Peter Mayer's Morning Star Newsletter - October 2016 Edition



Welcome to The Morning Star...
the occasionally updated newsletter of the Peter Mayer Group
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Fan photo courtesy of Philip J. Ross; Manassas, VA 2016

WELCOME!

Good afternoon from Laguna, California. We are on our west coast tour on this beautiful fall day. I hope you are enjoying it wherever you chance to be. We just came from Denver where I got the chance to visit with good friends and play the fabulous Red Rocks Amphitheater again. (first time since 1990). It was unbelievable. It's clear why everyone has that venue on their bucket list.
        
The last month has seen a LOT of travel. Mayer Kirby Mayer toured the North East in September, then off to Paris with Jimmy Buffett, then on to Basel, Switzerland, for a gig with Brendan and Zeb Briskovich, a few days to sight see in the mountains of beautiful Lenk, Switzerland, then on to Amsterdam for Club Dauphine and to Play Nick Vollebrechts Jazz club with Co Live. Thanks to all who joined us for a show or two. We wouldn't be doing it without you.

WINGS OF ANGELS:   STARS & PROMISES 2016

It seems strange to be working on Christmas music in October, but then again the Stars and Promises Tour for this year is only six weeks away!! The theme this year is "Wings of Angels". Check out the schedule listed below. We are proud to say we are coming back to New England! Check out the date along with other fabulous stops along the way.
        
The band this year will be Chris Walters on keyboards, Zeb Briskovich on Bass, Eric Darken (Miles Vandiver) on percussion, Brendan Mayer on vocals and guitar, Alicia Enstrom on violin and Mark Holland on flutes. Don't miss this incredible band!

Please check out our new promotional video by clicking here!


Stars & Promises 2016 – "Wings of Angels" Christmas Tour
Check the website for updates!

December 1 - Southern Illinois University; Meridian Ballroom, Morris University Center, Edwardsville, IL.
Tickets are available online by clicking here.

December 2 - Johnson City, TN - details TBA

December 3 - Barry Robinson Theatre; Virginia Beach, VA
Ticket info coming soon!

December 4 - Smoke Rise Baptist Church; Stone Mountain, GA

December 5 - Barter Theatre; Abingdon, VA
Tickets will be available on October 24  at
http://www.bartertheatre.com/

December 7 - Erie, PA - details TBA

December 8 - Doubletree; Reading, PA
Tickets are available online by clicking here.

December 9 - United Reformed Church; Somerville, NJ.
Tickets are available online by clicking here.
All proceeds will benefit the Somerville Education Foundation

December 10 - Private Event

December 11 - TBA; Rochester, NH


December 14 - TBA

December 16 – Living Waters Lutheran Church; Crystal Lake, IL
Tickets are available online by clicking here.

December 17 - Alhambra Theatre; Hopkinsville, KY
Tickets will be available on October 24 at itickets.com

Proceeds will  benefit Pennyroyal Hospice and Grace & Mercy.


December 18 - Venue68 -  A Ministry of Asbury United Methodist Church; Tulsa, OK.  An offering will be taken and benefit Goodland Academy.

December 21 - Sheldon Concert Hall; St. Louis, MO
Tickets are available online by clicking here.

If you would like to get more information about hosting a Stars and Promises concert, please contact:  beth.estes@petermayer.com.
 

TURN THE TABLE INTERVIEW

A Christmas Carol
Given we are talking a bit about Christmas in this issue of the Morning Star, I thought I'd ask a few experts their thoughts on the Yuletide and all that's involved in the celebration of my favorite holiday.

First from Sammy Mayer, also known as my mom (with help from my sister Vickie).

What memories stand out for you of our Christmases in India?
"I remember the whole thing. Recapturing what it meant to prepare for Christmas. It was very evident in our family. We nurtured a pine tree that was out on the porch in a big pot. We had it brought in each Christmas. I always did a lot of baking of breads, German Stolen and homemade coffeecakes and cookies. Lots of cookies; pfeffernüsse, springele, spritz cookies, and lebkuchen." (One year as a gift my mom gave all of us kids handwritten recipes of all these treats. It's a shame someone in our family didn't go into dentistry.)

One year Mom put together a gingerbread house. It wasn't real sturdy, so she pushed in wire to hold it together. I'll never forget the shock as we bit down on the metal wire hidden in that gingerbread. She would spray pine branches with silver and put them around the room. Mom went on with her account;
"We went to Bangalore to get the Christmas gifts each year. I had a list. Whatever we could purchase we did. It took us all day. Somehow we wanted to do that. It was a good thing to do. We had a service Christmas Eve at church and after was the gift opening. My sister Vickie mentioned how all the Indian boys and girls were dressed in their finest clothes with flower garlands on to celebrate the nativity.

