tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331756582011-12-02T09:32:11.647-08:00Chuck Cheesman is a singer/songwriter from Flagstaff, Arizona. According to the Big Bang Theory, the Universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old. Chuck often wonders what the heck was going on 13.8 billion years ago.Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.comBlogger1231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-60115569989475950182011-12-02T07:46:00.000-08:002011-12-02T09:29:02.524-08:00

No school today in Flagstaff! Yippee! Schools are closed! I've apparently been a lazy blogger lately, but I now have a lazy day and a moment to share something. In honor of Flagstaff's weather and our surprise holiday I offer up an original song. Enjoy! Visit http://www.myspace.com/chuckcheesman/music/songs/snow-day-84077911 and press the play button. "Snow Day" by Chuck Cheesman from the

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-64054848103066143952011-10-28T09:46:00.000-07:002011-10-28T09:46:13.088-07:00

My friend Stefan over at Zooglobble documented some of our fun at the Children's Museum of Phoenix this past weekend. Here's a video of "Dancing With No Shoes On" that captured the vibe of my live children's music performances nicely: "Dancing With No Shoes On" words & music copyright Chuck Cheesmanfrom the CD Dancing With No Shoes On - Chuck Cheesmanamericana & folk rockchildren's music

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-58230922932992739612011-10-27T10:10:00.000-07:002011-10-27T10:10:25.961-07:00

This is what folk music is all about: Mark Dvorak is one of my mentors and one of the finest folk musicians on the planet. And he got this one absolutely right. - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-20741247014651545032011-10-26T11:49:00.000-07:002011-10-26T12:16:38.663-07:00

BOO!!! In Honor of Halloween, I'm giving away a free download (for personal use only) of my original Halloween song "Halloween Freak Out!" from my Dancing With No Shoes On CD. I'll leave the download option up through next week so folks can add the song to their Halloween party playlists. The link to the the direct download: Free Halloween Song Download - "Halloween Freak Out!" copyright 2010

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-34948344767341773432011-09-26T10:51:00.000-07:002011-09-26T10:51:58.327-07:00

Looks like my Dancing With No Shoes On CD has begun to arrive in the world, and it looks like The Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl is the first radio show to give the record a spin. Yesterday afternnon, with Milo snoozing on the couch, Casey and I gave the show a listen while playing some board games. We downloaded the podcast from Apple iTunes. This is a really great kids' music show. I was happy

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-71093472043484159142011-09-23T16:04:00.000-07:002011-12-02T09:32:11.666-08:00

Consider this post a little experiment. My music is now available on MySpace again, and I'm curious as to how some of their little gadgets work. Assuming they've got their act together, you should be able to press this button and listen to "One Silver Hair" off my Imagining Dancers CD: (Visit http://www.myspace.com/chuckcheesman/music/songs/one-silver-hair-80289486 and press the play button.)

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-75222422330368018092011-09-23T14:08:00.000-07:002011-09-23T14:08:34.428-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact: Dancing With No Shoes On, LLC. c/o Chuck Cheesman P.O. Box 30877 Flagstaff, AZ, 86003-0877 New Children’s CD Release from Arizona Musician Chuck Cheesman September 12, 2011 (Flagstaff, Arizona) -- Arizona children’s educator/entertainer Chuck Cheesman is releasing a new recording of music for children. Dancing With No Shoes On is a

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-81437015742601935912011-09-16T08:14:00.000-07:002011-09-16T08:19:22.039-07:00

This weekend is the big festival for Northern Arizona music lovers! And we've got Sam Bush and David Grisman! Not to be missed is http://www.pickininthepines.org I'll be busy. Today I'm playing a tweener (two songs on the main stage between acts), and then I have children's music performances on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday afternoon I am also teaching a songwriting workshop with an emphasis on

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-35584001209434959452011-09-07T21:31:00.000-07:002011-09-07T21:33:35.520-07:00

My new children's CD Dancing With No Shoes On has made its appearance here in the real world. At some point my promotional activities are likely to catch up with the actual CD. In the meantime, you can listen and order a copy of this children's music recording at CD Baby. Enjoy! - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-10513188556018664582011-09-02T09:14:00.000-07:002011-09-02T09:14:37.718-07:00

My close friend Craig Yarbrough finally has a website. I've been urging him to get "on the web" for a long, long time. He's been dragging his feet and instead has probably been doing exactly what he should be doing - practicing guitar. Craig is the founder and director of our Grand Canyon Guitar Society. As busy as he is with that project, Craig has got his fingers (literally) on a number of

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-14756990783192481042011-08-20T09:45:00.000-07:002011-08-20T09:45:18.601-07:00

Grand Canyon Guitar Society has announced its 2012 concert series. This represents the very best of music presented in Northern Arizona. Tickets and additional information can be purchased at http://www.canyonguitar.org. 2011-2012 Grand Canyon Guitar Society Concert Season: Berta Rojas, Paraguayan Virtuoso Guitarist Saturday, September 24, 2011 8:00PM This concert immediately follows the "

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-52501415689237148552011-07-12T22:35:00.000-07:002011-07-12T22:35:12.708-07:00

I've been pretty busy playing gigs for kids this summer. Yesterday I was scheduled to do something called KidSquared out on Heritage Square here in Flagstaff. Unfortunately it was raining. I waited out in the car until just before 10:00 am figuring I would simply cancel my performance. Imagine my surprise when I noticed children and their mothers strolling in expecting a show. Such enthusiasm is

