Acoustic rock, folk & full-blown blues, also pop & country influences. Thanks to Dave Bell, Steve Blizin, Aidan Browne, Geraldo D'Arbilly, Lars Fosdal, Steven Hewitt, J. C. Kercheval, Chris Montefiore, Eric Myers, Vidal Sanchez, Steve Stuhlbarg

10 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Acoustic, FOLK: Folk Pop



Details:
"Country Matters" ranges from acoustic rock to folksy & full-blown blues. Folk-rock & pop/country influences also abound. Texts explore celebration of relationships & commitment as well as grieving & celebrating endings,transitions & new beginnings.

My music is drawn from my life and experiences living in Great Britain, West Germany and the United States over the past four decades. I travel a lot in my toddler years with my parents since my Dad is stationed in Germany with the RAF. My formative years are spent on the south coast of England, absorbing and resonating to the sounds of the 60's and 70's.
Despite an initial distaste for "Glam Rock" and "Top of the Pops", the discovery of The Beatles' "Sergeant Peppers" album and a pair of headphones, (both left on my parents recently acquired record player after a party), draws me inexorably into the world of Rock and Pop music. Guitar lessons soon follow and music become a vital means of self-expression and solace as my family emigrate to the United States during my teen years. I begin writing songs during the lonely evenings and weekends which follow that move and the culture shock which inevitably sets in.
I graduate from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Economics in 1986. Quickly becoming disgruntled with the cutthroat world of advertising and marketing, I begin to focus on social work issues in 1990, working at Children's Home of Cincinnati. Since 1994, I work for Hamilton County Children's Services, helping children and families who have issues of Child abuse and neglect.
In 2001 I discover ACID (Latin) software and loops for $10.00 at MARS Music. Then I discover Acidplanet. My life is again changed forever as I am able to resume meaningful songwriting and collaboration without giving up the stable family life I have yearned for and for which I have worked so hard. I put some of my early efforts into an album released on MP3.com, which obviously is no longer available. This leads to the release of my first commercially available CD on CDBABY, "Country Matters" a title taken from the lines spoken by Shakespeare's Hamlet.


Hope you enjoy the music, best regards, Richard.

1) Simple Things explores relationships and shared experiences and how much more valuable those things are than than material loads and accumulations. The music (in the Windham Hill style of guitarist Will Ackerman) was written, performed & produced by J. C. Kercheval in 2004. Lyrics and melody written and performed by Richard Montefiore.

2) Aidan's Heartsong is about transition, personal growth and moving on. The music was written, performed and produced by Aidan Browne in 2002. The lyrics and melody written and performed by Richard Montefiore in 2002.

3) Winter Lovers is a bluesy, jazzy/rock vocal piece. Based on a poem by the spoken word artist "Ox3" it explores classic themes of passage and renewal in an intimate setting. Music and Lyrics composed, performed and/or sequenced and produced by Richard Montefiore in 2002.

4) Atomic Cowgirl- A country/Folk/Punk flavored collaboration with Eric Myers produced in the spring of 2003 which features a great harmonica performance is by Steve Blizin. The main lyrics and music were written by Eric Myers. Countermelody and lyrics by Richard Montefiore.

5) Walks with Angels was written for, and is dedicated to, the daughter of a friend of Dave Bell who was killed in a car accident. The music was written performed and intially produced by Dave Bell. Added percussion was provided by Geraldo D'Arbilly and secondary lead solo work is by Eric Myers. Lyrics and melody written and performed by Richard Montefiore. Additional production by Richard January 2005.

6) City of Hearts is a inspired love song to the world. Music and Lyrics were written and performed by Richard Montefiore. Additional classical guitar, bass and piano was performed by Steven Stuhlbarg. Recorded on Analog equipment in 1992 by Christopher Montefiore, the track was produced by Christopher Montefiore and Richard Montefiore.

7) Haunted By You. Lyrics were written by Steven Hewitt of OX3 and Richard Montefiore who also provided the vocals. Music is written by Richard Montefiore who performed acoustic guitars and sequencing. Additional guitar and lead lines were provided by Vidal Sanchez of Angie's Spiral. The track was produced by Richard Montefiore, 2002.

8) Forever Mine- "Remember a warm slow summer morning when you woke up together with your lover?" These words of description by "I am Fuz" AKA Lars Fosdal inspired the lyrics for this song which has no actual bass guitar line. The music was written, performed and produced by Lars Fosdal in 2002. Lyrics written & performed by Richard Montefiore.

9) On "Easy Now" the lead vocal entwines with the guitar lines to tell an intensely personal soulful story and examine intimacy and estrangement in a manner that is touching, complex and distinct. The music was written and performed by Eric Myers. The lyrics and melody were written and performed by Richard Montefiore. Production by Richard Montefiore & Eric Myers, 2003.

10) Fred Rogers Blues- A rollicking "Beatles - y" blues tune celebrating the life and contributions of American Public Television's Children's guru Fred Rogers who died in February, 2003 after a brief battle with stomach cancer at the age of 74. This music was written and performed by Eric Myers. The lyrics and melody were written and performed by Richard Montefiore. The track was produced by Eric Myers and Richard Montefiore in 2003.