Hello friends and I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying life.
Like most of my previous newsletters I am writing this from one of the many cruise ships that I am lucky enough to perform on. Right now I am sailing towards the fabulous port of Palma De Majorca on the very beautiful and refined Oceania Sirena…a very high class ship with a wonderful orchestra, great stage staff and food to die for! I had a great crowd in the theatre for my 1st performance the other night and have had so many people come up to me and tell me how much they loved the show. Once you’ve performed everybody knows you on a ship and everyone wants to chat and find out a bit more about you. It’s great…it’s what it’s all about.
This year is flying by….well into the second half of the year already. It’s been a very hectic year and I’m continually busy flying to perform on the many major cruise lines and cruise ships that I’ve had the pleasure to work on for many years. I’m also very proud to have been booked by three new cruise companies for dates this year and 2020 so the future is looking good in the cruise world.
I am currently based in the UK for the current European cruise season and go back to our home in Florida at the end of August. Emma and the kids have just flown back but we had a fabulous month together in Lancashire catching up with family and friends while I was flying in and out to perform on various ships. We had a terrific week at the famous Lytham Festival enjoying artistes such as Rod Stewart and Kylie Minogue. This festival has become an annual event for us and we love the music and catching up with old friends.
In March this year I was very excited to perform my Irish shows for St Patrick’s weekend in Florida .I performed at the very prestigious Dr Phillips Center in Orlando which regularly hosts huge stars such as Tony Bennet etc. I also had the honor of appearing in my home town of Celebration for the concert series at the Presbyterian Church the very next night. The shows were a huge success and I had great support from the incredibly talented Osceola School for the Arts String Ensemble under the director of Rueff Frazao, the fabulous Amanda Finnegan Academy of Irish Dance and my daughter Ellie Jo Lovini who brought the house down with our beautiful version of Danny Boy..not a dry eye in the place!
I am very busy all year on the ships but I’m also excited to be performing some land based gigs in South and Central Florida. I’ve also got a few exciting projects I’m working on with a couple of musician friends so watch this space!!
Take care all and until next time, bye for now.
Gx
This is the way I saw Gary many years ago when I first saw his playing on the old Arcadia.
VIOLIN MAGIC
With his violin tucked under his chin
He stands poised and ready to begin
His stance send a message loud and clear
To all of the people gathered here
Listen to me he appears to say
I’ll share my music with you today
So we listen and can hardly believe
The magical sounds he can achieve
With his fingers, a bow and some strings
He weaves tales of wondrous things
Some soft and sweet like a lover’s song
Others fiery and fierce you’re just carried along
With a foot stamping gypsy melody
Or the crashing sound of the surf and the sea
The last note fades to thunderous applause
With people demanding endless encores
Knowing they’ve travelled the world to the strains
Of hauntingly magical violin refrains.
I hope you enjoy my memories of him and his family.