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-55318175268868348172011-07-03T21:53:00.000-07:002011-07-03T22:01:54.402-07:00

I played a gig with Jim Pipkin today. This Jim Pipkin: Jim writes the kinds of songs authors of Western or cowboy-themed material should write, but so few do. Where most of the contemporary cowboy songbook is filled with generic, often phony, testosterone-laced bravado, Jim's songs are filled with empathy for both the people and the places of the real West. He spins tales with both humor and

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-36924388385346854392011-07-02T18:15:00.000-07:002011-07-02T18:25:06.942-07:00

Two kids' shows in Flagstaff: OK, they aren't really the competition. In fact I'd like to promote these shows,. Both are being held at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange here in Flagstaff: June 14, 2011 ~  The Thinkers ~ Check the Bookmans calendar: http://www.bookmans.com/events/2011-07-14 A duo featuring original music for children rocks the house. August 6, 2011 ~ Matthew Henry Hall ~ My

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-82662333369017247372011-06-21T20:58:00.000-07:002011-06-21T20:58:35.952-07:00

I played a little gig in San Diego this past weekend. Here's a little proof that I have been getting out of the house lately - photo courtesy of Jill. Enlarge the picture and paste it on a popsicle stick. Go to http://www.chuckcheesman.net and listen to some of my music. Move the popsicle stick around a little and it'll be pretty close to a live show. OK. I'll try to find something better to

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-70820297493214715112011-06-21T16:19:00.000-07:002011-06-21T16:26:52.042-07:00

It's been a busy summer, and blogging hasn't crept near the top of my to-do list. I'm still working on finishing up my children's record while promoting Imagining Dancers and booking work for the fall. I've also been spending some time working on my home studio. I owned a Ken Smith bass for a few months. It wasn't the answer to my home studio needs, so I've been researching bass tone. Always,

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-52262447798530532942011-04-25T13:26:00.000-07:002011-04-25T13:28:16.304-07:00

I'm back to doing some home recording. I spent five days last week with my friend/producer Sam Zucchini laying down tracks for my upcoming children's record. We muscled out some good tones on guitar, voice, ukulele, banjo, and percussion. We did it mainly through careful microphone placement and the use of some quality gear. We were fighting a battle with my room, and I think we won. But I've

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-53895811809268601252011-04-23T10:38:00.000-07:002011-04-23T10:38:28.567-07:00

The Folk Sessions with Tom Agostino I recently did a phone interview with Tom Agostino of The Folk Sessions, KJZA Radio. It will be airing toninght at 7:00pm. Check out the website for details: http://www.folksessions.com/#/radio/4547564172 The show will also be streamed on Sunday via AMAZ Radio at 8:05pm. Tom is currently putting together another The Folk Sessions compilation record, and it

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-32737249199962033642011-04-14T20:01:00.000-07:002011-04-14T20:01:37.694-07:00

My friend Jim McCarthy is someone I really admire. Now retired, he is one of those people who knows how to fight the good fight. His heart is in the right place - just an all around good guy who understands what is important in this world. Among other things, he has been fighting to protect the Grand Canyon from noise and development for over two decades. Despite his retirement, Jim is one of the

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-87572556665211390652011-04-06T20:37:00.000-07:002011-04-06T20:37:52.012-07:00

Martannes! As if I need any additional reasons to eat at my favorite diner... Martannes Burrito Palace. Eat here when you're in Flagstaff. - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-50012462219574078032011-03-22T09:58:00.000-07:002011-03-22T12:54:16.046-07:00

Imagining Dancers Hits the Charts! It's a small achievement, but I didn't want to let this pass without documenting it: Imagining Dancers has (barely!) made a top 50 list for folk airplay in the Roots Radio Report as appearing in Cashbox Magazine. For two weeks my CD follows the legendary Eva Cassidy. It isn't Billboard, but a look up and down the chart reveals some pretty big names. My CD is

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-49492504827871231372011-03-22T09:48:00.000-07:002011-03-22T09:48:05.924-07:00

Argentinian guitar virtuoso Eduardo Isaac - Tuesday, March 22 at Coconino Center for the Arts 2300 N Ft Valley Road, Flagstaff AZ 7:00 PM - tickets ($12 in advance, $15 day of show) http://www.canyonguitar.org/ Program:   Two Spanish Works Nocturno Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982) Allegro Joaquín Rodrigo (From Elogio de la Guitarra) (1901-1999) Capriccio Diabolico Mario

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-81970638698659090722011-02-23T09:29:00.000-08:002011-02-23T09:29:51.209-08:00

The CD Imagining Dancers is now available on CDBABY.COM. Download the track "Universe" as an mp3 for your own enjoyment. "Universe" written and performed by Chuck Cheesman, published by Punkins Papa Music (ASCAP)

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-4327485259513593932011-02-20T09:29:00.000-08:002011-02-20T09:40:07.833-08:00

A Note from the Road I spent a good chunk of Friday driving from Phoenix to Los Angeles. These are two cities at the top of my "don't get caught in a traffic jam" list, and I managed to sneak between the Phoenix morning rush and LA afternoon rush. Lucky me. Not so lucky me, I reaggravated an injury to my back and am having some painful back spasms. Getting my bags up to my hotel room gave me a

