Happy Fall everyone.
This is the time of year when I look around and analyze things…my life, my friends and family…( I’m happy with all ); and most especially to give thanks…. ( I think it must be the weather).
I also want to thank each of you for your support and for the tree “happening” that occurred last month. How good it feels to put something positive out there and have others “catch the flame” and pay it forward. We all participated in this and everyone thought it was pretty cool.
My new album is coming along nicely…. its in the final stages of being complete but we do not have a release date as yet. It is still tentatively titled “Smile of A Woman”
I will be doing a live interview with Author C. C. Cowan out of New York City: The date is November 27th (the day before Thanksgiving) and airs at 7:20 Eastern Standard Time. C. C. Cowan is doing an all month special segment called, “SO AMAZING: A Celebration of the Love Balladeers,” and I will be one of the featured artists. Check out the site (click the pic to the left) for further particulars and for the call in number.
In this season of reflection I realize I’ve actually learned a lot about myself as I’ve encouraged my children to follow their own purpose, never comparing themselves to others or attempting to duplicate what others do. Each must make their own unique contribution. I’ve followed my own path and attempt to continue that every day. It’s not an easy discipline…… I would even go so far as to say that one of the problems I see in modern society is that we’ve become a nation of followers and I would encourage any parents out there to try and foster uniqueness and independence in their offspring.
Be yourself…enjoy what you do… put your heart into it… and as Emerson says: “Tend to that plot of land which has been given you to till”……
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=1792807368 size=medium bgcol=333333 linkcol=e99708]Before heading back in the studio I’d like to leave you with the following:
……from Neil Gaiman, “Fragile Things”
“There are so many fragile things, after all, people break so easily, and so do dreams and hearts. It occurs to me that the peculiarity of most things we think of as fragile- is how tough they truly are…the beat of the wings of a butterfly in the right place, we are told, can create a hurricane across an ocean. Hearts may break, but hearts are the toughest of muscles, able to pump for a lifetime, seventy times a minute, and scarcely falter along the way. Even dreams, the most delicate and intangible of things, can prove remarkably difficult to kill:
P.S. The photo at the top was taken about a month ago at the Museum of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco where I meandered among the fine art of Renoir, Degas, Monet, Cezanne, Matisse etc… (I love the impressionists). The museum is in a building among the trees near the ocean and I always feel so relaxed when I’m around such beautiful art because I feel I’m among kindred spirits who take a look at the world and interpret what they see…
Happy Thanksgiving.
As always I am,
Musically yours,
Gregory
SEASON GREETINGS TO G & ALL THE FANS
MAY THE SIMPLE JOYS OF THE SEASON BE YOURS
aka i hope you all get the things that mean the most to you
With that said “BRING ON 2014”
Hello G
Tis the season to “Shake You Down” so if a kiss was a snowflake I would send you a BLIZZARD. Booyah!!!
Wishing you the season’s brightest joy
Keeping it warm G..keeping it warm 🙂
Season Greetings, Gregory
From Me & My People in The Cayman Islands
I am having an early Christmas with my parents and other relatives, because I will be near your turf on 12/25.
Coming to a party for Coco’s birthday. You might know her as Crystal Von Heinz. Our father’s are cousins. So it will be another stone-gas “churnac-affair” Yeah..Hip & Wild like a Soul Train ride…ha ha. We (my family here) were in Gorda for Thanksgiving Weekend. You guys celebrate that turkey..we celebrate the Great- grandfathers who are still alive..living the “carefree life” living well without medication. So that is our “saying thanks” to them for showing the younger generations how to live long, healthy, drug-free and happy in the sun. I am seriously thinking of moving back here from Sweden but with my children in school, loving it over there and their father, a pilot for an international airline. I just don’t have a vote to win. My sister Holly feels the same way. But she’s also locked in with “what her family wants”. Holly will be also at the party. She has a stopover in San Francisco from Sweden. I am just hinting, in case you wanna run over to say “Hey Holly, how you doing” lol See what I mean, Only the “carefree life” on an island gives you leisure time to sit and write on a blog or two…aka “I’m doing what ever I want”
Anyhow may love surround you & your family at Christmastime and always.
