December 05, 2022:

“As we approach another Christmas and New Year, I want to thank everyone for their continued interest in my music, and to wish them Happy Holidays and an inspired New Year of great music and, most important of all, good health. All the best in 2023!”

Cheers,
Allan

Sept 11, 2022:

Hi all! Sorry I haven't been updating this news section - was travelling, went to beautiful Iceland! (COVID took the wind out of my sails). I’m slowly getting my “groove” back."

Some Internet Radio has expressed interest in my music so I thought I'd remind DJs and Radio Hosts that you can still find my material for download at Airplay Direct. (You must be a verified station to download, which isn't difficult even if you're not signed up already).  As always, thanks to everyone for supporting my music. Much appreciated!

Cheers,
Allan

Jan 4, 2022:

As 2022 staggers in under the weight of the trials and tribulations of 2021 I wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope the New Year will be better than the last. I also wish all my musical friends and supporters an abundance of great music, whatever the genre. It is through music that we can go beyond our temporal and transitory lives and experience the divine that lives in all of us. Play on!

Dec 5, 2021:

Seasons Greetings to all my musical friends and supporters, and best wishes for an excellent New Year. Although my musical production has waned in the past months, please know that you inspire me to keep searching for the muse that I know is just around the corner.

Sept 6, 2021:

I’ve just added three new poems for your enjoyment and/or amusement. Fragment is about shattered lives one finds in bars, and the subsequent search for self before the booze runs out. Parliament Of Fools recounts a real experience I had drinking lemon gin with a buddy on a hot summer’s day; Mary recalls a time when I was in Kenya consulting for the University of Nairobi and meeting a prostitute in the Colonial Hotel, a grand old place for such an encounter.” I hope you find them entertaining, and thanks for visiting.

July 15, 2021:

After some hacking problems “I’m back in the saddle again.” Feels good. Working in a couple of new songs and some poetry. Also starting to book solo gigs. I’m about to turn 80 and am determined to make my next decade the 'Markin Musical Decade.'

Dec 05, 2020:

Warm Season’s Greetings and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year to all the DJs who play my songs, and to all my friends and supporters who continue to show interest in my musical (and now poetic) endeavors. I deeply appreciate everyone’s support. Thank you!

Nov 12, 2020:

I’m pleased to announce an exciting addition to my creative activities: poetry. I’ve written poetry from time to time throughout the years…even had a few published. Recently, as I was casting about for another creative outlet, it occurred to me to write some poems. After all, poetry and song writing are “kissing cousins.” As I worked on the poems it felt like the right thing to do.

My first posting consists of nine poems, with topics ranging from images of Mexico, grave digging in a Doukhobor cemetery, and a fellow’s first visit to the ocean and his fascination with starfish. There’s even a poem about what a heart attack might feel like. Don’t ask me why I wrote this one. I’ll never be another Shakespeare, but I do hope you’ll enjoy my foray into one of the classic literary arts, which you’ll find here.

May 10, 2020:

Hello all! Very pleased that “I Believe (In Loving You)" is enjoying its 10th week on the Hotdisc Top 40 country chart in the UK! I’m very grateful to the DJs who continue to play my songs. Sincere thanks to all.

April 30, 2020:

Hello everyone! “I Believe (In Loving You)" is enjoying its 8th week on Hotdisc Top 40 UK charts, which makes me pretty happy.

The following very nice email from Patty in Michigan added to my pleasure:

“Just done listening to Allan’s CD [Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life]. It is a wonderful CD. I will be listening to it many times to learn all the songs. Don’t have a favorite song yet.”

It’s comforting to know that my other music is bringing joy to listeners in distant places. As I read Patty’s email I was reminded that music can soothe the soul, which is very important during the COVID – 19 pandemic, when everyone is anxious about how and when this crisis will be resolved. Best wishes for good health to all my listeners, supporters, and DJs who continue to spin my songs.

April 19, 2020:

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all the DJ’s who are playing my latest single
“I Believe (In Loving You)", which is enjoying its 7th week on the UK charts, currently at #30. Also, I wish everyone good health during the COVID – 19 pandemic crisis. Stay safe!

April 04, 2020:

As we all try to cope with the physical and psychological effects of COVID19, I wish all of my friends, listeners, supporters, visitors to my website, and DJ’s the best of health during these difficult times. And 'I Believe' is still tracking on UK Radio, so thank you again, DJ's and fans alike.

