From: Peter Frampton
Subject: Re-Rhinofy/I Wanna Go To The Sun

Dear Bob,

I am verklempt you would choose this track. It is one of which I am very proud. Nicky Hopkins was a dear friend and piano playing genius! I had the privilege to play guitar on two of Nicky’s solo albums while he returned the favor and played on a few of mine. When I hear Joe Cocker singing, "You Are So Beautiful", I always have to pull over, stop the car and turn the radio all the way up. It’s a duet really because that is Nicky playing the amazingly moving piano part.

My eyes were constantly glued to his hands as he played. And goose bumps would always appear on my arms. He was the master of his own unique style with a feel, a choice of notes and a touch that could only come from the depths if his soul.

My limited piano playing has always been inspired by Nicky. It was a piano lesson for me every time we played together. Nicky did play on another track on the, "Somethin’s Happening", album but it is actually yours truly playing the piano on, "I Wanna Go To The Sun". Your mistaken identity is an incredible compliment. I really miss dear Nicky.

Peter

From: Paul Thorn
Subject: Fm Paul Thorn, thanks

Hi Bob,

Thank you so much for the kind words about my cover of Elvin’s tune. I’ve known him for several years now and I’ll always remember the first time I heard him play it. We were sitting on his back porch overlooking his amazing garden. He picked up his Gibson 335 and said "Tell me what you think about this song I wrote." I was blown away, it just killed me. I’m thrilled to have him play guitar on the track, his solo really pushes it over the top. I stop by for a visit when we’re touring in CA and he always gives me a jar of his homemade kiwi jelly. That’s a good thing. He’s a real sweetheart.

I smile when I read your comments about the biz, sometimes I feel like your poster child. In 1999, after a short stint with A&M, I recorded my first independent release Ain’t Love Strange, pressed 1000 copies, started a website and jumped in the deep end of the indy pool before there were too many of us around. I hit with road without a map and luckily landed solo opening slots for Jeff Beck, Richard Thompson, Sting, Bonnie Raitt, John Prine and learned a couple of things real quick: Go straight to the merch table immediately after my show, sign every CD, shake every hand and cultivate the email list. As simple as this sounds it was the most important thing I did early on – connecting with fans and then stay in touch. It continues to pay dividends and I’m grateful for everyone of them. After a string of self penned releases I’m taking a left turn to cut a cover record just because I wanted to. My fans are cheering me on every step of the way, we’re in this together. How cool is that?

I’m truly blessed. The tour dates keep coming in, I make records I’m proud of, and I’m surrounded by a band that makes me look better than I deserve every night. They’re not only great musicians they’re my best friends. We keep everything in house and life is good.

Here’s a streaming link for the new project:

http://www.paulthorn.com/wth/listen.html

And…the video that just went up of Elvin’s tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HulJhHWTBTo

Hope to see you down the road.

Paul Thorn

From: Colin Hay
Subject: Re: How Do You Become Indispensable?

Hello Bob,

Great piece, the thought of touring across this vast land without Stern in the car is, well it’s unthinkable.

One can only hope that he is as addicted to talking on the radio, as much as we are to listening.

Colin