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-18772466663875017872011-02-11T13:08:00.000-08:002011-02-11T13:08:01.115-08:00

I occasionally submit a guest blog to Bookmans Entertainment Exchange's site. Here is the latest: This Land is Your Land (I hope they let me correct the errors. I'm not very good at proofreading my own work!) - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-73525128955051362162011-02-10T20:15:00.000-08:002011-02-11T10:39:34.322-08:00

Hi friends, I'm taking my show on the road next week. It's going to be a nice trip with time for writing, hiking, and seeing some old friends in addition to the shows I have scheduled. February 2011 ~ California Shows Feb 18 ~ Abuelitas, Topanga Feb 20 ~ Sculpterra Winery, Paso RoblesFeb 22 ~ Steynberg Gallery, San Luis ObispoFeb 24 ~ The Porch, Santa MargaritaFeb 25 ~ KZSC 88.1 fm, Heaven's

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-79194328452301160842011-02-09T07:17:00.000-08:002011-02-09T22:42:40.502-08:00

When the road less traveled gets too crowded pull on your boots and start bushwhacking. - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-72632518831947144572011-02-08T11:08:00.000-08:002011-02-08T11:08:25.115-08:00

Hi friends, I just got a last minute slot on Erich Sielaff's Arizona Music Cafe radio show for this Sunday. Details: Sunday, March 13th - 3:00pm KKNT AM 960 Listen Live It looks like these shows are archived and published as podcasts, so if you miss it there's a chance you'll be able to download it later. Imagining Dancers news: The CD is set to arrive on February 15th. There is a new

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-41149454284262145032011-01-29T11:17:00.000-08:002011-01-29T11:17:35.203-08:00

I made my first youtube video a little over a year ago. It's a demo of an old Gibson LG-1 guitar I had at the time. Surprisingly, the little video has hit 5000 views already! That's a lot more than I'd have predicted. I guess folks looking to buy an old LG-1 have been using this thing for research. Here is my Gibson LG-1 video: - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-76986665556574735322011-01-29T10:52:00.000-08:002011-01-29T10:52:24.598-08:00

Coming Soon! photography by Monique S. Stevens - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-5554607998814355582011-01-07T14:50:00.000-08:002011-01-07T14:56:31.164-08:00

The band, meaning me... This whole singer/songwriter operation is a lot more than most people think it is. I have a friend who worked very successfully as a full-time actor for a number of years. I clearly remember when he told me that his real full-time job was looking for a job. Now he has a steady gig and I am the one always looking for the next job. I understand much better what he was

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-57038305098456807272011-01-05T08:32:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:34:29.360-08:00

New Recordings in 2011 My latest full length recording of original songs, Imagining Dancers, will be released in about a month. It's a collection of "grown-up" songs and I'm certain it represents the best work I've done. In the meantime, I've finally started lining up sessions to do a new children's music recording. A Family Songbook is pretty much out of print. I have a stack left that I'll

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-8923225352984790512010-12-21T08:08:00.000-08:002010-12-21T08:08:15.390-08:00

My friend Nancy Walker has a new recording and I'm here to tell you that it's a good one. As I've said before, I'm not in the business of doing reviews. I am very happy to make a recommendation when I find something good. True Colors is a collection of songs that is inspired by the local history and characters of Greenfield Center in upstate New York, Nancy's current hometown. Songwriters and

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-65470544137399955542010-12-15T19:39:00.000-08:002010-12-15T22:07:42.572-08:00

This post is likely to be the first of many as I approach the release of a new recording called Imagining Dancers. We've scheduled some tour dates, and we've also scheduled Arizona and Illinois CD release parties: Flagstaff, AZ Party at Uptown Billiards 114 North Leroux Street Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 773-0551 http://www.uptownbilliards.net/n/ Friday, March 4, 2011 - 6:30 pm featured guests

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-52995797783076687732010-11-30T20:23:00.000-08:002010-11-30T20:23:41.673-08:00

The War on Thanksgiving? I am going to try to be brief. I probably won't succeed. A strange variation on the story of the first Thanksgiving has been making the rounds as of late. It is an unusual telling which is meant to be an affirmation of both capitalism and Scripture. If you have yet to hear or read a version of this story, I suggest you read Rush Limbaugh's take on a partisan

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-10938560448564107292010-11-29T16:49:00.000-08:002010-11-29T17:02:15.837-08:00

Hi friends! Good news! Dancing With No Shoes On! free music programs will be returning to Flagstaff's Bookmans location beginning in February! I just spoke with my friend Kate Beles and we've decided to go ahead and set-up a regualar schedule. I'll be singing for the children at 10:00am on the first Saturday of each month. Our first show will be in February! Details: Dancing With No Shoes On!

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-1220928400308413172010-11-23T10:25:00.000-08:002010-11-24T15:35:03.519-08:00

I just finished reading a wonderful book called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Now, I should warn my dear reader here that the author, Barbara Kingsolver, has been called one of the 100 most dangerous people in America. In the pages of this book Kingsolver deals with that accusation with a sharp knife - few if any apologies to the chickens. Too funny. As I've said before, I don't do book reviews.