On a positive musical note, very soon I will be releasing a lyric video of my song Sickle Moon…watch for it. It’s one of my personal favorites…a few nights ago I saw a “sickle moon” in the dark night sky and couldn’t help but feel a tingle go up my spine. Stay well.

March 18, 2020:

I just returned from 30 wonderful days in Ajijic, Mexico, where I had a great time singing with a fine group called The Aloha Band. The name is a bit odd for Mexico; Louis, the band leader and excellent rhythm guitar player and singer, hails from Hawaii…hence the name. Right now I’m enjoying self-quarantine until the end of March and using the quiet time to write some new songs.


Speaking of songs, I’m very pleased that my recent release “I Believe (in loving you)” has reached #34 on Hot Disc Top40 in the UK. Sincere thanks to the DJs playing the song.

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Jan 06, 2020:

I wish all my musical friends and supporters a Happy and Bountiful New Year, with special greetings to the DJs around the world who play my songs. I'm pretty excited about my new release, "I Believe (In Loving You)" and your support is deeply appreciated!

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November 28, 2019:

I’ve not exactly been stagnant on the recording side of things. A new single on the way is quite exciting - 'can't wait to tell you more about it!

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May 30, 2019:

I’m having a great time strumming and singing with the Penticton Ukulele Group. I even got to perform a solo version of my song “Blues for the Golden years.” The performance was very well received. Quite a rewarding experience! Love my baritone uke.

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April 5, 2019:

Today I became the proud owner of an acoustic-electric baritone ukulele, a fine instrument in beautiful mahogany. Looking forward to having some fun with it, especially exploring how compatible it will be with the Russian folk songs that I’ve been singing for years. For folks who might want to joke about this, I am not planning to become another Don Ho, but I do remember drunkenly singing “Tiny Bubbles” at parties many years ago. Sadly, I’m too pudgy to pass for Tiny Tim, but I do think that it’s time for a revival of “Tiptoe through the Tulips.”

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March 7, 2019:

I’m so glad that the songs I released internationally through Triplestrand Productions continue to enjoy extensive radio play. Cowboy Mid-life Crisis Blues in on 318 stations (4800 spins a week); Golden Years is on 434 stations (6500 spins a week); and The Wish is on 517 stations (8500 spins a week). The other songs (3) are on an average of 200 playlists each. Sincere thanks to all the DJs who continue to play my songs. You folks make my musical adventures truly rewarding!

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December 9, 2018:

Two weeks ago I released “The Wish” through Triplestrand Productions. It’s a mildly spiritual number that I wrote when my brother-in-law Peter Perepelkin passed away. It opened on 75 international radio play lists. In one week it’s jumped to 582 stations. Incredible, and really nice to know that that there are many folks out there who still enjoy traditional songs. Sincere thanks to all the DJs for giving “The Wish” all this air play. Much appreciated.

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August 19, 2018:

I have had 5 songs in international radio release through Triplestrand Productions for many weeks. Currently they are collectively enjoying approximately 32,000 radio plays per week. Pretty amazing staying power! Thank you, DJ's, presenters and programmers!

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June 23, 2018:

A week ago I released “Golden Years” internationally through Triplestrand Productions. It made it onto 58 radio station playlists in the first week. Now, just one week later, I’m thrilled to report that it’s jumped to 538 stations. That’s approximately 8,000 spins a week. Special thanks to all the DJ’s who have received the song so generously!

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April 23, 2018:

"Pretty excited. I just completed recording a new version of 'Blues For The Golden Years', now simply called 'Golden Years'. It’s a very stylish, evocative production. I’ll be releasing it to international radio fisrt part of May. This song is very meaningful to me as I try to get a handle on my own ‘golden years’. It’s better to write a song about them than to launch a futile search for the person who coined the expression in order to administer some punishment for coming up with this misnomer."

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March 20, 2018:

“If success is measured by the number of international radio plays my songs are currently enjoying, then here are this week’s stats. GONNA LOVE ‘EM TO DEATH…443 stations; I’M STILL STANDING…482 stations; TOO LATE NOW…439 stations; COWBOY MID-LIFE CRISIS BLUES…614 stations. At an average of 15 spins per week per song/ per station, that’s approximately 29,000 plays per week. Makes this old crooner pretty happy.”

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Jan 07, 2018:

"Happy New Year to all my musical friends near and far. May 2018 bring the joy of song into your hearts. Please know that I am very grateful to everyone who has sent positive messages to me about my music. Special thanks to all the DJs around the world who are playing my songs. You make me very happy."