What memories stand out for you of Christmases as a young girl?
"Every Christmas as a girl was really special. There was one Christmas I got a set of dolls from my brother Johnny. Johnny liked to have fun. He enjoyed Christmas in a very childlike way." (Johnny was the family member that liked to laugh, sing, dance, and run away with the circus. I think I got some of my traveling minstrel DNA from him)

What wisdom would you like to pass on for those of this generation?
"Cherish the memories of so many years. You got to live them. As the years went by my feelings about Christmas changed, though they aren't less happy. But it was always a very hopeful time. We depended on you Johnny for your gifts. (Here mom drifted back to when she was a girl and Johnny her older brother was still alive.)

What keeps you hopeful?
"I've always been a very deeply committed Christian. The birth of Jesus and his ministry, that's all a part of my life. Dad and mom were wonderful in terms of celebrating. That was their focus. Faith has been so central. I think each of us matures each year in the way we respond to the Christmas story."
Mom kneading the dough for our special treats.
German Stolen made to feed the big family!
Mom at our house in India.
Our second Christmas memory comes from Virginia Gullickson, Coral Reefer Band singer Tina Gullickson's mom. I have had the pleasure of knowing Virginia for many years, though we see each other only occasionally. She is bright, creative and still living life strong at 93 years old. Here's what she said:
 
What memories stand out for you about Christmas as a young girl, and beyond to your life as mother, teacher, film maker, etc.?
Christmas to me as a girl (when I was 6yrs old) was a surprise! My younger brothers and I were sitting at top of the stairs waiting to catch a look at Santa Clause (downstairs)! (We all  had sneaked out of bed). My brothers fell asleep again next to me--waiting). I saw my father lighting little candles on the Christmas tree- Thing One: He burnt his hand with the cigarette lighter he was using. Thing Two: I saw him wheeling a doll-buggy in & parking it under the tree! Thing Three: I saw him carry in a heavy red metal fire engine (for my brothers)!  Being 6 in December  (but 7 in January), I instantly realized that Daddy was Santa Claus!  I grew up a lot that night.

What keeps you young at heart?
Confidence that I will be successful, when I plan to work with Planning; Prayer, & Persistence. The Remembering as soon as I am alone, to say "Thank You" to God-- With my lips! (Aloud), if possible. This keeps me young at heart.

What wisdom would you pass on to this age (with so many "weapons of mass distraction" as Mac McAnally puts it) about a life well lived.
When meeting someone new--Ask myself  "Can I help this person to be less worried? -or to expect better days??" "Can I save the life of a helpless animal?  Finally---Tell others (on the subject of Prayer) be specific--give details! Take the time!
Virginia driving her cart with video gear ; ))

MEETING OF THE MINDS

KEY WEST, FL

We will see many of you in Key West FL in a few weeks. Why?... it's the 25th anniversary of Meeting of the Minds, the annual Parrot Head gathering presented by Parrot Heads in Paradise. There is a whole lot of music going on. I'll be playing with the Peter Mayer Group (PMG) on Thursday and then again with the Coral Reefers and Club Trini on Saturday. It should be an unforgettable weekend. What comes to mind when you think of the songs that have got to be in the PMG set list year? We'd love to hear from you!!!

We're very excited to be a part of the 25th Annual Meeting of the Minds "Here We Are" Convention!  This convention is SOLD OUT, but if you have registered, we're looking forward to rocking out at the Casa Marina Beach stage with all of you!

Thursday, November 3, Peter Mayer Group will perform at 4:00-5:30 pm
* Let us know your wish list for songs you'd like to hear!*

Saturday, November 5, Peter will perform with "Club Trini" from 8:00-9:30 pm

We will have the Mayer Kirby Mayer "La Casa Cayo Hueso" CDs that were recorded on the very same stage at last year's convention, "Live in Amsterdam" LPs (yes, LPs, that also contains a digital download card so you can listen on your favorite device), along with an assortment of other Peter Mayer CDs.

Also, hot off the press for MOTM, the new Mayer Kirby Mayer T-shirts!

Bring your holiday shopping list and we'll help you check it off - and you'll save on shipping costs!

IPM Trip to India

I'm embarking on this trip because I support the work that IPM (International Partners in Mission) does in the world to make a difference! As the years go by, my hope is to be a part of that difference, that two-way street that changes people and the circumstances they live with for the better. The more I travel, the more I see a need to be involved in work that doesn't just target funds for a project, but that works hand-in-hand in partnership to form relationships that build the world from the inside out as a sustainable, peaceful, hopeful and ever better place for our children.

While we will see southern India, the people, the beautiful country, small town and big city, the many varieties of Indian culture, language and cuisine, the purpose of this trip is not simply to sight see but to share a unique window into the lives of people where IPM has project partners and hear the stories - see the lives that are being touched by people working together.

I'm going to bring a guitar, and hope to share some songs along the way, and get a chance to play some music with Indian musicians. You never know what could happen, but I'm confident this will be the trip of a lifetime.  PM

Interested parties  should contact:
Alyssa Bovell    abovell@ipmconnect.org
Tel: 216.932.4082

Travelogue
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