Blue Mother Tupelo: News

Micol sings lead vocals on, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" Crest commercial demo

Micol shakes some tambourines on Mindy Smith's CD, "Long Island Shores". Pick up your copy of Mindy's new CD today!

Ricky engineered an instructional CD, a companion to the instructional book, "Starting Bluegrass Banjo" by Robin Roller - 2007 Oak Publications.

We're honored to have our brand new song, "Lazy Days" included on a compilation CD for the movie industry in Hollywood, California. Y'all who've been to some recent shows might have heard, "Lazy Days". This recording will also be included on our new CD to be released in '07.

We're honored that Blue Mother Tupelo has been nominated in the Best Future Band/Duo category and that our recording of "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" from the movie Daltry Calhoun has been nominated as Favorite Song From A Movie in WIVK's Americana Highway 2006 HEMI Awards! Please vote for BMT either through an email to the program's host, Jack Ryan, via jack@americanahighway.com or through the show's website at www.americanahighway.blogspot.com/
Thanks very much!

Hey y'all, we're excited to be scoring the music for a new independent film to be released in 2007. We'll also be featured performing live in the movie. We will let you know more as the project progresses.

Micol sings lead vocal on, "America, The Beautiful" for a Tide commercial demo.

We are so deeply saddened by the passing of a close friend and one of our true music heroes. Jessie Mae Hemphill passed away Saturday evening around 8pm. Jessie Mae was such a sweetheart of a lady and a firecracker all in one. She had a real zest for life and a deep love and faith in Jesus Christ. God blessed Jessie Mae with a talent for creating her special music. And she touched us deep down to our very souls with her music and her presence. We're so very grateful to her for allowing us to record her song, "What A Shame (Shame On You)" on our CD, Delta Low Mountain High. And we're so grateful that God allowed us to meet and befriend Ms. Jessie Mae. She will always and forever be in our hearts to inspire us by and by. We're going to be missing her dearly. Y'all, please pray for her to have a safe journey home to Jesus. We can't even truly express the sadness that we feel tonight ...

Hey y'all, we've been tearin' up the hot southern asphalt this spring & summer, spreading the southern soul boogie to the people. We've done a string of shows with the wonderfully talented, Michelle Malone. We've also been sharing the stage with the great, Molly Thomas and another fabulous artist, Cary Hudson. Y'all should check them all out & tell them that BMT sent you'ns!

The Missouri Blues & Barbecue Festival was a treat again this year. There was a steady spring rain but it didn't stop the festival. Everyone had a blast eatin' the good barbecue, drinkin' ice-cold beer, playin' & dancin' to the blues!

Micol and I had a blast on July 4th at the Patriot Festival in Pigeon Forge. It was mighty cool seeing all the people throughout Patriot Park. There were around 15,000 folks there during our set. And it was extra-nice to be having the get-together for our nation's 230th birthday & for the patriotic Americans who have helped keep our country free. It was mighty cool and we were honored to be a part of it!

Between the tours, we've been laying down the tracks for our upcoming CD as well as singing & playing on sessions for other folks too.

Micol and I shonuff hope y'all are having some hot fun in the great, sunny summertime! It's been a beautiful one everywhere we've been ... it's our favorite time of the year!!!!

We hope to see ya down the road ...

peace & love,
Ricky

BLUE MOTHER TUPELO ON SOUNDTRACK & MOVIE DVD of DALTRY CALHOUN!!
Both are available now!!
SEE Blue Mother Tupelo's VIDEO for "PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER", which is INCLUDED on the "DALTRY CALHOUN" DVD as an EXTRA FEATURE!! This ballad version of "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" is heard during the final scene of the movie.
HEAR BMT on the movie's awesome soundtrack which includes 2 versions of "Put Your Head On My Shoulder", one of which is included in the motion picture & the other as a 'hidden track'.
DALTRY CALHOUN (PG13) stars JOHNNY KNOXVILLE, JULIETTE LEWIS, & ELIZABETH BANKS and was Executive Produced by QUENTIN TARANTINO.
Check out the 'BUY' page on this website (above) to easily order your own copy of the DALTRY CALHOUN DVD and SOUNDTRACK.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors here in Sumner County, Tennessee who lost loved ones and/or property during Friday's tornadoes on April 7. We're very thankful that we & our property was spared in Friday's tornado but we're heartbroken about our neighbors. It's been tough for us to sleep at night. Our neighbor said she's having the same problem sleeping. We saw the tornado that went through Goodlettsville, then into Hendersonville from our back yard & could hear trees and houses being ripped out of the earth. We sat in the crawl space under our house for hours while having the radio on and hearing horrible stories from people who were witnessing tragic things as they were happening.

This tornado was within 1 mile of our house. It did a semi-circle a "C" type of path within just about 1 mile of three sides of our house. There's no rhyme or reason why a certain pathway's made during a tornado. We feel fortunate but also very hurt for others.

