My Band and I have finished To Remember You, our 2nd holiday record. Ricky Fataar and I co-produced along with George Marinelli on electric and acoustic guitars; mandolin and acoustic slide guitar; Drew Zingg on electric and acoustic guitars; Marc Levine on electric and upright bass; Ricky on drums, percussion, piano & background vocals; and me on vocals, harmonies and arrangements. I also brought on our two new engineers, Sammy Fielding and Bijan Sharifi, who did a flawless job recording the sessions. We will debut this record on December 4th at our annual benefit concert at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley. The beneficiary will be ExtraFood.

This was a challenging year for me. I lost my beloved Father as well as my dear friend Paul Tyler.  I was filled with so much grief and spent a few months cocooned in my house until one morning I woke up, opened the windows and let some fresh air in.  I called Ricky and in June I was ready to plan my holiday record, in memory of my Dad, using a lot of Paul’s equipment (which has been integrated into my 2 studios). This record is a meaningful tribute to my Dad, and I will also be thinking of my dear friend Paul as we put on our annual benefit concert on 12/4. It will be the first show in my life that my Dad will not be in the audience and it is also at my first annual benefit concert that I met my dear friend Paul…so the show will be very special. I hope you’ll join us for this memorable evening. Tickets are on sale now via the Throckmorton Theatre website.  Please buy your tickets early — this show will sell out. And to celebrate my 25th year in recovery, all general admission tickets will be $25.00 and will include my new CD “To Remember You”. It is my “thank you” for all the many gifts and lessons that have come my way through my years in recovery. 100% of ALL proceeds will go to ExtraFood so you can come and enjoy this wonderful evening and do some holiday shopping while helping feed the hungry in our community. ExtraFood’s mission is to bring good, healthy food to organizations in Marin who are busy feeding the hungry. The $100 VIP tickets will include a cocktail party before the concert, special seating and my new CD.

With the current state of the music business I feel so fortunate that I am an independent artist with my own recording studios, as well as a very talented group of musicians who help make my songs come to life. We have become a special music family and it is always a joy when we come back together to work on music. I am truly grateful for the autonomy that allows me to make and record whatever music is coming out of me, however it is meant to be and in a collaborative way with a very seasoned group of wonderful musicians.

When I think of my Dad and Paul and all those suffering out there, this quote comes to mind:

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight  — Khalil Gibran

“To Remember You” is ready to debut in December. I will go to Paris in April to experience the beauty of spring. All sorts of magical things happen on this annual journey…most of which are never planned or expected and always end up being beyond my wildest dreams.

I wish you a good next few months and hope to see you on December 4th. Even if you live far away please consider celebrating this 25-year birthday with me and supporting ExtraFood by buying the new CD when it comes out on iTunes. Stay tuned via my website by signing up for the latest news about CD releases, shows and what changes you are helping to make by buying my music.

All my love,

Michelle Schmitt
San Francisco
September, 2014