Love Dana
Dear Gregory
Your blog is truly a beautiful way to say thanks. and I am so happy to be blogging with someone so very special. My sister’s and I are wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.
All the best to you, your family & your fans around the world
From Olympia, Clover, Crimson & Alizander
Hi Gregory
My warmest regards are being sent to you & your family from ‘Me & Mine’ But its a shame there is always some sadness for us to bare. at this time of the year. As a reader of all things Mandela, the writings/quotes from him and about him that stand out the most for me, is when he said “Its never my custom to use words lightly. If 27 years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand, how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die. Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people”
However, I much prefer to endure this sadness than the one last Christmas which took place in Stony Brook Connecticut USA Words are still “impossible” for us. Can’t imagine what those families are feeling. But as horrible as that was/is..we must still praise The Almighty and wait for the answers to our questions. Only he knows, Why?
Peace to All
Dear Gregory Its been at least 4 months I’ve been here, and you wanna know how I know its over 4 months ? BECAUSE AOL deletes your mail if you do not login during that time. Just when I find the time to read your post(s) which I’ve been hearing about around the office cooler… they have vanished. So please make a note of my email when you receive this. Anyhow, just wanna wish you a Happy Holiday and hope peace be with you forever. I also wanna say thanks for making time to write to me & all the other people you don’t know. “You must be love”. And I am not one of those fans around the world AND IN MY OFFICE who flirts with you. I am young enough to be your daughter, but old enough to know wisdom and appreciated talent. I believe love is that condition in which the happiness of another is essential to your own. And I am a witness of that in my office….over you. I am Johanna Rae Clarke a @GanD fan
You’re a dear Johanna Rae. Thanks for the lovely words.
Those words from Johanna Rae are lovely indeed. I am young enough to be your daughter too and agree with her post. I love all your songs from the romantic to the inspiring ones. My daily anthem is Things That Mean The Most To Me. It has always been the #1 on my playlist. For this Season I wish everyone gets that message wrap & delivery into their hearts.
One Love
Hi Gregory Abbott
On behalf of Todd Robinson I am going to write one of his favorite quotes from Nelson Mandela, which we are sure, you have read from his Autobiography.
When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is therefore, why I will sleep for eternity.
Peace to you, and we are saying thanks for sharing your thoughts & ideas. Although we don’t reply to every post. We read them all.
From Todd & Briella
Thank you Todd and Briella. Nelson Mandela will certainly be missed. He was an inspiration to so many… a “brave warrior”. You (and he) are right… he will certainly be ‘sleeping peacefully’… Gregory
Gabriella, thanks for sharing that very inspirational quote. I was fortunate to be in Johannesburg (2005) when he delivered a speech on poverty and I was deeply moved. In his own words Mr.Mandela said “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom. He inspired me to open a non-profit food bank and it has surely wiped out hunger in the neighborhoods, the company feeds. The poverty still lives, but the people are not suffering like they use to..and they are walking with dignity. I remember the first thing I moved into the building was a poster size photograph of Nelson Mandela and the words I wrote above from his speech, that change my life forever. And my only wish for all who reads this is. Stop..Look..&…Feed the next hungry person you see. Like Bob Marley says “Me belly full but Me hungry. Okay Gabriella Todd & Gregory…I say “have a nice day” 🙂 From Geneva @GanD
Amen Geneva.
We give thanks 2 u G
Cherie & I decided to stay home this Christmas. We usually travel to Florida where her parents live. I was hoping your new album would be out for the season and I am due to buy some more of the others. They don’t make them like they use to. Play them too much and they gone. Anyhow I will be in touch with my order so you can send it to my sister in New York at the same address your office did last year
One Love & Nuff Respect
I might be late but I am “saying thanks” to your wonderful blogs and music. I listen and read every chance I get.