We performed at The 5 Spot in Nashville on that Friday night but the adrenaline & nervousness from all afternoon had us totally drained. As a result, we unfortunately didn't put on nearly as good a show as we would've liked to but the sweet, kind folks in the audience generously understood. The wonderful couple who own The 5 Spot, "Bones" & Diane Carrier, lost their home on Friday. Diane was taking refuge in an interior closet when the tornado hit and totally devastated their home. We're sure they can use all the help that they can get and if you're interested in making a donation to them, please contact the venue at ph: 615.650.9333 or dianecarrier@comcast.net .

Please make a donation or volunteer in relief efforts. To find out how, visit: www.nashvilleredcross.org or call 1-800-HELP-NOW.

To donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank, please visit www.secondharvestnashville.org and click the "I
want to donate now" link.

Nashville Safe Haven seeks donations of clothing, new underwear, bottled water, baby formula and the basic necessities that families need - even the most basic of items are lost due to the tornadoes. Monetary donations are welcome as well:
http://www.safehaven.org/donations ph: 615.256.8195

Thank you & God bless,
Ricky & Micol

All it is that we're supposed to learn from the tragedy that hit so close to our home this past Friday, I do not know. I know that we saw a funnel cloud from our Hendersonville, TN backyard & later learned that the tornado hit about a mile down from our little neighborhood that got spared ... it hit our stomping grounds in Goodlettsville, too, & made its path toward us - missing us - just north & then northeast on into our other stomping grounds of Hendersonville/Gallatin ... we only suffered through my little panic attack under the house in the crawl space from about 2 pm until 5 with the radio set to an AM station reporting all that was going on around us.
My precious dog, Gus, felt it all ... knew the storm was hovering; knew when it had passed - howling so happily; knew when it was back again, sitting on my lap to keep me safe.
We just ended up without electricity for a little more than 24 hours ... big deal.
Others lost a loved one, their beloved keepsakes & treasures, their homes that they've taken so much pride in building or buying, some losing their own lives on this tragedy-ridden earth.
And that brings me to this lesson of miracles ... one house spared, the next one demolished; one car crushed, the next one shiny & still running perfectly; one body swirled and thrown through the air by this feature of nature that man did not invent and the next body sweating, wondering, still feeling, crying, hoping, praying, trusting, knowing that a miracle just happened and that life was spared.
As I view the TV coverage & see first hand the havoc, I am amazed that more lifes weren't lost. Amazed at how many were saved and spared. I am actually rejoicing in the people that are still alive ... So thankful that I can hug my loved ones and look them in the eyes and cherish this miracle of time and life.

We want to wish all the best to Mr. Johnny "The Clock" Richardson, who has been layin' down the drum beats for us for a few years. Johnny just joined the soulful country artist, Lee Roy Parnell's band. We know this is a great opportunity for him. We've had tens of thousands of touring miles together and performed in all kinds of groovy & funky places. We will always consider him a brother of the road and we're very happy that he's movin on up!

Hey y'all our (BMT's/Micol & Ricky's) first music video will be included with the "Daltry Calhoun" DVD as an extra feature.

The "Daltry Calhoun" DVD will be released on February 7, 2006. You may order it now at Amazon http://www.amazon.com and they will ship it to you when it arrives. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
BMT's first music video will be included on the "Daltry Calhoun" motion picture DVD as an extra feature! BMT's ballad version of "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" is played during the last scene of the movie.

Daltry Calhoun (2005) stars Juliette Lewis & Johnny Knoxville. It was directed by Katrina Holden Bronson and executive produced by Quentin Tarantino.
Rating: PG13

We want to thank everyone who stomped & boogie'd with us at the Blue Mother Tupelo New Year's Eve Party at Brackins and we also thank y'all for making it a sold out show! We wish everyone a happy, prosperous, healthy, loving & peaceful New Year in 2006.

I hate to be a 'bummer' but I was moved to write here tonight. Overall it's been a bittersweet year full of rollercoaster ups and downs for Micol and me this year. I know that I'm actually ready for a new year, 2006! I'm not one to ever really want time to move any faster. I really like to be in the moment with life. I like it when time seems to stand still. But right now, I'm ready for the fresh, new year.
My cousin - who's actually like a brother to me - Wes Tankersley, just got back from the Iraq War last month. And thank God, he didn't get any injuries over there. There's many that aren't so fortunate.
I just got word a few minutes ago that my brother-in-law, Craig Beddow (my sister's husband) just got called up to head out to fight in Iraq. I really feel sad for my sister and especially for my neices and nephew because here it is Christmas time and they're getting the news that during the first week of January they're going to have to watch their daddy head off to war. God knows that I'm in full support of our soldiers and am praying for their safety. I've been wearing a dog tag around my neck since this war started; to represent my cousin Wes and all his comrades. I was going to give this dog tag to him when I see him, but now, I'm wearing it for my brother-in-law. My prayers are always with our troops. War is absolute hell and my God, I wish we didn't have to deal with things like this. All I can say is may God continue to bless our soldiers, our nation and to keep us free, and may He have mercy on us all.