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Nov 02, 2017:

“It looks like my music is enjoying a strong reception in Europe. I just received the Top 200 Artist Charts from Europe for the month of October 2017. I’m listed as #120 on a chart that contains many very big names in country music. I’m blown away by how well my songs are doing internationally, but I’ll take it.”

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Oct 25, 2017:

“My EP album A Six-Pack for Love is back on the charts at CFBX 92.5 FM in Kamloops. It now sits at #8 on the Top 10 Roots Album chart, one of only two listed as “local talent.”

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Oct 23, 2017:

“The news keeps getting better and better. “Gonna Love ‘em to Death (if it kills me)" has moved from 577 to 635 international station playlists. It’s now #1 on Triplestrand Productions chart of more than 400 songs, enjoying approximately 9500 spins a week. “Too Late Now” continues it slow climb, moving from 575 to 578 station playlists, enjoying approximately 8600 spins a week. That a lot of ears around the world listening to my songs. Makes me pretty happy.”

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Oct 15, 2017:

“Five weeks ago I released two songs through Triplestrand Productions to international radio. I’m very pleased that, as of this week, “Too Late Now” is on the radio playlists of 575 stations; 577 stations have listed “Gonna Love ‘em to Death (if it kills me)”. Sincere thanks to all the stations for sharing my songs with their listeners.”

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Aug 30, 2017:

'Just received news that my EP 'A Six-Pack for Love' is #6 on top 10 roots chart at CFBX 92.5 FM in Kamloops!

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Aug 1, 2017:

I’m very pleased that my song Too Late Now is on the July 31st playlist of Bryan Chalker’s show “Same Roots, Different Fruits” in the UK.

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July 23, 2017:

I’m busy preparing my set for the Princeton Traditional Music Festival which takes place from Friday August 18th to Sunday August 20th. I’ll be performing on the Museum Stage at 11:30 AM on Saturday, singing selections from my Doukhobor album “Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life,” and a few other original songs with a “traditional” touch. It looks like it’s going to be a great event with lots of very talented singers and players. Check it out at www.princetontraditional.org.

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July 11, 2017:

I now have in my possession a Willie Nelson inspired “Texas t-shirt” courtesy of my new Texas friends Paul and Merrill from Bryan/College Station, Texas. According to Merrill, I can boast about my “Luckenbach Texas look”, just like Waylon, Willie, and the boys.

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May 10, 2017:

I am very pleased that I have been invited to perform at the Princeton Traditional Music Festival on August 18 to 20, 2017. It will be a delight to share the Doukhobor story through songs from my album “Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life”, as well as to sing a number of traditional Russian folk songs (In Russian).

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April 24, 2017:

I had a great time at my concert at the Leir House Cultural Centre in Penticton on Sunday, April 23rd. An excellent attentive audience gave me great energy to build on. Many said they enjoyed the stories behind some of the songs, especially the songs about my ancestors the Doukhobors. I was particularly pleased that the “hurting songs” from my new EP A SIX-PACK FOR LOVE were well received.

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April 10, 2017:

My April 23rd concert at Leir House in Penticton gets more and more interesting. I have just confirmed that a small video crew will be video-recording the concert to produce a promotional music video that will help me to build my musical profile. Although all this tech stuff is new to me, I’m planning to be in top form and looking forward to an enthusiastic audience. Should be fun!

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March 31, 2017:

I’ve gone back to a song I wrote 3 years ago. It’s called 2 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT; roughly speaking it’s about a lonely old man running out of time and on the verge of an emotional meltdown. This song really speaks to me and I’m seriously considering recording it for release this summer.

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March 15, 2017:

I had a great time performing some of the songs from my Doukhobor album “Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life” at the USCC Talent Show in Grand Forks on March 11th. The audience was attentive and appreciative, making my experience as a Doukhobor singer-songwriter quite rewarding. Photo courtesy ISKRA Publication

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March 13, 2017:

Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 23rd, 2-4PM. That’s when I’ll be performing a selection of my original songs from my 3 albums (and some popular covers) at the Leir House Cultural Centre in Penticton. CDs will be for sale. Enjoy a glass or two of fine Okanagan wine while you listen to my songs and the stories that inspired them. $10 at the door. I spent most of the last 2 years writing and recording songs. I’m pretty excited to get back into performing in public. Love it…should be fun…'hope to see you there!

