Danjerus Music Productions | new songs of the civil war, americana, original music,danjerus

Hardtack & Saddlesores: New Songs of the Civil War. CD. 72 min. Prod. by Privates by Choice. Dist. by CDBaby.com. 2011. ISBN unavail. $14.
Gr 7 Up–The five person musical group, Privates by Choice, offers a hauntingly beautiful collection of new and traditional Civil War songs on this superb CD which will appeal to historians, students, and everyone who loves music. Beginning with the sounds of roaring cannons and concluding with the traditional tune “Abide with Me,” the 21 songs (16 are original) tender a history of the war. “Lone Jack” recounts the story of a bloody battle with numerous causalities of men and horses. “Casualty of War” and “A Veteran in a New Field” tells what war did to men and the challenges they faced when returning home. Other songs provide information about battles such as Stones River and the soldiers of Kentucky’s Orphan Brigade, and recount tales of carpetbaggers and scalawags. Guitar, violin, mandolin, cello, and dulcimer are crafted to perfection, and the vocals are seamless. Teachers who deal with students tuned to iPods can utilize this CD to teach the Civil War in an exciting and innovative manner.–Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Mt. Carmel

"In this entertaining collection of songs, a merry band of six musicians, known as the Privates by Choice, has cobbled together old classics and new songs inspired by the common soldier and his experiences during the American Civil War and Reconstruction.

This lively collection will leave listeners entertained, and teachers might well utilize them in their courses."

Civil War History Vol. 58 No. 4 December 2012

MUSICAL BIOGRAPHIES

Jerry Williams received a guitar early on and discovered that music was to be an intricate part of his life no matter which decade he was living in. After performing in a variety of duos, trios and bands, he became the founder of the Heartland Songwriters Association of Kentucky. During the 1990s Jerry began to seriously expand and invest his time into the recording side of music engineering and audio design. He’s since developed several recorded projects from his studio for a number of artists as a producer and engineer. Studying historical events of the Civil War has been influential with his musical endeavors and his research efforts have been acknowledged by the Library of Congress.

Ken Baldwin is a visual artist by profession and late bloomer as a musician. With a background as a guitarist on the side, his foundation was developed with the Kentucky Standard Band as a guitarist where he expanded his ability as a musician into that as a songwriter, helping contribute to several recorded projects. An assignment in Germany as Entertainment Director provided the catalyst to expand composing and recording his first instrumental works for solo guitar, Bones of a Saint. Living and performing near Gettysburg, PA helped fuel a passion for the history of the American Civil War and the idea to collaborate on the project of this theme was hatched with his friend and producer Jerry Williams.

Anne MacFie has been a performing storyteller since her first grade teacher discovered an uninhibited tyke in pigtails who could entertain the class indefinitely, making possible long breaks in the teachers’ lounge. From there, it was only a hop, skip and a hand-me-down guitar to becoming a 15-year-old balladeer. Today, a professional folksinger with a regional and international following, this New Mexico native resides in the highlands of eastern Kentucky. Anne has recorded two solo albums and two more as a member of the Twa Sisters duo. Called “the best songwriter in Kentucky today,” she has penned a growing number of cuts on the recordings of other acoustic artists with her distinctive songwriting signature.

Alice Burton fell in love with the sound of the hammered dulcimer in the mid 1980s and after hearing that unique sound she was soon hooked. Acquiring her first hammered dulcimer, she eventually signed on board with the Kentucky Music Week & Weekend Festival in Louisville, KY and later with the musical ensemble of the Kentucky Standard Band. She has shared the same stage with many of the top performers in today's folk music environment. Her talents have accompanied eight recorded projects along with some of her own original compositions for the instrument. Alice is a professional licensed Physical Therapist and has studied and treated musical induced injuries in the course of her medical career.

Logan Baldwin transplanted his humble Kentucky musical roots, packed up his drums and moved to Brooklyn, NY pursuing his passion as a professional musician in the one of the world's musical epicenters. Having worked with some of the city's top drummers and producers, it's always been his challenge to continue honing his craft and perform among an amazing community of diverse talent. Sharing a stage with a caliber of musicians such as Chris Thile, The Wailers, RZA of Wu Tang Clan and showcasing countless times at SXSW music festival has been pivotal for expanding his boundaries. His partnership with The Stationary Set has kept him busy with a steady flow of work and musical creativity in the New York music scene.

David Wilson is no stranger to the stringed instrument. Founder of the Undergrass Boys, a long running acoustic, fusion jam band, he’s also a founding member of Radio Flyer, who won the KFC/City of Louisville competition for the best new bluegrass band in 1985 (runner up was a young Alison Krauss with her group Union Station). He appears in the Billy Bob Thornton film Crystal and also performs on the soundtrack. A highly sought after musician known for his heartfelt, smooth blending accompaniments on violin, mandolin, guitar and cello. Whether it’s during a live performance or his creative sessions in the studio, David’s talents have been graciously shared at folk & bluegrass festivals all over America.