Ricky

We've been workin' on our new CD and it's coming together nicely. Havin' a ton of fun too! Happy Holidays Y'all!!!

Hey everyone, BMT has joined the MySpace community. Stop by & say "howdy". www.myspace.com/bluemothertupelo

and it's really cool being lost in the buzz of love & the lights ... and the wonder of possibilities and miracles. We all need a miracle. Our little family here wish yall happiness this Christmas, Hanukkah, whatever it is you're celebrating, and we continually hope for dreams to come true - for us & for you. Seems like the end of a year always brings reality a bit closer ... don't be sad this season, I tell you & myself ... love is real.

We had a fabulous time down in the Alabama Shoals at Nolen Cole Gallery. It was bitterly cold outside but everything was a-cookin' inside. Everyone was so nice. We're hoping to head back down there again soon.

Oh yall, I'm SO excited to be recording. Wow, the progress has taken too long. It is wonderful moving on and finally stepping toward the fulfillment of this need and desire!
I could blah, blah on about how I feel, but you would fall asleep about right now if I kept on with that ...
John's set up in the kitchen with foam & plexi surrounding him. (He's right next to the coffee pot & directly in front of the fridge; a pretty happy spot.) We can see him from the living room, where we're set up with all the other recording equipment, piano & keyboard, guitars and amp ... our main lighting is the glow of blue lights on our tiny Christmas tree ...
Annie kitty stays holed up in our bedroom and Rebel kitty (my 16 year old that "needs" special treatment) walks freely throughout the house, mostly ending up on the couch with us in the living room or curled up across from John in the kitchen. (We had to try a different pass on the drums for one song because we could hear Reb's feet clicking on the floor. Thought about not worrying about it, but kitties can be noisey, ya know ... so we had to redo that track.) And we've tried some different things with Gus. On his pillow in the bedroom makes him antsy. Outside with all the critters creeping around & 4-wheelers in the woods makes him howl. But, he's very settled in the living room with me & Ricky, right in the center of what's going on ... he's happy there ... think we've found his spot.
And, we are cozy in our little home/recording studio, thankful to wake up each morning with the sun & our minds and souls working. Working hard. Loving every minute of the work.
Loving Living ...

It's our new site!! For a little more than a month all the folks behind the scenes have been working on a new website for BMT. We are so excited about launching it today & about staying in touch with you!! There will be fresh photos & news, so check back often. We love yall, & don't you forget it!!

micol & ricky

We're finally getting some time to begin recording our new CD next week. Micol, Johnny and I are all looking very forward to laying down some new songs onto tape. I love the recording process. Heck, I love creating music whether it's on stage, at home or in the studio. It'll take some time to get the whole project completed; we're planning for a 2006 release - hopefully sometime next Spring or Summer.

Hey yall! Thought we'd let you know that we have once again, thankfully, been nominated in the 2005 Music City Blues Society "Bluesy" Awards as "Best Acoustic Blues Band" ... Micol has been nominated, as well, as "Female Vocalist".
We are very honored & appreciate the nomination. Congratulations to everyone else nominated. Though we've been nominated 6 years (or so) running, we have never won. It's likely that we won't this year either; but we're so thankful to those who took the time & were inclined to vote for us. Winners will be announced at Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar in Nashville on Sunday, December 4. If yall head down, you'll get to hear lots of great music and know that you will have lots of fun!

It's wonderful working this morning with my pumpkin spice candle burning and my JFG coffee freshly brewed (straight out of Knoxvegas). Our kitties, Rebel & Annie, are curled up on the couch and Gus, our dog, is sprawled out on his pillow at the foot of our bed. The blinds are raised & the late November sun is shining. And, my heart is full of wishes ...
If you've heard my songs, I'm always wishing ... always hoping. Boil it down and I'm wishing for a grateful heart & hoping that I already have one. I do feel very thankful for our small, cozy home and the desires that dwell here. Never ending desire to gain love & spread it. I often feel like I want more than I am contributing. And, that's not so good ... what comes around goes around & that is the truth.
I'm hoping that you catch what's in my heart this morning - wishes & hopes for your celebration of the joys of this life. Life aint easy ... we get through it together. The sun shines each morning and we're given another chance to wish for the best and make it all just a little bit better.
I am humbled by the generosity of others and thank you for your generous human kindness toward myself and Ricky and the music that we make. I am humbled by your attention and desire for us to give more. Both Ricky & I are reminded daily that we've been given the desire to make music - a big, wonderful responsibility that we believe God's bestowed on us. I am hoping that we can contribute to the beauty of this life in generous soul and intelligent, open-minded creativity. With my senses awfully spunky this morning and wishing for you a holiday season filled with love, know that YOU are loved and thought of each day. Enjoy the warmth of home, the wonder of life & the possibilities of MUSIC. We are grateful for the love you give. Thank you.
Love, Micol