As I’ve mentioned previously, I am co-host with Lisa D. Smith and Nancy J. Reid on the Big Blend Radio and TV Magazine Podcast the first Sunday of every month. We talk about music, culture, life, food, travel and much more. It’s always fun and engaging. Since the first Sunday falls on Cinco de Mayo this month, we decided to have my husband, Videographer, Producer and Editor Paco Silva on the show. He talks about how the holiday is celebrated very differently in Mexico than it is in the US, and the historic and cultural reasons for it. We also discuss our collaborative process and our recent successes in the Pasadena International Film Festival, and our current Semi-Finalist Status in the Santa Fe Movie Awards. He said he was a little nervous, but he’s a natural! It’s a very fun conversation. Check it out if you are driving, relaxing at home, or taking a walk. 

We can be found on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Cstbox, Google Pocasts, iHeartRadio, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, RSS, YouTube, Roku, and more. The easiest way to find a link to the show on your favorite outlet is by going to the Big Blend Home Page, here. Our episode is “A Taste of Mexico.”

Paco is Videographer for the Society of Composers and Lyricists and has made most of my music videos, as well as many music videos for Melissa Manchester, Roslyn Kind, and others. He has created reels for John Williams, Diane Warren, and others. He and his business partner, Daniel Henry-Smith make up Siren Arts Productions, which has created promotional, instructional, and historic videos for many small businesses and non-profits including Home Instead, Write Brain Books, and the Institute for the Redesign of Learning (IRL). They also teach weekly video production classes to three different levels of students at IRL. 

What I’ve Been Up To

I’ve been in creative mode lately. Since I already know how to read music, I have been learning to play piano through the use of a series of beginner and intermediate piano books. I have some really good jazz books that have enhanced my harmonic vocabulary immeasurably. That is aiding my songwriting, helping me to translate what’s in my head onto a page. I’m starting to build muscle memory and it’s exciting. I spend time on scales, chords, sight reading, and singing while playing. I practice about three hours a day and am very encouraged by my progress.

Along with that, I am learning Cubase recording software. I have a very basic home studio next to Paco’s video work station in our spare bedroom. Chris Vieno, who has done some of my remixes as Bolton Hill, uses Cubase and gives me pointers, as does composer and producer Geoff Levin, who has been mentoring me and working with me on production of some of my tracks. I just completed my first full demo including drum sounds, While I have much to learn, I am very excited about my progress. Paco taught himself to do the amazing video work he does and that has been an inspiration to me as I improve my skills and capabilities. Melissa Manchester told me, “I’m sure that is opening whole worlds to you” and she is absolutely right. I can’t wait to share them with you! 

If you haven’t done so, please subscribe to my @hearjohnny YouTube channel and follow me on your favorite streaming platforms. I have several new releases in the pipeline. It’s a wide variety of music I have poured my heart and soul into.

I am grateful to Kris Lansing, Marge Walsh, Gwen Young, Foster Bertomen, Deb Blount, and Andy Reynolds for recent contributions to the tip jar on my website in support of my music-making efforts. I have a new release coming produced by Stephan Oberhoff and featuring 9-time Grammy® nominee Gerald Albright on saxophone, and a heartfelt pea for sanity produced with Geoff Levin. I want to use some promotional outlets that cost money. If you have the means and the inclination, I would love for you to be a part of it. I will include donors names at the end of the music videos and on the forthcoming special release CD, Discord an’ Dat Chord. 

My website Tip Jar is on the Home Page of hearjohnny.com

As always, thank you for taking time out of your day to catch up. I’m grateful. If the emails get annoying you can opt out using the links below. The last thing I want to do is bother anyone, but I do hope you’ll stick around.

Hugs, 

Johnny