URL: www.musesmuse.com/lofaves.html
Last modified 8-Jan-99 - page size 34K - in English
Who are your favorite local songwriters & why?
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Buddy Polhemus, a songwriter from Alabama, 25 years at the task.
Prefer writing for my children nowadays, writes:
Locally ALABAMA: Stephen Sedberry, Brad Dorsett, Don Tinsley, Lolly Lee
Locally INDIANA: Kieth Vincent, Addison Ellis, Donna Kari
Nationally:Carol King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Judy Gold Nancy Griffith, Jackson Brown, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Mickey Newberry, David Broza, Harry Chapin, Mac Davis, Don MacLean, Nilson Tod Rundgren
Of the above, most of my form, style and texture have been a conglomeration of everyone but my biggest inspiration has been from Stephen Sedberry and a myriad of other street musicians like him if nothing more than the fact that he writes as though he were having a conversation. The ability to communicate through the medium of music and place words in such a way that they are enjoyed for their sound both in the ear and throat as well as in the mind. He portrays content with each conversation and his random performances are that of a wandering prophet showing up to say the right thing at the right time and having others hear more what they need than what they want. I would encourage many to step outside and listen to those not trying to be noticed or really even understood but contemplated. I think there is scripture in that, the wildman in the wilderness telling us of a better world, a better way, a shift if you will in our paradigms long enough to revisit some Utopia within ourselves each time we hum that melody that won't be forgotten. That is what I enjoy about writing, I think it is bigger than we are and the more anonymous it appears, the greater the allure. How do I know the man talking to me with the tin cup on the sidewalk isn't 427 years old and knows me by name. He may be telling me something that can save my life or help me treat my neighbor a little better. I have to listen, I have to give back as well. So much egocentric "listen to me!!!!" writing out there today. The greats had a way of writing and saying "I listen to you!"