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March 04, 2017:

“I’m pumped! 'Just released “Too Late Now” in the UK on Stuart Cameron’s Hot Disc Top 40 country chart. The song is charting #35 the first week out. That makes four songs in a row that made the Top 40. Great fun! I guess I have to get to work and write some new songs.”

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March 02, 2017:

“I’m really excited about performing some songs from my album Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life at the USCC Annual Talent Night in Grand Forks at the USCC Community Centre…show starts at 7 PM on Saturday March 11th.”

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Jan. 08, 2017:

I’m very excited! I released Cowboy Mid-Life Crisis Blues a week ago on Hot Disc Top 40 in the UK. The initial ratings have it coming in at #34. So fine! This is the 3rd song of mine that has made the Top 40 list. I think I’ll have a wee dram of good bourbon to celebrate.

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Dec. 31, 2016:

As the world slides precariously into 2017 let there be music. Music will soothe our heavy hearts. Music will take us into emotional realms beyond our wildest imaginings. Music will connect us to each other “heart to heart.” Music, if we let it, will transport us into spiritual spaces that will enhance our collective humanity. Most of all, music will make us happy. I wish all my musical friends a truly Happy New Year filled with creativity and song.

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Dec. 22, 2016:

As we go through another Christmas holiday season, I would like to wish all of my musical friends and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a truly Happy New Year. Regardless of our religious or non-religious beliefs, it is important that we make this a season of compassion, reflection, friendship, and love, and that we commit to carrying these values into 2017 and beyond. Cheers to everyone, wherever you may be.

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Nov. 30, 2016:

“I’m very happy to be getting back into drama in a big way. I did a lot of acting in a former life (Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, Chekov, Shakespeare). Next spring I will be directing a great play called The Man with the Plastic Sandwich for the Penticton Chamber Theatre. It’s an entertaining serious comedy. Ironically I once competed against it in a Vancouver Island drama festival and won the best actor award for my performance in a one-man show called A Life.”

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Oct. 30, 2016:

“I’m excited. “Gonna Love ‘em to Death (if it kills me)”, which I released in the UK on Oct 1st, had a slow start, but this week it has clawed its way into the Hot Disc Top 40 (#39). Makes an aging Canadian crooner feel pretty good.”

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Oct. 25, 2016:

“I'm pleased to see some interest in my 'Doukhobor' album Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life in the Langham, Saskatchewan area, and would welcome more contacts in Alberta and Saskatchewan.”

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Oct. 9, 2016:

“I’ve been invited to perform some songs from my album Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life at the Canada 150 celebrations to take place at the National Doukhobor Heritage Village in Verigin, Saskatchewan next July. This will be an excellent way to celebrate my Doukhobor ancestors’ pioneering work to develop the Canadian West at the beginning of the 20th century.”

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Sept 20, 2016:

New recording of 'Gonna Love ‘em to Death (If It Kills Me)' almost done. Will be releasing it on Hotdisc in the UK in October. Watch for it!

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Aug 28, 2016:

Still in the Top 40 at #31. Sickle Moon up 2 more points this week on HotDisc UK charts. Check out the new Station Play tab!

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Aug 21, 2016:

Still in the Top 40 and climbing! Sickle Moon up 6 points this week on HotDisc UK charts.

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Aug 6, 2016:

'Just released my newest single 'Sickle Moon' to radio with HotDisc in the UK - entered their charts at # 39.

HotDisc is one of the premiere music services in the UK that services radio stations with music. Stations may download from Airplay Direct as well. 'Should be interesting to watch!

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July 24, 2016:

“A Toast to Shakespeare” is a collection of well-known scenes from the full range of his plays: tragedies, comedies, romances, and history plays. I was given the role of “The Muse,” the guy who narrates the show and links all the scenes together.

		To do this I had to write my own script, which was challenging and great fun, especially during the show when I could be fairy liberal with wit and just a little bit of sarcasm. It was especially rewarding to give our show’s final speech, the farewell address that Shakespeare gives to Prospero in The Tempest. “Our revels are now ended…” and so on to “as you from sin would pardoned be/Let your indulgence set me free.”

The 2 hour show has been getting great audience response. Check out the Gallery for more.

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July 13, 2016:

Had a great time performing at the Whatshan Lake Retreat Jam last weekend. My original songs, and especially those from my newly released 'Doukhobor' album “Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life' were very well received.

