Two years ago, Richard came to our studio to record his most recent CD: "Looking Back With Love: My Life In Song." My husband recognized Richard too and we were all officially introduced. Peter and Richard realized that they had been riding the same elevator together for about 25 years – again, never knowing each other’s name.

Well, Richard spent a number of months coming to the studio and recording. We all became friends in earnest – we learned one another’s name! Richard is a veteran Broadway actor and singer who has traveled the world entertaining in theatres, on ships, and on TV.

I recently had the pleasure of performing in concert with Richard at a benefit. We sang two duets together. It was not only really fun to sing with this veteran performer, but it was also very special – and an honor!

Richard picked songs from his several solo CD recordings. We sang "Basin Street Blues," complete with Richard’s own harmonies circling around me while I sang the melody, and then in close harmony together as we swept our way through to a grand finale.

We also performed "I Remember It Well" from Gigi. Do you remember it? It’s that sweet duet where Honore and Mamita remember when they first met. The elder Honore gets all the details wrong – doesn’t remember the actual facts. Mamita keeps gently correcting him.

Richard and I played it the exact opposite. We switched parts and I played the forgetful space chicken, always being corrected by the amused and clear-minded 83 year-old Mr Hoh. It was the most wonderful play on words and characters and was much appreciated by the audience.

Richard wrapped up his section of the concert with a gorgeous and heartfelt rendition of that famous old World War I song, "My Buddy." You could hear a pin drop and there were quite a few moist eyes in the room. You can listen to Richard sing "My Buddy" at http://www.watchfiremusic.com/details.asp?dcid=39& coreg=&hid=&t=&t2=

Richard, as I mentioned before, has been on the stage for many years – almost 6 decades to be exact. He recorded his latest CD just two years ago. He sings like a bird. I can’t wait for his next CD – he’s got so much music in him!

You can check out Richard’s CD at http://www.watchfiremusic.com/artist.asp?&coreg=&hid=&t=&t2=&arid=25

Cheers! Julia : )

The weekend culminated in the 2008 Annual Meeting on Monday, June 2nd. It was a very inspiring, uplifting meeting. Many folks have been writing in and asking about the closing song -- the benediction for the meeting that I was honored to sing. It is a new song by Peter Link called "Finding The Christ In Me."

I want to share with you the inspiration that led me to this song. I was asked about 2 months ago to sing the closing benediction for this meeting, and once I knew what the theme of the meeting was -- The simplicity that is in Christ -- I set out on my search for the right piece of music. I call it the hunter/gatherer process. As an artist, I am not a songwriter, rather I interpret lyrics and music. I work from a combination of inspiration, prayer, meditation and research. For me, music programming is a habitual and ultimate treasure hunt – to find that perfect piece that so beautifully captures the spirit of the occasion, as well as resonates in my being.

As I searched for a song, I kept humming the melody of a simple hymn that Peter Link (my producer/husband) had recently written. The melody was the very essence of this message of the simplicity that is in Christ. I kept thinking, “the song has to be like this – it has to be as simple and deep as Peter’s song. And it can’t be complicated and fussy. It has to speak directly to the heart. It has to be… simply beautiful, profound and prayerful.”

Peter watched me go through a couple of weeks of searching. Some very interesting songs surfaced. Each option had one or two of the qualities mentioned above, but in each case, the overall message did not fully resonate.

I never said a word to Peter about the fact that I kept coming back to his hymn melody. I had basically dismissed it because the lyrics of the hymn were on a similar theme, but not the one I was working with.

One morning, Peter dropped some lyrics on my desk and said, “See what you think of these.” He had taken that very hymn that had been singing inside of me, and he had re-written ever so few words to bring this theme of the Christ’s simplicity into clear focus.

I literally started jumping up and down and yelling, “This is it! This is it! How did you know?! I have been thinking of this song all along!”

Peter smiled his quiet smile, raised his eyebrows in that knowing way, and we got to work on the solo arrangement with our amazing friend and colleague Margaret Dorn. She came over a few days later and we played and sang through the hymn to finalize our ideas for the arrangement.

I just love how this song sang its way into my consciousness and then into Peter’s. We never spoke about it to one another until he handed me the new lyrics.

For those of you who have been asking – you can get the sheet music now in two different keys by clicking on this link http://www.watchfiremusic.com/composer.asp?CoId=2&coreg=&hid=&t=&t2=

Enjoy! Blessings and Light, Julia