Cookie Magic

This project began as a song by Gainesville producer and songwriter Bob McPeek. He wanted to share his song about the Rosewood massacre with the Black community of musicians here in Gainesville. Bob died before he could follow through on his mission, and a group of musicians took up the project and the goal of bridging the racial divide that still exists 100 years after Rosewood. 

This radio feature tells the story of how the project came together, and includes the voices of Lizzie Robinson Jenkins, organizer of the Rosewood Centennial Kick-off event, as well as Joy Banks, who rearranged Bob's song in a style the could reach a wider audience. She is the lead vocalist and the director of the 1000 Voices choir. They are a key part of the new version of the song.

Originally aired on Cathy DeWitt's radio show "Across the Prairie" on The Wombat radio, the feature includes Bob's original version of the song and the new version, which was performed on the Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville for the Rosewood Centennial event Saturday January 7, 2023.

Rosewood to Redemption Feature

Let's talk fire, animals, the Earth's core, libraries, and more with Jeff Mattsson.  A member of the legendary group Crash Worship, Jeff's got some stories.  He currently runs an incredible arts space in the Bywater neighbourhood of New Orleans, nothing will prepare you for this chat with the legendary Jeff Mattsson!

EP. 170 - JEFF MATTSSON

Solo / Tiniest Sparks but enormously Hip: Where Is It

A brief live improvisation I recorded using the first voice patch I managed to program into the 1979 Crumar GDS shortly after I undertook the major restoration (previously owned by the late Klaus Schulze) of this extremely rare groundbreaking early digital synthesizer.   It is named in memory of the late Max Mathews who played a major role in developing the software routines and concepts behind key parts of the GDS as well as in many other areas of pioneering computer based music technology.

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson 2014.

1979 General Development System: The Max Factor

Holy Power

Part one of this Extra Special Industry Tactics Christmas Special features a Lindor chocolate treat from Friendly's Festive vault: a 2004 interview with Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer.  At 83 years old, Schafer is one of Canada's most prolific composers and musical minds.  From coining the term 'soundscape' to being a companion of the Order of Canada, R. Murray Schafer is a national treasure.  Pour yourself a glarse of egg nog, sit back and enjoy your time with one of Canada finest minds (and Friendly Rich).

XMAS SPECIAL PT. 1 - R. MURRAY SCHAFER

The first in a series. Tribute to Chris Squire. Alembic Elan 6 String Bass. Roland PMA-5 Drums.

01 Explorations And Experiments Part 1

Think About You

When the news stops the music, we move on.

The News Stopped The World

The News Stopped The Music

I was on tour playing keyboards with a struggling indie rock band in the fall of 2001. I had a day off before my flight back to London, so I headed out to my mother's place on Long Island. The next day I woke up to September 11. My flight back was canceled.
I decided to go to Hither Hills State Park in Montauk to watch the sun and listen to the ocean for a few days. I was pleasantly surprised to find a lot of families out there camping and enjoying themselves, despite the horrible events that had unfolded.
When I finally made it back to London I quit the band, set up all of my gear in my tiny flat, and dove into a stream of consciousness journal I had been keeping for the past year. I was looking for gems buried in the thousands of meandering thoughts I had committed to paper.
I worked on the recording for about three months. I would wake up with a fire in my belly (no, it wasn't an ulcer) and just dive into the process.
I've always felt Solar Eye contains some of my best work. I still feel that way. I guess I am not one of those artists that seem to believe the latest thing they have done is always their best. I am lucky to have a few dear friends who "get" Solar Eye and have always encouraged me to do something with it. However, I think most of the people I have shared it with are baffled by it. So it has remained in a lonely, buried folder on my hard drive for nine years or so.

Solar Eye is meant to be listened to as one piece. If you are up for the challenge, I've put a zip file of the entire album for downloading at the bottom of this post. Line up all of the tracks with no gaps in between and have a blast.

Cookie Magic

Michael Ward-Bergeman

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