This was the first time I formally performed these songs in public so I was a bit concerned about how they would come across…didn’t have to worry at all. Even my first attempt at singing live to the backing tracks from the album went well. ‘twas a good weekend!

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July 5, 2016:

Today is a big day for me; it’s the official release of my album “Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life.” I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my Doukhobor cultural heritage with the public, at the same time paying tribute to my courageous ancestors whose faith saw them through extreme trials and tribulations in Russia and Canada. I’m looking forward to this weekend when I’ll be performing some of the songs at the Whatshan Lake Retreat Jam. Just click on Doukhobor album below or here to see how to buy the album and share my special musical journey.

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June 5, 2016:

It’s official. I will be performing at the "Whatshan Jam 2016 Family and Friends Festival", July 8, 9, 10. I’m excited because this will be my first opportunity to perform songs from my album Places: Songs Of Toil And Peaceful Life in public. Official release of the album is July 1st so the timing is perfect. The Whatshan Retreat is a beautiful place to spend a relaxing weekend. Check out whatshanjam.com for information.

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May 20, 2016:

It's both exciting and satisfying in completing the final two songs (The Wish and Wagon Train to Verigin) for the Doukhobor album. Should be done in a week…watch for the samples. Then it’s off to manufacturing and packaging the CD and a triumphant public release. 

After a dry spell for a few weeks I’m back to writing songs. Just finished a sad little number called Sickle Moon about the chill that settles when love is gone. Going to enter this one in a sad song competition (yes, there is such a thing)…watch for it on the website once I polish it up a bit to give it a Tony Bennett “swing” style…very new for me.

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March 24, 2016:

I'm very excited that all recordings for both albums almost complete. Now starting to work on graphic design for Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life. Producer Ron Mahonin will give the CD an interesting heritage-based look as well as musicality with a strong professionally produced and mastered Russian feel. 'Can’t wait to see and hear the final results. Two more recent production samples have been added; Sod House and Silver Linings, and Baba's Waltz (in the Doukhobor tab > Song Samples)

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Febuary 9, 2016:

"I’m very happy with the final version of The Bridge (In the Doukhobor tab > Song Samples), not least because it’s an honour to pay tribute to this iconic structure in Doukhobor history. It has been suggested that the song would anchor a fine video production filmed on the bridge with added archival images. Very exciting…I’d love to be part of this."

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January 31, 2016:

I had a very good songwriting week. First I named another album I’m working on. It will be called I’m Still Standing: Songs of Dr Eclectic. It will have 14 songs on it, three of which I’m polishing up this week: Don’t Waste the Moon (an anniversary song), I’m Still Standing, which recalls my encounter with a 'hobo' when I was 12 years old,” and It’s too Late Now, a honky-tonk hurting song I wrote as a tribute to George Jones, one of the finest voices in the history of country music.

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January 21, 2016:

I am thrilled at the several hundred views and many positive responses that came in as soon as the website went live yesterday. I’m encouraged and very grateful for all the support that has come my way. Thank you!

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January 4, 2016:

I’m very excited to be adding two new songs to the Places: Songs of Toil and Peaceful Life album. One song is called The Wish and expresses Doukhobor belief in the merits of hard work, commitment and determination to overcome challenges, and the need to look inside oneself to unlock the forces of good that come from within.

The second song, also spiritually inspired, is called Morning Meditations. Using images of awakening that come from a glorious sunrise, this song expresses the presence of God in everything and everyone; we just need to be open to recognizing the divine.

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December 21, 2015:

Quite inspired today. Working on a new song for my Doukhobor album. The song is about the Brilliant bridge, which the Doukhobors built in 1913 to cross the mighty Kootenay River just below the Brilliant Dam. Today the bridge, fully restored, stands as a testament to Doukhobor determination and hard work;  another reason to pay tribute to our ancestors.

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December 5, 2015:

Production has finally started on Cowboy Mid-Life Crisis Blues. I'll be doing vocals on it soon once the instrumentation has been done. It's always exciting to hear things as they progress. Will keep you posted!

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December 3, 2015:

My long-awaited wish to start a website where all could view what's happening in my creative world commenced - will advise everyone when a first visit can be had. 'Feels good to make progress!

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November 30, 2015:

I was delighted to hear Wintersongfinished, production completed! My good friend Bill Head did a marvelous job on this - thanks Bill!

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November 21, 2015:

While on my South Africa trip, 'Deda's Song'was finished in production. I've long been waiting to hear it done in traditional Russian style and that, it has been. 'Am excited for all to hear it!

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