It‘s a Michigan thing

Sept. 20, 2006

Give 15 musicians a mission and a microphone and you’re sure to spark a creative explosion. In this case, “It’s a Michigan Thing,” a new CD celebrating our pleasant peninsula.
“These are all Michigan songs by Michigan songwriters,” says Adair Correll, founder of Northern Michigan Songwriters in the Round. “We’ve been talking about doing this CD for three or four years now and finally took the initiative to get it recorded.”
Correll and fellow musicians Paul Koss and Pat Niemisto pulled the CD together out of contributions from the Songwriters in the Round group and other local performers. The CD was recorded at Niemisto’s Holy Wah studio in Maple City with Koss doing the mixing and website and Correll administering the project. The project was underwritten by Horizon Books in Traverse City, which provides a venue for Songwriters in the Round on the third Friday of each month.
On Saturday, Sept. 30, the 16 songwriters on the album will debut their work in an 8 p.m. concert at Milliken Auditorium in TC. Copies of the CD will be on hand for sale and signings.
A first-run of 2,000 CDs have been pressed for sale at the concert, Horizon Books, over the Web, and from the bandstands of the participating musicians. The album sells for $15 and you can hear samples or order copies at www.michigancd.com after Oct. 1.
For Correll and crew, the CD represents an unparalleled opportunity to explore what’s great about Michigan -- “Land of the Shining Water” -- as the Native Americans called it, along with some of the people they’ve known who have made a deep impression.

WHO’S WHO
Here’s an alphabetic run-down on the performers on the album:

• Dick Anthony is “Wondering Why” about his romance with Northern Michigan.
• Ruth Bloomquist offers the female perspective in “Michigan Girl.”
• Michael Camp remembers his 80-year-old neighbor, Old Joe, in “Michigan Farmer.”
• Adair Correll offers insights on a place that “has it all” in “Michigan Oh Michigan.”
• Jim Crockett reprises “The Manistee River Song,” possibly the most popular song about Northern Michigan that’s ever been written.
• Les Dalgliesh tells the story of his lake-sailing father-in-law in “The Captain.”
• Paul Koss remembers the “Last of the Leelanau Schooners.”
• Kirby tells the simple truths of life here in “Just a Michigan Thing.”
• Barbara Jordan provides snapshots of her life in “Born and Raised in Michigan.”
• Louan Lechler is inspired by the people and places of “Leelanau County.”
• Patrick Niemisto and Norm Wheeler’s “Sauna Song” celebrates a skin-peeling sauna on steroids.
• Claudia Schmidt tells the tale of the “Grandpa Johnson,” an old boat salvaged for use on Beaver Island.
• Chris Skellenger offers satirical commentary on Saturday nights in a small town in “Saints.”
• Kathy Wieland performs “Alpena Colada,” offering a northern twist on the tropical drink.
• Robin Berry Williams tells the story of immigrant lumberjack “Big Sam.”


“It’s a Michigan Thing” will have its concert debut on Saturday, Sept. 30 at
8 p.m. at Milliken Auditorium on the NMC campus. Admission is $12 in advance or $15 at the door, with tickets available at Horizon Books and the Oryana Food Co-op in TC, or from the songwriters. For additional info, call 231-941-8920 or email
acorrell@coslink.net.