Composed by Robert Holden, circa 1979, for the Parkview High School Jazz Band 1. Original title "Light Blue Denim". Re-titled "Ned The Band" in 2011; performed by the Jazz Educators Big Band of Springfield, MO.

This "all parts played by me" version is a tribute to my Parkview years and the instruments I played in Mr. Holden's various ensembles. Solos on euphonium (joined by tuba), trombone, alto sax, and trumpet, with a bit of flute, clarinet, piano, and orchestral chimes (I apparently improvised on those at one point, on a dare) thrown in. 

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Ned The Band (Mix 2, 3-21-21)

The traditional Christmas carol, played by me; three euphonium parts and tuba part

Ding Dong! Merrily On High 12 - 25 - 23

"Twilight Ditties" are short little snippets that come into my head unbidden, fairly complete, and mercifully(?) short. It's a common occurrence, as if my subconscious mind decided it needed to solve a random math problem. They tend to be brisk tempo, extremely unfashionable (think '70s era TV themes and commercials), and unrelated to any music I should actually be doing at the time.

This first one got stuck in my head today (my 61st birthday) and only by recording it could I properly exorcise it. The rooty tooty trumpet, the cliche trombone countermelody, the syncopated banjo against the boom-chick barroom piano, the hoppy bass line, and the you've-got-to-be-kidding-me drum breaks are all dictated verbatim from my imagination. Recording this took an hour of my life I'll never get back. Now it's eighteen seconds *you* will never get back...

Twilight Ditty 1

One of my first brass/rhythm section arrangements, from 1978, never heard before now

O Holy Hark Medley 12-23-24

Second track from the 1995 CD "Tales From Little Vegas". All vocals and instruments by Ned Wilkinson. Mixed and mastered by Pete Matthews.

Monkey Love

A medley edit of the jingles MMI wrote, recorded, and produced in the year before the pandemic shutdown.

MMI Demo 2019-2020

From the original cast album of my 2006 musical Dawg Pound Blues, produced at the Vandivort Center Theatre in Springfield, MO. 

Way Out Of No Way

Closing number of "Forever Plaid". Music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. Arrangement by James Raitt. Vocals and instrumental by me.

Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (Uncle Chester's Version)

One problem the bunny has always had is a lack of ensemble numbers. In previous productions I tried to cheat it a bit with "Writers' Room", a slightly re-written reprise of the title song. But it seemed a bit too obvious. Still, I liked the idea of a "dream ballet", where Adam's imagination gets carried away during sleep. 

This is more a "dream twist & frug", honestly. It's my best attempt at complete nonsense, using a title I've carried in my pocket for a couple of decades. It's probably the biggest risk I've taken, and if I err, I err on the side of having an outrageously good time.

Julie: Center
Adam: Far right
Mr. Simon: Far left
Chef Albertson: Center left
Penny: Center right

Boy George Michael Jackson Browne Demo 1

The bunny has always been, for me, a nice little collection of self-fulfilling prophecies. Back in September '16, when I first got the word that OTC might be interested in a new production, I wrote this song, hoping that, at the end of a lengthy rewriting process, I'd actually feel like this. 

I did, and I do.

Since I can't actually appear in this show, I'm stealing this song back just long enough to record this demo, and then it once again belongs to Daniel Bush (who gave it its public debut) and the future actors who portray Adam. May it be as lucky for you as it has been for me.

Renewed Demo 2

For anyone who wants to sing their own version...

Renewed Karaoke 2

Phase Shifter Effect Demo

I'd rather write songs for other people than for me, so this is an exercise in writing for Rhubarb from the point of view of his human manager. It's written with Rhubarb's voice and guitar skills in mind, in case Rhubarb decides it's worthwhile enough to put in the Maximum fuR&B show. For now, you get the human voice (and even the human thumbnail). Time will tell if the demo is worth revising, or performing, or both.

In my mind's ear, the Archies could knock this out of the park. Or the Banana Splits.

We're Not Done Yet Demo 1

The very short song I dreamed before waking on 10/26/2020, without further expanding or elaboration. Other than a vague association with a forgotten carton of hard cider rediscovered the day before, I have no idea what this is all about.

Summer Cures (Demo Fragment)

2020 was the year I made a resolution to write Christmas songs. This is probably a bit too specific for any other artists to cover, so here's the all-me version for now.

Ned Wilkinson

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