gospel". After 37 years of going up to LIU Post's radio station I am still excited every time I slip in the CD by "After The Fire" and click in the tune "Check It Out". The reason I am still excited is simply because I know that what follows for either the next 2 hours on Friday night or 4 hours on Sunday night is the best rock n roll that I can find to share with my listeners.The older that I get, a few weeks short of 69 at the time of this writing, the less I find that I am concerned with what's popular. Just look at the American Music Awards or the I Heart Awards and you'll know what I mean. What I am passionate about is music that will stop you in your tracks and make you take notice and trust me there is plenty of it out there that will do just that. There is so much of it out there that at the end of each shift I look back and realize that there was just so much more music that I could have played. Oh well those tunes will just have to wait for the next show. Artists such as Glass Hammer, The Choir, Lights For Landing, Heidi Rickard, Simon Fitzpatrick, Matthew Perryman Jones and others just bowl me over with the quality and excellence of the music that they are releasing. It is singers and bands like this that keep me going week after week and year after year. It is my commitment to you my listeners to provide you with the very best listening experience that I can offer. Check out "Rock N Soul Gospel" every Friday at 9pm and Sunday at 8pm, NY time. You can find us at 88.1fm & WCWP.org. You'll be glad you did!!!

This past weekend was the unofficial end of the Summer season and although Summer is gone there is no end to the amount of great music and art that is available. About a year or so ago I came across a group based out of Colorado Springs in the western USA called the Anselm Society. It seems that they are picking up where the Kindlings Muse left off. Intelligent podcasts on various aspects of art, faith and imagination as well as retreats and conferences. Next month they are featuring a retreat centered around discussions on the last novel by C.S. Lewis entitled "Till We Have Faces". Their web site is Anselmsociety.org. If I were not half a continent away I would be at all of their events soaking in all that they have to offer. There are already over thirty podcasts up on their web site ready to listen to and to download and they are all top quality discussions feeding the mind and soul There was a time when the church was the instigator of the majority of the great art in the western world. She, the church, mentored artists, she commissioned great works of art and she cared for the art that was created. For the most part, unfortunately the modern church has abdicated that position in favor of second and third rate art and just poorly done propaganda. Just listen to radio stations like the K-Love system or any of the films by Kirk Cameron for examples of this. Now, I am not making a blanket statement but for the most part this is true. Yet there are exceptions to the norm, the churches that comprise those involved in the Anselm Society are beacons of hope and light in a dimly lite world.

Musically it has been an awesome Summer season with new releases by Glass Hammer, Derri Daugherty, The Innocence Mission, Big Kettle Drum, The Choir and others. The festival season is drawing to a close which means smaller road trips are in order. Jaunts to Jammin' Java in Vienna, Virginia, The Basement O' Sound in New Jersey and of course the various clubs in NYC are just the thing to satiate a case of wanderlust. Upcoming shows in NYC and upstate include: Leigh Nash, Nobody's Girl, and a quartet show including Phil Keaggy, Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta and Mike Pachelli. Judging from the trailers that I have seen as of late there are some interesting looking films on the horizon as well as the new television season kicking off the week of September 24th. Keep your mind open and be on the outlook for great art and music because it is everywhere. Also be sure to check out the Doxacon Conference happening later this year in Washington, D.C.

In just a little over 4 weeks I will be heading up to Gilford, New Hampshire to the Gunstock Mountain Resort for Soulfest 2018. I have been teaching a seminar on the convergence and need for art, faith & imagination at the festival for over 10 years now. Periodically I find myself getting into the mindset when I go to events like this where I feel that the music and performances almost becomes second to the growing need to renew interpersonal relationships. I get to see friends that I only see once every year or so and these friendships are near and dear to me. People like Jim Trick, Courtney Reid, Michael Pritzl, Christopher Williams, Rachel Taylor & Dan Russell are good for my soul and my mind. Seeing and being with folks like this encourages me that there are actually artists who are concerned with art and beauty in this broken old world of ours. Artists who are committed to creating great art and beauty and not just churning out second rate propaganda like meat coming out of a sausage grinder. On top of all that the visual aspect of the location of the festival is nothing short of spectacular. A few years ago I took an open cockpit biplane ride over Lake Winnipesaukee which is right near the festival sight. It was an amazing ride and one which just might indulge in once again. The Gunstock Mountain Resort is also the home to an excellent zip line ride, one of these days I might actually get up the nerve to try it. I did the mountain coaster last year and it was great. Soulfest, here we come!!!

