Ralph
McTell:
Christmas Message
Hello Friends,
It has been a strange and difficult year, some wonderful
moments and some very sad ones.
This year has seen the passing of some wonderful people
connected to my life and work.
I feel compelled to mention old and valued friends on
my web site some of whom you may never have heard. If I
do write it is because the influence they had on my life
has in some way shaped the man.
It is a huge privilege to know and feel affection for so
many people and some would say that it is the principal
reason why performers exist at all.
To sort of bathe in the warmth generated by audiences etc.
Of course one runs the risk of being rejected too but performance
is only one part of the creative process and I prefer to
call it sharing when I get on stage.
The corollary of all this is that the more people you know
and love, the more people you are bound to lose.
This was something you hadn't written into the equation.
Roy Harper rang me up on hearing of the death of our dear
friend Bert Jansch and he was clearly shaken. I found myself
using the metaphor of a grown man and a tree that has had
roots severed by loss. All your emotions are heightened
and you find yourself swayed by the merest of breezes when
before you would not have paid any heed. It takes time
to get strong again to withstand these battering. Writing
my feelings down aids this process, but it still takes
time.
MEDIA
I would like to thank Leah Connor and Will McCarthy especially
this year for all their marvelous help with the media
who have been more active on my behalf this year than
for a very long time.
As many of you will know I have
been on BBC radio 2 a lot this year. Along side old mate
Mike Harding I have been on with Steve Wright, Ken Bruce
Simon Mayo and I have made a few recordings for up coming
shows including Claudia Winkleman, Zoe Ball and Sally (Traffic)
Boazman.
OUR AUTUMN TOUR
was great and thanks to Donard's thoughtful routing. He
and I, Dave and Luke finished up fairly O.K. and not
too exhausted by our 5000 mile trip around the country.
It was so nice to be in Scotland again after such a long
break and the whole trip was a great success and very
enjoyable.
SONGS FOR SIX STRINGS
Seems to have been very well received and i am so glad,
as it was an idea i have been nurturing for some years.
It will be a limited run and it will not be available
in shops until the collection is complete and even then
it will not be in this format.
Primarily this is a little collectors set of items for
all of you who attend concerts or keep in touch via the
web site.
The
selection for the next release will commence soon and we
will keep you posted via the site. Don't forget that if
you supply your email you will receive personal messages
from time to time alerting you to special offers or information
about radio broadcasts etc.
Somewhere Down the road is still gathering momentum and
i am looking forward to writing new songs next year.
OZ
Although i am planning to do less touring from now on I
could not bear the thought of not touring down under
again. I announced my farewell tour on my last visit
so this trip will be called the second farewell Tour
of Australia. I am hopeful that one of my sons Tom will
be with me on this trip and i am looking forward very
much to seeing Richard James and Rob hall my promoters
and all my Aussie mates in April and May this coming
year.
DONARD
will be working with my old friend Billy Connolly on his
mammoth tour so look out for him if any of you are planning
to see the Big Yin! I hope to attend at least one show.
Hopefully more because Billy seldom repeats himself and
anyway each show is different in some way.
I played THE THINGS
YOU WISH YOURSELF on the Simon Mayo show this week
and it got a warm response from listeners. Click on the
title to hear a version of the song from Cadogan Hall
in 2009.
The BEST NEWS
I have saved for last.
I wish to announce the safe arrival of Betsy May a daughter
to my eldest son Sam and his lovely partner Catherine.
Elizabeth Audrey May was born on the 5th of December to
her elated Dad and Mum in Nottingham.

Our whole family are thrilled and another root helps to
stablise the tree.
May the season bring you joy and find you in good health
But most of all i wish you all the things you wish yourself.
I look forward to the new year and seeing you... somewhere
down the road.
Ralph McTell
Cornwall 23/12/11 |