Bringing Others To Work to Sing

The More The Merrier!

A joyous development: I’m bringing others in to help raise musical joy in the nursing homes.

This month of March brought new collaborations. The video above features the St. Sergius choir members with a selection they taught me: I’ve Got Peace Like A River. We’re making it a regular thing, they are joining me next week as well.

I’ve had steady gigs at two Crown Heights Brooklyn facilities, where I stroll the hallways, lounges and go into the rooms four times every month.

I asked the Recreation Directors if I may bring others, and the response was an enthusiastic Yes Please!

This is one of the most satisfying evolutions of my work in nursing homes. The music is expanded beyond the sum of its parts, when I get to bring in more singers from other traditions, other musical directions. The residents love hearing spiritual music, and they love multiple voices. We also sang: Amazing Grace, One Love, I Can See Clearly Now and Down In The River.

I look forward to our continued work together and learning more spiritual songs. So many residents express wanting exactly that, and I’m blessed to have a way to bring it to them. Thank you St. Sergius choir!

Baby Monroe is a soul singer who I met on the NYC rock and roll scene.

The residents at the Crown Heights Center went nuts over him and demanded I bring him back! Where is that fellow with the dreads? Is he coming again with you? We’re scheduled for more timeless soul, Motown and reggae on April 18th. I’m just thrilled to be working with him. SO many of the songs I do- what can I say? He does them better! I love just accompanying him, but I will learn all the right harmonies.

Bob Marley, The Drifters, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Temptations - Baby Monroe delivers passionate renditions of the music these residents grew up on.

This is what the Merriment Experiment is all about: Expanding the FUN, bringing others into the fold, creating opportunities, making this a truly joyous and rewarding environment.

Today I’m off to play a show in an assisted living facility in New Windsor, near Newburgh. I’m debuting my version of Mr.Tamborine Man (Byrds version), and we’ll sing along to John Denver, The Carpenters, Johnny Cash and Judy Collins.

I love this work! Thank you, supporters of this Substack. We’re making good progress!