All the best for the Christmas & New Year
One Love
Delia
Glad to hear you all had a Happy Thanksgiving… in general this is a great season. My peeps and I thank you for the well wishes. Thank you Octavia for the poem. It was very thoughtful (especially choosing Ralph Waldo Emerson). For those that missed the interview, couldn’t hear it well or just want to hear it again… I will get a link from the show- and post it here when I have it. Happy to hear of you all continuing to meet and getting to know each other. Its a beautiful thing. And now its time for me to return to my Thanksgiving responsibilities… which is getting 3rds (not 2nds) on a lovely meal…. hey- don’t judge me lol……
Hi Gregory
A flight attendant never have time for leisure during this season. Don’t have time to read your post or the comments from the fans, which I always enjoy doing. However I did managed to read some on the Google site, and those encourage me to come here to say thanks for your music and “happy holidays” to you & the family & those ladies in the office. lol
Peace on Earth 4ever
From Joshuana
Hi G
What ..u….doin?
We (Faith, Indiana, Crystal, Noriko, Tiffany her sister Leslianne and a bunch of our neighbors will be up all night voting for Tessanne Chin. She knocked it out the park again on The Voice last night. We are glad to hear you too had a Happy “Turkey” Day and you’re probably Zzzzzzzzzzzzz now…so when you wake up make a few calls and support Tessanne (1-855-864-2302) One Love G & “nuff rhythm & rhyme for the holidays) As Marcus would say “irie”
Yours truly
Okelani ( aka Olani)
HI GREGORY
I AM NOT SHOUTING(re BIG CAPS) I AM JUST LAZY AND DO NOT WANT TO BE SHIFTING FROM LOW CASE TO CAPITALS WHEN NECESSARY. ANYHOW, I NEVER GOT A NOTIFICATION OR EMAIL ABOUT YOUR INTERVIEW. I HEARD ABOUT IT FROM FATTH SULLIVAN WHO IS HERE VISITING SOME OF YOUR OTHER FANS. NEVER MET HER, BUT WE ARE CONNECTED BECAUSE OF YOU. AND THOSE OTHER FANS PRACTICALLY MADE HER ONE OF THEM. WISH I HAD THAT LIFESTYLE..WORK FOR 6 MONTHS..THEN TRAVEL THE WORLD THE OTHER 6 MONTHS. ANYHOW, THERE IS BIRTHDAY PARTY BEING PLAN FOR CRYSTAL ON CHRISTMAS EVE. I WILL BE THERE I KNOW SAN-FRAN IS NOT EXACTLY AROUND THE CORNER FROM HOLLYWOOD..BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU WERE THERE.
ANYHOW, MY CONNECTION FOR YOUR INTERVIEW WAS NOT SO GOOD. DO YOU HAVE A LINK FOR IT? OKAY KEEP IN TOUCH AND ADD ME BACK-2-STAY ON YOUR MAILING LIST….lol
Love Lexli Bryant
Hi Mr Abbott
Thanksgiving is over on the East Coast but not on your Coast, which is West of the US. So I am sending you blessings from Jamaica where I’ll be for this & the Xmas/New Year Holidays. My mother (Gina) played your music all day at our dinner party & her friends says its time for some new G-Sounds. Anyhow, Mother says..”old or new, i get chills when i hear his music” So she is sending you this quote from Dalai Lama
The roots of all goodness lie in soil of appreciation for goodness.
