Join the Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and a dozen other bands as we sail on the Simple Man Cruise 2012!

We’re cruising October 27th – 31st on the Norwegian Pearl, a new and luxurious rockin’ party ship with a bowling alley, climbing wall, and so much more. This southern festival at sea is departing from Miami and headed to Key West and Great Stirrup Cay! We’ll have endless live music and activities as we sail through paradise, and we’ll get to spend a day at our own private island as we rock in the sun all day long. Get ready to cruise with your favorite bands and an entire ship full of new friends for four full days of live music on various stages, and stops at two different party spots in the Caribbean.

Find out everything you need to know about joining us on the Simple Man Cruise 2012 and sign up for the pre-sale, here: www.simplemancruise.com

Doobie fans! Well, it’s been too long since I left my last message here and a lot has happened in that time! My physical therapist – who I affectionately call my physical torturist – continues to help me make strides down the road to recovery. It’s been fascinating, interesting, heart-warming, encouraging, painful, challenging… It’s been all of that and more, but nothing has been more frustrating than not yet being able to sling my bass on and rejoin The Doobie Brothers on stage. (Especially with band playing the new songs from World Gone Crazy! I’d love to be taking part in bringing all of that new music to you!) But it seems that recovery from a stroke – and from what I understand mine was a whopper – happens according to its own schedule, not anyone else’s. In the meantime, I keep my bass within reach as I forge ahead.

Your many cards, messages, and good vibes have meant a lot to me over the months and so, to make it easier for us to keep in touch, I’m creating www.skylark.me. There I will answer all your questions and post frequent updates, including letters and pictures I get from you! So drop in and say “hi”! It’d be great to hear from you!

With love, gratitude, and an eye on “stage right”…

Skylark

Michael Hossack is improving slowly. He sends his regards to all our fans. He’s still working on health issues but getting better. We will keep you updated on a regular basis.

Skylark visited the band at their Las Vegas gig in January. They got to hang out and it was a good time. He is improving daily, but is not able to travel or go on tour yet. He also sends his love out to the fans!

For more information regarding their specific circumstances, read the blog posts written by Michael Hossack and Skylark in 2010, as well as a new post from Skylark.

Also present were several members of the World Champion St Louis Cardinals, and of course, Tony LaRussa, their manager and a three time winner of the World Series.

The Peabody Theater was sold out for the event and ARF had a very successful evening!

The event was preceded on the night of the 13th in the same venue by Tony LaRussa and Bob Costas giving a “Champ’s Perspective” of the entire 2011 season run up to, and including the 2011 World Series for another packed house where the audience could ask questions after the presentation which included a lot of videos of the season and playoff/ World Series and some great back and forth between Costas and LaRussa.

Check out pictures below or here.

Doobie fans in Europe – France in particular – as well as many Doobie listeners in Canada, are most likely aware of musical living legend Hugues Aufray. Born in 1929, in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly sur Seine, Hugues spent much of his adolescence in a Dominican school in the south of France after the German occupation forced his family to flee their home. To make ends meet, he began singing on the streets for spare change.

Music lovers who have been around long enough to recall the “folk music” era that begat American artists such as Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary may also be aware of Mr. Aufray through his long standing association with these artists.

The Doobie Brothers’ own John McFee can be heard on the newest release by Hugues Aufray, entitled “Troubador Since 1948”, playing acoustic and electric guitars, pedal steel, banjo, Dobro, mandolin, and slide guitar. John says “It was a real honor to be asked to be involved with a project for an artist who has such tremendous heart and soul, and with such a rich history. This man was making music before I was even born, which in itself is saying something since I’ve been in my sixties for a while now. He’s become my idol – he’s energetic, vibrant, articulate in multiple languages, looks great, and is still making beautiful, sensitive music. It was an awesome experience to get to work with such a true gentleman – and having seen some of his sculpture and paintings I would say that the title renaissance man would suit him well – plus, all the musicians I got to work with on the project are fantastic – check out the credits, and it’s like a who’s who of top level international players.”

A couple of bits of trivia that may generate further curiosity amongst those not yet familiar with Mr. Aufray’s work:

• Celine Dion was named by her musical parents after the beautiful and touching Hugues Aufray ballad “Céline”
• Bob Dylan wrote the liner notes for Hugues’ previous album, “New Yorker”

This new album is genuine “world” music, with musicians from many countries around the globe contributing – music truly is the international language…

• 02/04/12 – Taupo – Outdoor Amphitheatre
• 02/05/12 – Whitianga – Whitianga Waterways Outdoor Venue
• 02/11/12 – Queenstown – Gibbston Valley Winery