We are finishing the first full week of May and Spring is finally in full bloom. I can tell this partially because of the green layer of pollen all over my black Honda Civic, fondly named The Music Machine, and partly because I am no longer waking up to temperatures in the low '30's. May also marks the 50th anniversary of my very first radio show on KCGN radio back in my Viet-Nam days. Can it be really half a century ago, time really does fly by quickly. Some of the things that I am looking forward to this Spring are the release of a new book series by Stephen Lawhead called "Irelandia". The first book in this new trilogy comes out on May 15th and is called "In The Region Of The Summer Stars". Also coming out this month is a new project of old gospel blues tunes by Ry Cooder entitled "The Prodigal Son" as well as a new release from my favorite band Glass Hammer. There are just too many amazing literary conferences and music & art festivals to consider making them all, although I would love to try. Over The Rhine is once again hosting the Nowhere Else Festival over Memorial Day Weekend out in Ohio with an absolutely spectacular line-up including Red Dirt Boys and Phil Madeira. In August I'll be teaching a seminar on the convergence of art, faith and imagination st Soulfest up in New Hampshire and getting a chance to hang out with some of my favorite artists around. Folks such as Jim Trick, Rachel Taylor, Courtney Reid, Michael Pritzl and Dan Russell. As usual my radio show will be giving away tickets for "Splish Splash Water Park on Long Island beginning Memorial Day Weekend. Check it out every Friday at 9pn & Sunday at 5pm on 88.1fm & WCWP.org, those by the way are NY times in case you didn't know. Be sure to listen for the best rock n roll on the radio!!!

We are into the first week of April and although it is officially Spring there is every night on the news the threat of more snow. When will it ever end, soon I trust. Late April, early May marks the 50th anniversary of the very first radio show that I ever did. 50 years of doing this and I'm not tired of it yet, rather I look forward to each and every show with renewed excitement. The thrill of sharing what I consider to be the best rock n roll ever recorded is what keeps me going each week. When I sit down in Studio 2 at 88.1fm & WCWP.org, open up that microphone and hit the play button on the first song it is such a rush of pleasure. On May 5th I am receiving a lifetime achievement award for 37 years of doing this particular program, it is nice to be recognized by my peers at the station. I have heard various people in the music industry complain about the lack of good music coming out so far this year. I on the other hand am so totally happy with the material that I have gotten this year to share with my listeners. I get to play great tunes twice a week and am just loving it more and more each and every year with, God willing, no end in sight. I just found out this week that I'll be going back to Soulfest in August to teach a seminar on the convergence of art, faith and imagination. I am looking forward to this as well as seeing old New England friends such as Jim Trick, Courtney Reid, Dan Russell, Michael Pritzl & Lights For Landing and hearing them share their music. Also this week I learned that we will, as we have for over 25 summers now, be giving away tickets for Splish Splash Water Park out on Long Island. It is going to be a good Summer!!! Be sure to check out the best rock n roll on the radio every Friday night at 9 and Sunday evening at 5, NY Time of course, on 88.1fm & WCWP.org.

It is just past the middle end of February and Spring is rapidly approaching, I am so looking forward to this Winter being over. I was having  a conversation with a friend the other day who is also a radio DJ and he was bemoaning the lack of really good music that has come out so far this year. Judging from the Grammy Awards and the various I-Heart music specials that I've seen lately, I can understand his frustration. I on the other hand am one very happy camper. Some of the new releases that I have gotten so far this year include albums from Charlie Peacock, Ashley Cleveland, Amy Lynn Vachal, Color As Time, Steph Shaw, Evan Mazunik Trio, Matt Arthur and others. They range in style from jazz to blues to singer/ songwriter material and all of it has been great without exception. The older that I get, now well into my 68th year, the less time and tolerance I find that I have for music and art in general for that matter that isn't extraordinary.  By the way I saw the new "Samson" movie earlier today, don't waste your money on it. In the area of art especially, being a cranky old rock n roll disc jockey, in the area of music good just isn't good enough anymore. I want to hear something that is going to really get my fires burning, something that is going to really catch my attention and make me want to listen to it over and over again and again. Each time that I sit down in studio 2 at 88.1fm & WCWP.org I want to walk away at the end of each show knowing that I have shared with my listeners the very best music that I can find to share with you guys. As I am writing this piece I am listening to the newest release from my old friend Charlie Peacock and am being totally blown away by the excellence of what I am listening to. The new album by New York City based artist Amy Lynn Vachal is entitled "Strawberry Moon" and brings me to exotic and exquisite places in my mind. This kid should be known world-wide, she's that good. If the rest of this year lives up to its beginning then it will be a good year indeed.