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-10491755746203331092010-11-19T11:24:00.000-08:002010-11-19T11:27:06.380-08:00

Hi friends, As the release of my CD approaches my attention turns to logistical problems and trying to figure out how to move my music from my closet to the ears that might enjoy it. I will readily admit that I dislike this end of the game, but the music is the product of my blood, sweat, and tears. I want the world to hear it. And so I have taken a dive back into the murky waters of social

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-5847888016059436902010-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:30:04.075-08:00

There's a wonderful concert taking place tonight at the Coconino Center for the Arts here in Flagstaff: Flavio Cucchi Friday, November 12, 2010 @ 7:00 PM Coconino Center for the Arts (see map) Tickets: $18 Day of Show - call (928) 213-0752 All tickets purchased within one week of this concert will be available for pickup 30 minutes prior to the concert at the Coconino Center for the Arts Box

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-62491355798505818702010-11-02T18:05:00.000-07:002010-11-02T18:05:48.909-07:00

"Election Night" copyright 2008 by Chuck Cheesman - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-84828982711591010332010-10-19T18:23:00.000-07:002010-10-19T18:23:04.552-07:00

Hello friends! I have been trying to keep quiet about my new recording because things always move slower than I'd like. However... There is a new CD in the works and it will be out in the world within a few short months. There will be a flurry of shows (hopefully!) here in Arizona beginning in February. In addition, there is a stretch in late February where I intend to do some travel here in

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-55368152178864175132010-10-18T09:17:00.000-07:002010-10-18T16:36:52.642-07:00

Guest Blogs I currently receive a grant from Bookmans Entertainment Exchange to bring my music into Head Start classrooms here in Flagstaff. It's been a wonderful opportunity to bring my music to children in a situation where they would not otherwise be able to fund my program. In addition to teaching the classes, I agreed to contribute an occasional piece to Bookmans' blog. The first three

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-91367679006239316872010-10-11T20:32:00.000-07:002010-10-11T20:32:06.638-07:00

Larrivee 12 String Guitar I have been going through a little bit of guitar shuffling lately. I don't collect guitars, but I usually have six or seven around here. They are meant to be played, and if I find something is getting dusty I try to move it on to a new home where it will get more attention. I've got a couple guitars in that category at the moment. I bought this wonderful Larrivee OM-

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-3219493793491651752010-10-08T23:38:00.000-07:002010-10-08T23:38:52.226-07:00

Sherrill Kennelly - The Other Side of the Fence A couple years ago my friend Matthew Henry Hall and I founded the Flagstaff Song Circle, modeled after a song circle I had participated in back at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. My friend Ted Johnson (Half-Hearted Fanatic blogger) is now facilitating the circle and has begun a website for the group. We meet once a month and ask our

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-91872698365149682982010-10-04T21:51:00.000-07:002010-10-04T21:53:43.242-07:00

Laurence Juber in Concert Grand Canyon Guitar Society presents Laurence Juber in concert this weekend. Juber is a two-time Grammy winning recording artist and a former lead guitarist for Paul McCartney's Wings! Unlike most of the classical guitarists Grand Canyon Guitar Society brings to Flagstaff, he specializes in writing and/or arranging tunes for solo steel string guitar. Juber plays

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-81335155819700381152010-10-02T13:00:00.000-07:002010-10-02T13:25:55.637-07:00

Wolf Fundraiser In a couple of weeks I will be playing one of my favorite gigs. Each fall the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project hosts an annual fundraiser, and for the third year I am providing music. Slowly, we're trying to build support for wolf recovery here so that we can bring the wolf back to the Grand Canyon region, just as it has been brought back to Yellowstone National Park and much

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-44878639355018882472010-09-23T21:56:00.000-07:002010-09-23T21:56:46.185-07:00

My good friend Craig Yarbrough will be performing this weekend at the Coconino Center for the Arts. This is a must see event here in Flagstaff. In addition to being the executive director of the Grand Canyon Guitar Society and a fine educator, Craig is an exceptional guitarist. He plays a variety of styles well, but his primary focus is undoubtedly classical guitar. Each year he gives us one 

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-81143363994336186082010-09-22T21:47:00.000-07:002010-09-22T21:47:52.620-07:00

The kind folks at Bookmans have been really great to me. In addition to hosting many of my musical performances, they provide a grant for me to teach children's music in Head Start classrooms here in Flagstaff. It's a program they call Music in the Classrooms (MIC) and I'll be writing about that soon. Bookmans also sponsored my Dancing With No Shoes On! program at this year's Pickin' in the

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-50988976563770054012010-09-21T08:38:00.000-07:002010-09-21T08:38:14.299-07:00

My name is Chuck and I have a guitar problem. The latest little chunk of wood to steel my heart was an old oak, spruce, and cedar parlor guitar I found on eBay. This thing was a wreck that was restored by a guy who goes by the name Jake Wildwood. Jake doesn't just repair or restore old guitars. Apparently he "resurrects" them. I'm not really a collector, but I have a soft spot in my heart for

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-23382672609531764222010-09-11T12:23:00.000-07:002010-09-12T10:47:57.002-07:00

I just finished reading Clay Eals' biography Steve Goodman: Facing the Music. It is a fabulous book and I highly recommend investing the time and energy into its more than 700 pages. While Steve Goodman is not a household name, his influence and impact on American popular music is enormous. Unfortunately, he died much too young. Known for his wild sense of humor, athletic guitar chops, and larger

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-71351221078018073712010-09-07T12:55:00.000-07:002010-09-07T12:55:00.232-07:00