AKA>>SAYING THANKS 2 & 4–U–G
One Love J’can Style
From Keisha & Gina Wong
Greetings to you & your family Gregory
Once again I enjoyed your interview, but I could not get the lady-fans in my family to relax & sit with me to listen, because it was “prep-time” for turkey day. Okelani (Olani) & I hosted this year’s feast. Some of our guest who are my half- brother’s sisters (The Churnacs) are in town. So you can just imagine what kinda-of-day it was. During the year I try to avoid eating poultry & meats, but on this day, I indulge my palette with all the fixins and my lady knows how to dress-up a bird. In addition to the traditional flavor, she also did a “buffalo style” turkey from a recipe she saw on The Rachel Ray Show. It got my vote & our guest loved it too. Now I’m in a mall while they are shopping. Had to chaperone b’cuz those ladies overloaded on the wine & mojitos. So now you know why I am on your blog typing about food. lol
Nuff Respect…G
I am Thankful
For each new morning with its light
For rest and shelter of the night
For health and food
For love and friends
For everything Gregory sings
My edited version of a poem by
Ralph Fmerson
Ola Ms. Vazquez…love your poetic sense
See…I’m trying to get into the rhythm with a rhyme
Well, hope this day of “thanks” gives you & the family all the blessings, forever. That goes for all my peeps@GanD..and Gregory & his peeps.
All the best to ..everyone
Catalina
Hi Gregory I am in California until Jan 7th. Hanging with my sister Coco otherwise known to you as Crystal-Joy. Faith from Australia is here too. We were stuck in a supermarket at the time of interview. How can we hear it, Have been checking your site & Cowan’s links, but nada One Love G and Happy Thanksgiving to you & all your peeps
its a date with me & U on November 27th
Hello Gregory,
We (my sisters Olympia, Clover & Alizander & I) appreciate you sharing your thoughts. ideas, music & pictures with us. Time does not not allow us to respond to every post, but at least one of us take pleasure in reading out loud what your latest thoughts are. Its like we are back in Pre-School..giving the teacher our undivided attention. You write interesting stories and you’re our favourite blogger. If the radio interview is pre-recorded & will be online, I think we might be able to listen. As you know we live in Monte Carlo, Monaco..so we won’t be able to tune in if its a live.. But Clover says she knows you will post it on Google and/or Facebook. With that said or written we’ll make a note of that date.
So long for now, and never forget your fans over here..we will always be ..”musically yours”
AuRevoir
Gregory Abbott..How sweet it is to be loved by you?
Its that time of year again, when I invade the NY/NJ area shopping malls, spending my year’s income on gifts for my family , my friends & of course ..myself..that includes the latest or just another “gregoryabbott cd” So it would be marvelous if that new album is out before I return home (Port Antonio JA) in January 2014
On another topic..I’m happy to see you are supporting Tessanne Chin on The Voice. In our eyes she is a winner ..no matter what the results …but in all honesty..I have to give a shout out to 2 other contestants Mathew Schuler & ShelbyZ..they are rocking it too and Lord knows they have that sentimental stories that American voters like..2..love If Tessanne wins, well it means the voting system really works over the politics on these shows.. I guess we will just have to wait and see AND you keep voting with us J’cans
One Love Cecile
Saying “Thanks” to you Gregory
Thanks for the years of your sweet, & sometimes inspirational messages in your music, blog and we can’t forget all those sexy photographs, What else is there to say to a man of all seasons.
I wanna shake you down lol
Dear Gregory
Its always a delight to open an email and ..”there you are”..The funny thing is.. it was just yesterday I went on a binge reading all your post from you & the fans. Finished at about 6:pm reading about ..Trees” & there you went posting another soon after..or that is when I saw it. Can wait to hear the new songs & perfect song choice for this post. Season Change so we won’t see clearly now in my neck of the woods (Up North) I most certainly will gather your other Cafe Chicks to listen to your next interview. To refresh your memory, we are the ones that saw you from a distance in a NYC Cafe while we were in college..before Shake You Down..& we have regretted not making that more to introduce ourselves. We were staring like hell though..lol
So on behalf of Donna, Stella Lorraine & I..we say “thanks for the memories”
Love AuBree
Hopeful , inspiring, following one’s own path- the hero quest. Love the rendition of “I can See Clearly”. Great blog, Greg.
Thanks Tony