The last year or so has really been an emotional roller coaster. Full of highs and lows. But first let me say that my ticker is doing just fine thanks. I've been getting A+ marks from my cardiologist and my visits are down to twice a year now. He says that I should be getting some exercise, but well that's just not my thing. I keep telling myself I will, but just can't seem to get around to it. Hmmm...

My Father's health has been ok since his surgery, but lately they found something strange on his liver and he's going through a bunch of tests for that. MRI coming up. They say not to worry, but how can we not? My sister was diagnosed with MS a little while ago which also threw everyone for a loop, but now they are telling her it might not be MS and she shouldn't worry. Great news, but they still haven't figured out what's causing her symptoms. She's in good spirits though and lives her life to the fullest.

My Brain Was Filled With Gumbo Dreams

GUMBO DREAMS, yes, that's the title of my newest album. My first "solo" album of original songs. The CD has 12 songs on it, ten of which I wrote or co-wrote. The other two songs are also original Canadian songs that have never been recorded (one, written by the legendary Lenny Breau). There are a slew of fabulous musicians playing and singing on it hailing both from the Niagara region and from Toronto. This is a project that began in 2000, when I began getting serious once again about songwriting. These songs are my "little paintings". A culmination of 30 years of playing many different styles of music. Just like gumbo in a pot. Take a little country-folk, add a little blues and jazz, stir in some funky roots and simmer for a while, adding some hot creole spice to taste. There is also a bonus track with me wailing on four different basses and Penner MacKay on a variety of hand drums and shakers. For more info on the album, cover art, lyric sheets and sound clips

Earlier this year I released another CD called THE NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE-RHYTHM PROJECT. One reviewer said: " what started as "an all acoustic world music kind of thing" with Steve and friends has resulted in a collection of instrumental hybrids mixing world, jazz, blue/newgrass, rock, country and blues. What I like most about the record is its spirit of fun, experimentation and camaraderie that runs from beginning to end; instruments range from piano-bass-guitar to oddities like the digeridoo, claves, seashells, whirlies, vinyl siding, tail pipe, flower pots, a salad bowl, and yes - a kitchen sink."

So these are exciting things, right?

The good, the bad and the ugly:

Then on Aug. 6th my recording studio, The Shed, was destroyed by fire. Double whammy. ( check out the before & after pix )

These days, just as the Fringe Locals' theme song says, "I'm just gettin' by on gettin' by". However, I guess I'll get a few songs out of this. How about a hurtin' country thing like, "My dawg died and the barn done burnt down..." Thanks to help from friends and several supportive music stores, we are slowly replacing our equipment. Eric and I are rummaging through old files and books to find our lost music. But the amount of work involved in sorting all this out is staggering. Fortunately no one was hurt and at least my favourite guitars and basses are going to be ok. Despite the valiant attempts of our volunteer fire department, everything else is gone. I keep telling myself that it was just "stuff" and it can mostly be replaced. I've even lost all my old archived tapes of all the bands I've been in over the last 30 years which cannot be replaced. Our good friend, Peter Ling, proprietor of the Angel Inn, affectionately renamed the band "The Singed Locals" and I think the name could stick for a while. At least until I can get the smell of smoke out of my hair.

LESSON LEARNED: Do not leave an extension cord plugged in with the excess cable coiled up. It could heat up and burn your house down! Now go replace the batteries in your smoke detector(s)!!!!!! and take your dog out for a walk.

So that's about it for now. As we brace ourselves for winter, please check out my music pages and I think you will really enjoy my last two new CD's. You can listen to sample clips, read the lyrics and find out more. So please, order a copy, or one of each. I could sure use your support.

Thanks again for listening and please keep in touch everyone.

Cheers,

Steve ( no more bum ticker ) Goldberger.

Feb. 2004- Here's a story the local paper just published:

UPDATE- JANUARY 8, 2013 It's been over 14 years since my surgery date. Just had my bi-annual echo and check up and they said I was perfect! However, not for long... check out the next chapter!

UPDATE- MARCH 2013 BUM TICKER RIDES AGAIN! 2013 SURGERY

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