Flagstaff Folk Project Due to a traveling act's cancellation, I'll be performing as the featured artist at this month's Flagstaff Folk Project show. This is a monthly event that usually includes an open mic followed by a featured artist. I've got some new tunes and am looking forward to sharing some of my original music. To hear a few samples of my music, just hit the play button on the music

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-53661258153652603882010-08-27T13:30:00.000-07:002010-08-27T13:34:19.938-07:00

Learning Guitar Maintenance A few months ago I bought a 1999 Martin OM-1. This is the older OM-1 model that has a mahogany neck. The newer OM-1 has a laminated neck, and I much prefer the feel of a real mahogany neck. This guitar was a very good deal, and I love playing it. However, it needed a little bit of work before being ready for gigs. I call this guitar Sleepyhead Rooster: I'll be

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-13088654661714559552010-08-26T11:53:00.000-07:002010-08-26T11:57:52.423-07:00

Press release: Grand Canyon Guitar Society Announces 2010-2011 Concert Season Grand Canyon Guitar Society, in partnership with Flagstaff Cultural Partners is pleased to announce the 2010-2011 Concert Season. All concerts will take place in the theater of the Coconino Center for the Arts, located at 2300 N Ft Valley Road (Highway 180) in Flagstaff. The intimate seating of this theater, along

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-14999632356624772032010-08-22T19:46:00.000-07:002010-08-22T19:48:54.066-07:00

Occasionally I'll write a letter to my local paper. I'm an opinionated guy. Often the letter is published. Flagstaff isn't really a big town. I wrote a letter to my local paper defending the rights of Muslims who want to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. In truth, I got it wrong. It appears to be a community center that these folks want to build. Little does it matter: To the

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-84847470731017403782010-08-18T10:49:00.000-07:002010-09-07T17:19:30.935-07:00

Let me tell you about my mandolin: My mandolin is a Mid-Missouri M-0 with a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck. I purchased it for my wife at the Different Strummer Music Store at Chicago's Old Town School of Music back in the summer of 2002, right before we took a long road trip. My wife never really took to playing it, so I inherited it from her. I

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-88880379959411407912010-08-04T14:10:00.000-07:002010-08-04T14:10:39.042-07:00

I have been reading a biography of Steve Goodman by Clay Eals. Goodman isn't a household name unless you are a folkie or songwriter, but he is the guy who penned the American classic "City of New Orleans" and David Allan Coe's signature song "You Never Even Call Me by My Name" - as well as a number of locally famous tunes to Chicagoans. Steve Goodman passed away in 1984 after having lived with

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-34996575002213110652010-07-09T23:12:00.000-07:002010-07-09T23:13:48.044-07:00

A number of years ago when I began writing songs, I regularly attended something called the First Friday Songwriters Circle which met - you guessed it - on the first Friday of each month at Chicago's Old Town School of Music. It was here I began working on my songwriting chops with other writers, some of whom have become lifelong friends. Each month the members of the group would bring their new

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-3782580015171069482010-07-09T22:44:00.000-07:002010-07-09T22:44:11.733-07:00

Earlier today I had a nice lunch with Kate Beles of Bookmans and signed my MIC contract for the upcoming school year. Bookmans posted a brief news article on its website that pretty much sums it up. I am very appreciative of the support I've received from Bookmans, and especially from Kate who has been 110% behind this from the very beginning. For a working musician, a steady gig like this is a

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-19424230976231604942010-06-12T11:02:00.000-07:002010-06-12T11:04:40.778-07:00

Sorry for the last minute announcement: I'll be playing a kids music set at Pride in the Pines here in Flagstaff at 1:00 pm. There are going to be a good number of family activities at this year's event. Please come out and show your support. Bring your children early. It does get wild later in the day! My kids have a lot of friends with "two mommies" and we are very happy to be out there

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-35490270113310190842010-06-07T22:42:00.000-07:002010-06-07T22:47:12.412-07:00

I was surfing a guitar forum earlier tonight and found where someone had posted a video of a Chinese guitar factory. Chinese goods are cheap. Why? Lots of reasons. But the lack of safety precautions in this factory plays a part. If you don't see anything wrong you probably haven't worked in a factory. Try watching at 5:10 where a man is spraying finish on guitars with a gun. That's definitely

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-2515027856645710042010-05-18T08:57:00.000-07:002010-05-18T09:06:27.893-07:00

I voted this morning. It's important and I enjoy going to the polls a lot more than filling out an absentee ballot. Voting is personal. I brought my son. I said "hello" to my neighbors. It is a good feeling. Flagstaff has the opportunity to elect two fabulous city council candidates dedicated to public service: Art Babbot and Celia Barotz. We also have the opportunity to vote for our schools and

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-23126570708808572362010-05-17T12:17:00.000-07:002010-05-17T12:17:11.996-07:00

Rosewood Telecaster Guitar Project Part Two In between classes today I came home for lunch and put a spit coat of shellac on my tele guitar project. This is my first attempt at French polishing. As usual, I learned something the hard way. The gloves I was using have some material that is sort of a dusty plastic on them. Later tonight I'm going to have to remove a few particles of the stuff from

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-6618748831591256762010-05-16T22:19:00.000-07:002010-05-16T22:32:22.123-07:00

The Soul Question We're not talking about Stevie Wonder vs. Milli Vanilli here. My little girl asks me a lot questions, and as often as not I have no answer. It has been pretty enlightening to discover how little I really understand about Life, the Universe, and Everything. Usually, I'm pretty good at telling her that either I don't know the answer or that the question is truly a mystery. For

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-84484916882409560652010-05-16T20:42:00.000-07:002010-05-16T20:42:56.735-07:00

Sigma DR12-7 Day #2 - A Modest Start at Learning Guitar Repair I pulled off the strings and tuners on my new old Sigma DR12-7 and began examining things in more detail. Here is a picture that shows wear on the first few frets. The guitar has been played quite a bit in the "cowboy chord" region of the neck. Maybe I'll take a stab at replacing the first few frets - "maybe" being the key word.

