I am scheduled to perform my original songs and stories at the Rustic Cafe on this Saturday night:
Dec 8 - 6:00 - 6:30 Rustic Cafe - 20811 N Cave Creek Road, Phoenix (2 blocks north of 101)
I will be performing several new songs. My newest song (The Mexican Outlaws) is in memory of Nicholas Ivie, the US Border Patrol Officer who died on Oct 2 near the town of Naco, Arizona. Another song (The Ballad of the Rocking AD) is inspired by the work of Allen Dutton, the muti-talented artist who has written about and photographed many of Arizona's historic locations. Mr. Dutton's good humor and intellectual curiosity has inspired the creative spirit of all his work: photographs, painting, writing, sculpture, and teaching.
I am pleased to announce that True West Magazine will be publishing my article about the life of William Porter Jones, a young man who left his family in rural Missouri to search for gold in the western mining camps from 1858 to 1864. His collection of letters were preserved by his family and donated to the Sharlot Hall Archives. The letters tell the tale of a prospector who maintained his good humor and optimism, despite the danger and financial risks that he faced in his chosen occupation. William Jones' journey took him from Pike's Peak Colorado, to Grass Valley and Virginia California, to Aurora Nevada, and finally to the mining camps along the Hassayampa River, Lynx Creek, and Big Bug Creek, Arizona. His last letter home was post marked "Has-sa-amps Walker's Diggins" Jan 24, 1864. Jones was killed in June 1864 at the beginning of the violent conflict between the settlers and the Apache Indians. My song "A Miner's Letter Home" was inspired by the life of William Porter Jones.
The True West Magazine will be on sale on Jan 1. The title of the article is "War To The Death". I hope that you enjoy the article.