Q. What does an award winning songwriter, the guitar player from Scandal and an incredible singing drummer have in common?
A. Friendship and the beach.
The other night, I had the privilege of enjoying a fine concert which I attended with Sydney Arzt, former owner of Sydney’s Blues and Jazz Restaurant. Because her heart beats to the pulse of live music, I asked for her insights on why so many fine musicians can be found in Southern Delaware.
Here is a story from Sydney:
“Sometimes, the music stretches beyond the expected. This was the case at the Theatre of the Arts in Downtown Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Friday evening, December 19th. Three good friends presented a show called THREE GOOD FRIENDS and wove storytelling with the powerful musicianship of successful and separate careers. Doug James, Keith Mack and Ed Shockley highlighted their songwriting skills as well as their singing and instrumental mastery throughout the evening.
Each performer had a tale of platinum records, Grammy nominations, stardom, near stardom, family, and often, simply living at the beach. Mostly, it was about friendship and the songs they have each created which punctuate real times of their lives. The audience was pre-Christmas warm and friendly and created an intimacy that is so representative of beach community life in Slower Lower Delaware.
In October of 2008, Delaware Today magazine wrote a story called “Writing Home”. The article featured the songwriters in our beach area and also created the flavor of how special each of the songwriters felt about living and writing in the beach community. Kevin Short is a songwriter, performer and music producer who owns Mid South Audio, a local recording studio in Georgetown, Delaware. He summed it up… “The music scene here is not as high pressure as Nashville or New York, so people you want to work with become a community.”
Kevin basically summarizes the feelings of THREE GOOD FRIENDS and the community that surrounds and supports them. In the same article, the following lyrics are shared by Ed Shockley in his song, “Zwaanendael Dreamsong”-
“It’s just a little town, my hometown, not much different than most.
Used to ride my bike uptown, balloons tied to the spokes.
I grew up and moved away, tried to make my mark.
But it was always these roots that held me apart.”
How lucky we are that our songbirds have chosen to roost among us at the beach.”
-Sydney-
Thanks Sydney!…And, if anyone out there has a question for Sydney or you would like more info on something happening in the Arts here in the beach area of Delaware, let me know.