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-63619678072353171542010-05-15T19:03:00.000-07:002010-05-16T20:11:56.029-07:00

Sigma DR12-7 My five-year-old dragged me out to the garage sales this morning. Somehow she got the idea that garage sales offered a lot of potential for treasure hunting. Me? I'd rather do something else on Saturday morning, but I also enjoy spending the Saturday morning with my kids. And I must admit, I know that garage sales sometimes have old guitars! So what the heck? After a breakfast at

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-49770075394802847132010-05-07T17:52:00.000-07:002010-05-07T18:59:26.918-07:00

Rosewood Telecaster Guitar Project Part 1 Another "dive in and try it" project: I am "parting" together and finishing a rosewood T-style (tele) with an H/S pick-up arrangement and a Warmoth strat neck. I got an amazing custom rosewood telecaster body from Jeff Head in Georgia. Earlier today, I finally began prepping the body for a French polish finish. I gave the whole body a good sanding

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-89330452038793434982010-05-07T11:30:00.000-07:002010-05-16T21:32:54.513-07:00

A Petition of Support from people not employed by Arizona universities regarding SB1070 I am opposed to SB 1070: The law fails to recognize the humanity of the people it targets. Though the actual words regarding "race" were removed from the bill, they were originally included in drafts. Clearly, the motivation behind this bill included strong racist elements. The law - as well as the

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-15664886488819120232010-05-06T00:37:00.000-07:002010-05-06T00:37:43.803-07:00

The problem with three chords and the truth isn't the part about the three chords. Most people can handle that part of the equation no problem. It's the other part that can give a person fits. -Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-77594525362917815852010-04-28T21:08:00.000-07:002010-04-28T21:08:17.677-07:00

Not long ago I acquired an old Guild D-25 in a swap for the 1958 Gibson LG-1 I wrote about here. The Gibson wasn't getting any playing time and I figured it would be fun to try something different. The D-25 was offered to me as partial trade towards the Gibson and I figured, "Why not?" It's not a bad looking guitar at first glance, and it came with a nice Fishman soundhole pick-up. The nut

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-78376420784196100982010-04-27T18:45:00.000-07:002010-04-27T18:45:51.746-07:00

Sam Zucchini is the percussionist/drummer on my latest projects. Great guy... He is also a one-third portion of the amazing Zucchini Brothers. Check out their latest video for kids. Enjoy! Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at Aniboom Watch You Are What You Eat animated video on aniboom -Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-60269920145367748762010-04-27T15:46:00.000-07:002010-04-27T15:46:46.184-07:00

Practicing guitar improves my skills as a musician, and that puts more in my bag of songwriting tricks. But if I'm practicing guitar, that means I am not writing songs. If I get up in the morning and begin writing a song, generally that blows my practice day. Writing takes a lot of energy and focus. Unfortunately, lately I seem to not be doing enough practicing or writing. There is only one

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-38401340862009907532010-03-28T07:54:00.000-07:002010-03-28T08:01:24.645-07:00

reality television Main Entry: re-al-i-ty tel-e-vi-sion noun 1. a nonpharmaceutical, media-based tranquilizer often served with high fructose corn syrup 2. a mind-numbing video product often used by people as an alternative to paying attention to other family members 3. a medium in which media corporations embed advertising aimed at sheeple See also oxymoron. See also healthier alternatives to

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-28442651196186859412010-03-17T12:30:00.000-07:002010-03-17T15:57:56.547-07:00

In response to this article in the Arizona Daily Sun, this from the desk of my friend Jim McCarthy: Timeline: The Senate votes on the destructive McCain Amendment this week, possibly today, March 17. McCain Spin: "The Arizona senator is tired of waiting for the FAA and NPS to reach an agreement over restoring ‘natural quiet.’" (AP Mar 17, 2010) The Facts: Yes, we have waited since 1987 to get

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-54908076783049635372010-03-10T21:45:00.000-08:002010-03-10T22:10:32.489-08:00

A few years ago Jill and I took a trip up to Yellowstone National Park in hopes of doing some backpacking in the Lamar Valley. Upon arrival we found our trip had been canceled for us by some fishermen who had decided to clean trout in their tents. Our trail was officially closed due to grizzly activity in the region. A more accurate explanation would have been that our trip was canceled due to

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-47469621070248736702010-03-10T06:15:00.000-08:002010-03-10T06:19:58.243-08:00

My good friend Jessica Pope just built a wonderful new website in which she shares photography from her amazing adventures traveling around North America. The photography does what the best travel photography does: It gives you a bad case of wanderlust! Jessica has been one of the people who has impressed me most since we arrived in Flagstaff. She's always volunteering, organizing, or just plain

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-45495434921334717172010-03-05T21:55:00.000-08:002010-03-05T21:55:45.329-08:00

