Weather or Not

I awoke on Friday morning to the sound of my little girls voice saying "I had a bad dream". Bear in mind, that this was shortly before 4am. I had planned on getting up at 5 to get ready for work. My wife prayed with her and assured her it would be ok, but nonetheless, she returned moments later asking to sleep on the floor or to in some way stay in our room with us. Since we have a queen bed, the prospect of having her with us in the bed would have meant that no one would really be able to sleep well. So, I decided to give her my spot and go ahead and get up.
It was a good thing, in the night, mother nature decided to drop snow and ice in the area, thus elongating my trip. The trip to work normally takes me an hour and 15 minutes. It took just over 2 hours. The snow continues to fall behind me and as I am told, there is about 1-2 feet now. So as I return home tomorrow, I will drive into worse weather than when I left. I hope to get a chance to go sledding with my kids...Either way, I will be home with them and that is what I am eagerly awaiting.

Anticipation

I just received the tracking number for the package containing my proof copy of my CD. It is basically the completed project all done up and ready for stores, I just have to listen to it, look over all the artwork, lyric sheets and then make noted on any needed changes. I then send it back to the company and it is ready for print. This means I should be able to get copies as soon as the second week in February! I cannot wait to get it released. Copies will be available as soon as I get them from my website . The actual release date will be in about 3 months. Then it will be available on iTunes and in stores. I am stoked about getting closer to the final product. Please pray for this project, that is reaches those who need to hear it. - Jamison

Well, one more week and I will be in possession of a hard copy of my CD to go over. Once I have approved the cover art, insert artwork and lyric sheets, the CD will be ready for production. I am very much looking forward to getting started playing events and doing some radio spots. My website is up and running now. Many thanks to Keith Marshall of Marshall Graphics. Still more content to go up. Soon people will be able to order the CD directly from the site and pay via Credit card or paypal account. Keep checking the site for updates.
I have some time off after my long weekend at work and I am working on some new songs. I am often bewildered at the timing that God has. I wrote a single line down this weekend to remind me of an idea that I had, then it was like God just took the pen and started writing. It was about a man sitting in a restaurant observing a woman in obvious pain then watching her slip out the door without hearing the gospel. How often do we see such things but ignore the urging of God to act upon them. We are here for one reason...to tell all we see the good news! Why are we so afraid to do that? Why do we let those opportunities slip away...it is simple. Do not try to save them, just tell them about what Jesus did for you...He will do the saving part.

Production

I am posting this just to keep anyone reading this blog notified as to what is going on with the record. I received the cover art and approved it on Thursday this week. I am thrilled at how it turned out. I like it for several reasons. 1. The colors are very soothing. 2. The detail is slightly obscure due to shading. 3. The Title is in a nice font and size. 4. While I am in the photo, my face is not. This lends itself to my personal dislike of self promotion. While it is required for any artist to promote their recordings, I feel it more important to promote what the album is about. For me, that is the music therein, which in turn promotes Jesus. So while the cover is a bit ambiguous and un flashy, I appreciate how it accomplished that goal while looking really professional. Thanks to Cole Roberts at Tate publishing for his artistic vision for this project. Also thanks to Keri Butler for her vision in the photography. You will see a lot of this image both on my face book page, myspace and my website that is being built. www.jamisontunes.com
Please comment on any of my posts to let me know you are reading and I will continue to post things as I can. Thanks to all those supporting me in this venture. - Jamison

Shaping up

Things are shaping up in many ways. On the "Fat Guy" front, I am committing to dropping 50 lbs in the next 6 months. Please pray for me as I begin the road to a needle free life. I have been on insulin now for a few months and am not liking it much. If i can drop 50 lbs, I believe as does my Dr. that I will no longer have to take these shots.
On the music front, my CD is in the artwork phase and things are coming along. I am making connections in different areas of the country and have begun to make potential bookings. I am optomistic that the CD will be well received. I guess we will see. I will be content at playing weekly events and selling a few hundred CD's a week. HAHA.

Past and Present

This weekend has been pretty up and down. Up in that through the magic of Facebook, I have re-connected with a good friend from high school. Kelly and I were thick as thieves back in high school. We also went to junior college together for a year. While in high school and college, we had the chance to sing together. I always remember how well our two voices blended and how we could switch who was doing melody and who was doing harmony without even thinking about it. It was cool.
This Sunday, Kelly and his family came to our house to visit. I had not seen him in 15 years. We had a nice lunch, visit and then began to play music on our guitars and sing. With the upcoming release of my CD, I thought it would be cool to have Kelly sing with me when I was playing in the area. So when I book a gig somewhere in southeast Ks, or in that general area, Kelly will be on stage with me. I am excited for this prospect. Kelly is hard at work now learning all of the songs and practicing the chords. I will post local appearances as they become available. Thanks for reading.

Inspiration

I have been a paramedic now for 15 years. I have worked for 3 different EMS services over the years and have had the pleasure of visiting with several members of the "Greatest Generation". That is of course the generation who served during WWII.
I have always been interested in that conflict. I am not sure why, but I have. So when I am able, I like talking to both men and women who served. I had the chance to visit with a gentleman once on the way to the VA hospital in Wichita, KS. He had been fighting in France and through fate, wound up on the wrong side of a grenade. During a battle, his unit was being attacked, during this, a German soldier had thrown a grenade into the structure that he and his unit were in. In a snap decision, he leaped onto the grenade to save the lives of his fellow soldiers and the grenade went off. He lost both legs, both hands and his sight. He also sustained damage to several internal organs and lost 11 feet of his colon and his spleen. Needless to say, this man was in rough shape. He barely survived. Fast forward to the year 2003. Now an old man, he needed to go to the VA to get treatment for an infection. I drew the card. The conversation was interesting and heartbreaking to say the least. He was the first person to bring to my attention to the inscription that is located above the entrance. He told me, "Now I have never seen it, but I believe it with all that is left of me" He chuckled and told me, "look up as you enter the front door of the hospital." I did so. Right there in bold letters, where one would think I would have noticed it after standing in that very spot dozens of times, it read..."Herein lies the price of freedom".
This vet was not complaining, nor was he trying to make a point, however, he did. My view on the Greatest Generation as well as all of those who serve in the US armed forces changed that day.
This was brought to my remembrance today and I wrote a song about it. I plan to record it soon and post it on my website as soon as I can. - Jamison

New things coming

I have started this blog to inform people of new things coming up for me. I have recently finished recording my first studio album and it will be released sometime in the next couple of months.
There will be a CD release announced both here on this blog and on my facebook page. I will also be launching a new website. It is up and running, but content is still being added thanks to Keith Marshall www.kmarshall.com
Please feel free to visit my website for other info and tour dates as they become known and to purchase my CD "All Of Me" when it comes out. Thanks and God bless.

NOTE: URL has changed for the new website. it is now www.jamisontunes.com