Words are hard to come by in describing what this man meant to me.  The photo is worth a thousand words capturing his charm and personality. We began our musical pilgrimage together as bandmates at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Amarillo, TX.  He was a bit shy, entirely unsure of himself as a mandolin player, but with encouragement and practice his playing began to bloom.  We started to do brief offertories and then expanded that music into some of the tracks presented here which have been updated as noted. 
He noticed a lump on the side of his neck two years ago which became uncomfortable to the touch and started to interfere with swallowing.  He was not a smoker, but a biopsy revealed a squamous cell carcinoma.  He valiantly fought the disease with the best treatments available but succumbed to it July 17, 2023. He leaves behind a loving family, a legacy of faith and faithfulness to his Lord, and his love of music celebrated with these collaborations I was honored to create with him.  Rest in peace dear friend until we meet again at His appearing.

Pat Howell--mandolinist, and good friend--A Memorial Retrospective

March is a month of contrasts, especially on the High plains, and really anywhere in the Midwest and Southern states.  Sometimes after lamb-like weather, a lion of a storm system can form bringing a blizzard to the Front Range from Denver to Cheyenne and tornados to within a few miles of Amarillo.  Pat and I try to put a little of March's moodiness into music first inspired by his mandolin musings that also inspired an earlier track "The Return".

The Lamb And The Lion (Pat Howell; Mandolin, David Dunham; Guitars

My friend David Dunham wrote this in his sleep (yes... he's that talented)and then was kind enough to share it with me. My intent was to just add the "sprinkles" in the background that I kept hearing in my head each time I listened to it. I hope I have done it justice.
Thanks Dave... it's always an honor.

When You Awake

What started as a little rambling ditty on my octave mandolin, was turned into fuller, more meaningful ditty thanks to my friend & musical cohort David Dunham (@david-dunhamuser589535203). Visit his page and hear what this truly gifted musician has to share.
Thanks Dave for all your help and support!!

Now & Again

So honored to have singer/song writers Gary and Darcy Bixler add a vocal and lyrical interpretation to an earlier song I wrote "When You Awake" in which Pat Howell added a lovely mandolin part.  I am twice blessed by these fine talents adding to a song with such a humble beginning; the result of a dream during an afternoon nap:) Thanks to all of you for making this song something very special.  More fine songs can be heard from Gary @soundcloud.com/user-432405235-236877019, and @patrick-howell-786748109.

From This Moment On--SC Original Collaboration of Gary&Darcy Bixler/Pat Howell/David Dunham

With Pat's passing, I wanted to post this version of Ode with us doing a little brainstorming on the creation of the song. 
I witnessed a miracle--at least I would call it that.  A beloved rose that was a regular bloomer(pictured) fell victim to the incredibly harsh cold spell we had in February of 2021.  By April when the rest of the roses were waking up, this one had not a sign of life in it, just a brown stump.  I watered, and fed, and waited, and waited.  Nothing.  I dug out the stump.   For Mothers' Day my daughter had bought a rose to replace the one that had perished...or so I thought.  Within a week of planting the new one, the old one put out a shoot just a foot away.  I guess the digging, watering, etc for the new rose stimulated some remaining root of the old.  It has since received lots of love and care, and has at least a half-dozen buds ready to bloom in a couple of weeks.  So this is an ode; to a beloved rose and all things miraculous.  
Special thanks to Pat Howell for the initial inspiration and his fine musicianship and sweet additions with mandolin and octave.  Please check out his page for more fine music @patrick-howell-786748109

Ode To A Rose (with new intro and outro 7/23/23)

I always love it when my good friend and bandmate Pat Howell sends me his latest mandolin musing, this time with his Octave.  His musing becomes my "muse" and the ideas start to flow, this time using two mandolins and two guitars.  Just in time for Fall, and maybe my favorite season, a refreshing breeze from the Texas Highlands.  Hear more fine music on Pat's Cloud @patrick-howell-786748109

Texas Highlands (Pat Howell; Mandolins, David Dunham; Guitars)

"Aisling", besides being a popular girl's name in Ireland, also means a Celtic dream or vision.  It was Pat's hope I would catch the vision from a recording he made of his Octave mandolin which I finally did adding a guitar part and a middle section with the Requinto guitar that sounds remarkably like a Celtic harp.  It's a vision we want to share with you:)

An Aisling (A Dream or Vision) with Pat Howell; Mandolin

The track picture is a common sight in the canyons of Colorado, and probably all of the Rocky Mountain states.  The sun can be shining while driving in the canyon, but miles ahead there could have been a torrential rainstorm that triggered a flash flood and it is coming...quickly.  You literally have to abandon your vehicle and climb the canyon wall or get washed away.  
The sign and song are metaphorical as well.  When flash floods of circumstance happen in our lives, we must seek higher ground so as not to be washed away in the emotional maelstrom.  Such was the case with Pat and his cancer diagnosis twenty months ago, and with my good friend and collaborator Elmer Stone who unexpectedly lost his beloved wife Bonnie a few days ago.  They are seeking and finding higher ground in their faith, families, and friends.  
A big thank you to Pat for sending me the "ditty" a while back but recently rediscovered that serves as the "higher ground" in the song.

Climb To Higher Ground with Pat Howell, Mandolin (In honor of Pat Howell and Elmer Stone)

Collaborated with my good friend and band mate Pat Howell on mandolin to compose this uplifting tune. We first played it as an offertory at church but wanted to do more with it in a studio setting. We like the results and hope you do too. Named in honor of Pat's new puppy, now a very energetic dog:)

Willow Skye (with Pat Howell, mandolin) Updated Mix 3/14/23

Both Pat and I are blessed to have daughters. So when he came to me with this musical idea in honor of his daughter, I was quick to get on board. We originally released the tune (an Irish reel of sorts) as a church offertory, but decided to make a more formal recording, and now with an added second guitar part that Pat loved when we reprised it as offertory in honor of his daughter's homecoming from college for Thanksgiving.

Of Fathers and Daughters-- with Pat Howell, Mandolin (Revised and Updated 11/22/21)

Some clear sky and fresh air for those who have to shelter in place. I floated this tune (pun intended) by my band mate Pat on mandolin and he was quick to compose a part that added a real sense of open sky to my pickings. Hope you enjoy this seafaring shanty.  
With Pat's passing I wanted to post this song with a modified intro--a little ditty he loved to play "The Irish Washer Woman".  
I came across the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield. The feel of the song fits the poem, but composer John Ireland does it much greater justice.

Sea Fever
By John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
 I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
 I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

Hoist The Main Sails (updated with new intro and outro 7/23/23)

My good friend and bandmate Pat Howell shared some of his mandolin musings and ramblings to see what I could make of them. My excitement grew as the production evolved with each "return" to the three note sequence on the mandolin.  As you journey, may all your returns be safe and joyful.

The Return (Pat Howell-mandolin, David Dunham-guitar)

I am a finger-style guitarist living on the Texas high plains.  At the core of my music is melody that is inspired and informed by my Christian faith, family, friends, and countless influences through the years from the great composers, to jazz, folk, rock, Latin, Celtic, and the many fine musicians I have come to love on the Cloud, some I have been privileged to collaborate with.  Thanks for stopping by to have a listen. Comments are always welcome. Feel free to click on the picture of any track to learn more about it.