Grand Canyon Guitar Society Carlos Pérez Saturday, March 6, 2010 - 7:00PM Coconino Center for the Arts (2300 N Ft Valley Rd) Tickets: $18 advance, $20 day of show All tickets purchased within one week of this concert will be available for pickup 30 minutes prior to the concert at the Coconino Center for the Arts Box Office. Yes. Everybody plays this piece, though not necessarily at the

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-50251534962924453732010-03-05T19:20:00.001-08:002010-03-05T19:20:49.377-08:00

Mark Dvorak is a friend and former teacher of mine. He played banjo on my recording of "Crawdad Song" and I got to sing on his version of "City of New Orleans" with a group of his students. Mark is truly one of the finest folk musicians alive, and he's a great guy. Nice to see him getting on television! - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-13011937432117091512010-03-05T09:44:00.000-08:002010-03-05T10:58:37.468-08:00

Here's something interesting that caught my attention on Facebook. It's the latest response to the brainless "Tea Party" movement. Drum roll please... Coffee Party USA MISSION: The Coffee Party Movement gives voice to Americans who want to see cooperation in government. We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will, and that

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-27210179408003500812010-02-21T10:43:00.000-08:002010-02-21T10:57:57.350-08:00

SYRCI's Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival February 19, 2010 sponsored by The Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project Friday night Jill and I attended the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival at the Orpheum Theater here in Flagstaff. All around this was a fun event. Dave McGraw & Crow Wing provided some great music and there was a raffle to raise funds for local conservation groups. These

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-81259444068385845732010-02-17T20:35:00.000-08:002010-02-17T20:39:10.608-08:00

  Mexican Wolves Reintroduced in Both U.S. and Mexico Jess Edberg, Information Services Director -- International Wolf Center, 02/16/2010 Just when the United States (U.S.) Mexican wolf population is at its lowest in seven years, Mexico has announced a plan to reintroduce five Mexican wolves into northeastern Sonora, within 100 miles of the Arizona border. Some days you just need to hear

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-53921768341536995792010-02-15T20:44:00.000-08:002010-02-15T20:44:17.830-08:00

Third note today... Friday morning I'll be appearing with my songwritng buddy Matthew Henry Hall and Kate Beles of Bookmans on Flagstaff's "Eagle" KZGL 103.7 FM. We'll be promoting the Bookmans MIC Winter Jamboree scheduled for Saturday at the Orpheum Theater. I'll be bringing my guitar this time. Saturday night at the Coconino Center for the Arts is the Whale Foundation Wing Ding. I'll be

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-80026521997518975542010-02-15T20:24:00.000-08:002010-02-15T20:24:22.149-08:00

In previous posts I've written about acquiring some interesting instruments. Unfortunately, I don't keep things around just for collecting, and they only stick around if I can find jobs for them. Thus... I recently brought my 1958 Gibson LG-1 down to a man in Phoenix, and it is mine no longer. In return, I got a little bit of cash and another fun old guitar, and I'll be writing about the new old

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-74542989617394704692010-02-15T19:24:00.000-08:002010-02-15T19:24:10.970-08:00

Bookmans MIC Winter Jamboree Come out to the Orpheum on Saturday at 10:00 am and bring your little ones. We're throwing a party to celebrate the Bookmans Music in the Classrooms program. Location: Flagstaff's Orpheum Theater Time: 02/20/2010 10:00am Price: free Details: Chuck Cheesman and Matthew Henry Hall will be leading young kids in great dancing, singing and interactive storytime as

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-29864666552596718792010-01-22T13:57:00.000-08:002010-01-22T14:25:15.784-08:00

We've had quite the week here in sunny Arizona. The storm has come in three waves, with the first two dumping approximately a foot-and-a-half of snow. That in itself is a pretty good snowstorm, but very maneagable. Heck, I like to shovel snow: The third wave, however, has been an altogether different creature. Now, I am aware that three or four feet of snow isn't that abnormal in the Rockies,

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-20160459105644256362010-01-13T19:48:00.000-08:002010-01-20T14:07:52.831-08:00

The whole January resolution thing has kicked in and we've been busy around here. Too busy to blog anyway... Here are some random updates: Our house is being heated with our solar water system for the very first time tonight. So far, so good. I have been playing a lot of 12-string guitar lately. As has been mentioned here, I play an old Guild F212 and I love it. I purchased that guitar from a

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-37881930330776020932010-01-09T18:04:00.000-08:002010-01-09T18:08:58.600-08:00

I've just finished reading a couple of excellent memoirs: Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales by Clarence Clemons & Don Reo I've read enough self-conscious autobiographies by musicians hoping to preserve or even modify their own legacies. That's why this book was so refreshing. The real life and tall tales says it all. This book is how I imagine it might be sitting on a barstool next to a

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-75975895109851634032010-01-09T17:15:00.000-08:002010-01-09T17:15:47.953-08:00

Three concerts remain in our Grand Canyon Guitar Society concert series, and we are offering a discount ticket package. I highly recommend taking advantage of this offer. Grand Canyon Guitar Society brings world class guitar music to Flagstaff, and these concerts are always tremendous musical experiences. I've copied the text of GCGS executive director Craig Yarbrough's announcement here: Grand

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-29811715168157552422009-12-28T22:27:00.000-08:002009-12-28T22:28:19.520-08:00

