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Click here
to see tons
of pictures
taken
during our
Spring, 2000
visit to
Stavanger,
Norway.

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.....The Music Room.....

On-Stage with the Gang

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Yep. That's me, the second guy from the right -- the one who's singin' his heart out with his eyes closed. Back before I was a full-time writer, I spent ten years as a full-time musician. (I used to say "making a living as a musician," until I realized the paltry sums of money we earned back then could hardly be called a " living".)

The folks pictured above comprise Heather, a country-rock band that played together from 1970-1976. Then, we broke up. Then, a few years ago, we got back together again for a "reunion concert" at the Hoosier Theater, in Vevay, Indiana. That's where this timeless archival photograph was taken, and where most of the songs available for download below were recorded. We were understandably nervous -- not having played together in almost two decades -- but, if anything, we sounded better than we did, lo, those many years ago. For one thing, with age comes perspective; we now know our limitations and play within them.

Now that I've laid a brief musical history on you, let me give you the lowdown on the other players, starting from the left:

• Jimmy Gaines (pedal steel and vocals) -- Jimmy and I started playing together in 1969 when we were both, well, let's just say "much younger." He was a rhythm guitarist, back then. Now he's one of the most tasteful pedal-steel players around. Jimmy is currently an airline pilot for ComAir.

• Ron Sachs (lead guitar and vocals) -- "Dr. Ron" joined the band when he was 18, and was already playing like a pro. He's only improved over the years. Now he's a psychiatrist, a profession that has endowed him with skills we all could have used, the first time around. : )

• Jan Hunter (percussion and vocals; also, Dr. Ron's wife) -- Jan didn't play with us back in the '70s, but she adds an invaluable vocal dimension whenever we get together now. Sweet harmonies are her specialty.

• Moi (bass, rhythm guitar, vocals) -- There's been 'nuff said about this guy, already.

• De Stewart (keyboards, bass, rhythm guitar, vocals) -- De has one of the purest singing voices I've ever heard. Like Jan, he possesses an instinct for delicious harmonies. De also happens to be one of my best friends; he has been for going on a quarter century.

• Ron Baumgartner (drums and percussion) -- "Ronny B." sets up on a riser behind all of us, so he doesn't show up in the above picture. (Check out the picture below, if you want to see what he looked like "way back when.") Bass players and drummers share a special musical bond. Ron is one of the best drummers I've ever played with, so ours was extra special bond. He also had the best line of the reunion. Quote: "I still sit back here and stare at a bunch of asses; they're just bigger than they used to be." We'll pay him back for that one...someday.

The Way We Were
(And this ain't a Streisand song.)

This one's from a loooooong time ago...
1974, during the band's initial incarnation.
From left to right:
Dr. Ron, moi, Jimmy, Ronnie B., De...
all of us -- younger, thinner...
and with much more hair.

Songs on the 'net

Thanks to the new MP3 audio compression, it's actually practical to post songs on the Internet, now. So, here are a few from the reunion concert, mentioned above, and one Heather "classic".

Note: These songs are stored on a server that supports streaming audio files; if your audio player does not support streaming audio, you'll need to initiate whatever process is appropriate for your browser and perform an actual file transfer to your PC, before playing them.

Baby Blue (Copyright © J. Nimersheim; Counterpart Music)
(This Heather single climbed into the top-ten in several Midwest
radio markets, during the mid-70s.)

The Way (Copyright © T. Hawkins; Counterpart Music)

Same Old Wine (Copyright © J. Messina; Jasperella Music)

Your Mamma Don't Dance (Copyright © K. Loggins-J. Messina; Wingate-Jasperella Music)

Find the Cost of Freedom/Ohio (Copyright © S. Stills/N. Young; Gold Hill/Broken Arrow Music)

Rainmaker (Copyright © H. Nillson-B. Martin; Dunbar/Tickson Music)

Willin (Copyright © Lowell George; Abraham Music)

 Give Us a Quarter Century 
And We'll Finish Any Project.
(Finally!!)