Category Archives: Original music

Why this tune? With everything that’s going on around us, I’d like to offer an optimistic song this week that I hope can provide a bit of sunlight in these stormy times. I went through a period of mild writer’s block a few years ago. After going several months without writing any new songs, myContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: When The Morning Comes”

Why this tune? The Metro subway system in the Washington, DC area just  resumed full service. I’d like to offer my song “Stand Right” as a refresher for people who may need a reminder of the unwritten rules of local transit. When I returned to the DC area about 10 years ago, I learned howContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Stand Right”

Why this tune? You never know what will trigger a good song idea. In the case of “Let’s Wander,” from my album “Making Up For Lost Time,” it was lunch at a taco restaurant and a coaster that said “Let’s go where the wifi is weak.” That connected with another phrase I had written downContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday: Let’s Wander”

Why this tune? I have been working with the International Center for Journalists for several years on projects supporting independent journalism and countering disinformation. When I heard a government official talk about “Alternative Facts” on the news, that moved me off the couch and to the piano to start writing a response. I call thisContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – Alternative Facts”

Why this tune? Spring means gardening, which in my case was the inspiration for my first song with lyrics, “I Believe In Rhubarb.” If you’ve heard me perform this with Barbara Papendorp and others, you’re heard the story – I mentioned to a friend that my wife doesn’t like rhubarb, and in fact doesn’t believeContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – I Believe In Rhubarb”

Why this tune? This year’s national Arbor Day is on April 24, and I’m celebrating the day original song dedicated to the trees, called For A Tree. This is part of an ongoing project to write songs for holidays that don’t, in my opinion, have enough good ones. I recorded For A Tree at homeContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – For A Tree”

Why this tune? This week I’m celebrating spring with one of my songs. We were visiting friends in Ithaca, NY on a hot April weekend. It was so hot that our friend remarked that it was like “an August day in April.” How could you not write something with a title like that? It’s aContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – An August Day In April”

Why this tune? I got a brunch invitation from a friend, who asked whether I wanted bagels or donuts. I thought “my head wants bagels, but my heart really wants a donut.” I was trained as an engineer, so that struggle between thinking and feeling really resonated, and led to this very personal story aboutContinue reading “Tunes on Tuesday – The Heart Says”

Welcome to the first edition of Tunes on Tuesday! Every week, I’ll post a short note about an that I wrote or one that influenced or inspired me. I look forward to hearing your comments on the songs and what they might mean to you. Why this tune? It seems appropriate to start the seriesContinue reading “Tunes On Tuesday – Nine Miles Wide”