My good friend Matthew Henry Hall is the author of a wonderful children's picture book called Phoebe and Chub. I just noticed that local public radio station KNAU has given him some much deserved praise. Give a listen: Ann Cummins recommends children's books for the holidays ~ Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-40962487213161452822009-12-28T21:33:00.000-08:002009-12-28T21:41:48.883-08:00

A little touring of our former home turf: Jill and I visited the world famous Billy Goat Tavern earlier today. We're both die-hard Cubs fans, Saturday Night Live junkies, and ex-pat Chicagoans - Chicago truly being a separate culture from the rest of America! So even though my New Year's resolution is to go back on my vegetarian diet, a little pre-resolution pilgrimage was in order... Yes. I

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-85915735541038214852009-12-18T15:54:00.000-08:002009-12-18T15:54:11.289-08:00

Here's to a safe and happy holiday season for all. I will likely not be posting any new blogs through the holiday season as this is a time to really focus on spending time with the people I love and to celebrate the things for which we are thankful. Cheers, Chuck

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-5117842348691020752009-12-13T10:09:00.000-08:002009-12-13T10:09:58.901-08:00

Something that has nothing at all to do with music: Houston Elects Openly Gay Mayor I think it is important to celebrate our steps forward, and I count this as a step away from the prejudice of the past. Thank you Houston. - Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-70849002252289472642009-12-08T17:10:00.000-08:002009-12-08T17:10:04.875-08:00

...and don't ever forget. John Lennon gave us so much beautiful music, so much real rock & roll. He was stolen from this world twenty-nine years ago. Listen to your Beatles albums - or your copy of Double Fantasy - and take a few moments to remember John Lennon. "Woman" video from Double Fantasy on YouTube ~ Chuck

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-66300931748226880792009-12-07T08:35:00.000-08:002010-03-28T08:15:20.006-07:00

Slow morning. Flagstaff is quickly being buried under a blanket of snow. Drummer: "I was the seventeenth drummer in that band." Guitarist: "And did you spontaneously combust?" Drummer: "Yes, but I got well again." ~ Chuck Cheesman

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-20056500207126545032009-11-25T17:55:00.000-08:002009-11-25T17:55:17.599-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I've been working a bit with my Kodak Zi8 video camera. My first two videos were unfortunately recorded with audio only on one side. So much for my technical wizardry. I've been fortunate to have some very good gear at my disposal. However, my solution to the one-sided audio problem looks more like something I might have tried back in junior high school. You do what you have

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-43283260819408634602009-11-23T16:33:00.000-08:002009-11-24T05:30:30.808-08:00

I was just driving my children across town when Boston's classic rock anthem "Foreplay/Long Time" came on the radio. The kids liked the space age sound effects. I started to explain to Casey about how much I liked Boston when I was a kid. Then it hit me: Tom Scholz was recording Boston's debut album when I was my daughter's age. The Space Age has come and gone. There's nothing like having

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-11144845302756415582009-11-18T14:41:00.000-08:002009-11-18T14:41:14.898-08:00

Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:00PM Coconino Center for the Arts GCGS Presents Thomas Sheeley in Concert Advance tickets $15, $18 at the door. Tickets are available at Arizona Music Pro, Cedar Music, and Custom Sound Instruments, and they are also available online at www.CanyonGuitar.org. For additional Grand Canyon Guitar Society information contact Craig Yarbrough at 928-213-0752. ~ Chuck

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-25624587918397520442009-11-14T13:44:00.000-08:002009-11-14T13:52:27.755-08:00

Another new arrival: The guitar I pulled from that box is a 1958 Gibson LG-1. As far as vintage instruments go, this is modest stuff. I'm not a vintage guitar collector by any stretch of the imagination. I do own a 1970 Guild F212, but really I just play these things. In order to get this guitar I traded my Ken Smith Custom "BSR" Burner electric bass. That was a cool instrument but I just

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-28335877695988439112009-11-12T10:11:00.000-08:002009-11-12T14:50:37.542-08:00

Thank you to local writer Kat Nichols for a wonderful article in FlagLive about my partnership with Bookmans Entertainment Exchange in providing some music education in Head Start classrooms here in Flagstaff. If you pick-up a paper copy there's a photo of Milo and me. My favorite quote: “If your kids see you sitting on your bum not doing anything, that’s what the kids are going to do,”

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-64098845791461350262009-11-11T19:32:00.000-08:002009-11-11T19:32:49.927-08:00

The Grand Canyon Guitar Society will be presenting Spanish classical guitar virtuoso Rafael Aguirre's Arizona debut this Saturday night at the Coconino Center for the Arts. Tickets are $12 in advance and can be purchased ahead of time at Arizona Music Pro, Custom Sound Instruments, and Cedar Music - or visit http://www.canyonguitar.org/ for more information. Unless the concert is sold-out,

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33175658.post-71639107250160653892009-11-11T09:24:00.000-08:002009-11-11T09:41:31.934-08:00

Bargain Hunting Drums November appears to be gear acquisition month here in the Land of Cheesman. My last post was about finding this wonderful Guild acoustic guitar for a fraction of its value. I also recently traded a Ken Smith Custom `BSR' Burner electric bass for a 1958 Gibson LG-1 acoustic guitar, and that guitar should arrive here in the next two days. Assuming that guitar arrives safely,

Chuck Cheesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12878981671136506880noreply@blogger.com2