The CD release concert at Loring Theater will feature the showing of two music-film productions, produced by David McDonald of DMcD Productions, which feature songs on the Don’t Stand Still sound recording:

Tibet (Honoring Gyatsho Tshering)

Gyatsho TsheringThe song Tibet was composed by Larry Long with Tara Thukral’s fifth grade class of Valley View Elementary School, Columbia Heights. It was created during an Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song residency program in the school (with support from the West Metro Education Program and McKnight Foundation). It was written in honor of Gyatsho Tshering, a Tibetan scholar and author.  (For more about Gyatsho Tshering plus video and audio recordings from the school residency click here.)

Artists and community members featured on the sound recording of Tibet include: Venerable Tibetan Monks Gendun Kelsang, Jampa Thupten, and Lobsang Jungnes from the Gyuto Tantric and Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery (Multiphonic chanting); Dolma & Yiga Tshering with family and friends from the Tibetan community of Minnesota (choral vocals and prayer), Marc Anderson (world percussionist), Dirk Freymuth (electric guitar), Billy Peterson (bass), Ricky Peterson (keyboards), JD Steele (harmony vocals) and Larry Long (lead vocal, 12 string guitar).

You can watch a video clip of Tibet here.

Be Kind To All That Live (Honoring Helen Tsuchiya)

Helen TsuchiyaBe Kind To All That Live was written by Larry Long with students at Prairie View Elementary in Eden Prairie, MN, created during an Elder’s Wisdom, Children’s Song residency in 2004. It honors community elder Helen Tsuchiya, a Japanese-American internment camp survivor currently living in St. Louis Park, MN.  (For more about Helen Tsuchiya plus video and audio recordings from the school residency click here.)

Featured on the sound recording is Helen’s son, Todd Tsuchiya, on taiko drums, Larry Long on guitar and vocals, JD Steele on harmony vocals, Pete Watercott on violin and Lonnie Knight on backup guitar.

The music-documentary also features photographs that Helen took while  interned at the Gila River Japanese American internment camp in Arizona during World War II.

Larry Long Talks About Be Kind to All That Live (written in 2004):

“When I was thirteen years of age, my father passed away. My family received help from good neighbors with food and letters of comfort. One of those letters of comfort came from my Little League coach, Mr. Mayeda.

Thirty years after my father’s death I came upon Mr. Mayeda’s letter. I was so moved by his words that I sought him out. He had moved to Oceanside, California. He was terminally ill. I called and thanked him for his letter of comfort to me when my father passed and for his years of volunteering as my Little League coach.

Mr. Mayeda said to me, “Larry, my family was part of the 125,000 Japanese Americans placed into internment camps during World War II. I have one favor to ask. Could you please write a song about the Japanese-American internment camps” I promised Mr. Mayeda I would. He passed away soon thereafter.

In his honor, I visited the Manzanar Internment Camp in California and read books about the Japanese-American experience with hopes of inspiration. Nothing came in the way of a song, until now.

During one of my residencies at Prairie View Elementary, Mrs. Helen Tsuchiya, the grandmother of a child in one of my classrooms, shared her Japanese-American internment story with the children. After she spoke, I discovered that her husband and she were best friends with Mr. Mayeda and his family. Not only that, but her husband had coached with Mr. Mayeda in the Babe Ruth League.

Through Mrs. Tsuchiya, I was able to fulfill the promise made to my Little League coach, Mr. Mayeda. Forever grateful.

About David McDonald, producer of Don’t Stand Still music/film production

Before returning to Minnesota to raise his family, David McDonald worked throughout the world as a cameraman for the Reuters News Agency. Presently, David lives in Grand Rapids, Minnesota with his family and is an independent multimedia producer, as well as instructor of mass communications at Itasca Community College and Leach Lake Tribal College.

About Community Celebration of Place and Elder’s Wisdom, Children’s Song

Elder’s Wisdom, Children’s Song is a program of the nonprofit organization, Community Celebration of Place. Larry Long serves as the Executive Director. For more information about their work in schools and communities across the U.S., visit their website at www.communitycelebration.org.

We’re starting the festivities early on CD Release Day! Join us for a pre-show party at 6pm at The Local. Enjoy hearty appetizers and a drink (and maybe even a surprise visit from some of the performers) while mingling with your fellow concert-goers. The reception will last approximately an hour and half.

Tickets are $30 per person, but you get two for $50, so grab a friend (or a random stranger if necessary) and come on down!

Big news for the New Year! Larry’s new album, Don’t Stand Still, will be coming out in early April. There will be a big CD release party on April 9 at the Loring Theater, and many of the musicians that appear on Don’t Stand Still will be joining Larry on stage.

Larry will be touring in support of the album later this Spring. Check back for Tour updates or visit Larry on Facebook.

Larry will be doing a small house concert this month. It’ll be a great chance to hear songs from the upcoming album (as well as plenty of old favorites).

There is a suggested donation of $15 per person. You can bring a snack to share with the group. The hosts (Ron and Becky) will have non-alcoholic drinks available (punch, apple cider, hot tea, etc). You are welcome to bring your own drinks, especially if you want to have wine or beer. Kids are welcome. No RSVP necessary. Lots of fun.

Larry will be working with filmmaker David McDonald in the coming months on a new documentary featuring Larry’s song, Tibet (Peace, Lovingkindness, Compassion), written in honor of Gyatsho Tshering and the Tibetan people.

The film project, which will feature members of the Tibetan community in Minnesota, is in preparation for the upcoming visit by the Dalai Lama to Minnesota.

Join us Sunday, October 3rd as some of the Twin Cities finest musicians and singers come together to support VEAP, the largest food shelf in Minnesota. It’s an exciting musical event you won’t want to miss!

Included in the line-up are Members of Minnesota’s First Family of Jazz; Patty Peterson and the Peterson Family, R&B singer Mick Sterling, jazz singer Arne Fogel, Larry Long, pianist Mary Beth Carlson, Maud Hixson & Rick Carlson from the Wolverines, vocalist Julie Esterley, 40’s jazz group “First Things First”, and the “Emmaus Praise Band” along with other celebrity musicians from the Twin Cities area.

Tickets are: $20.00 First Tier and $15.00 2nd Tier. Purchase tickets on-line at: www.veapvolunteers.org / Special Events or at the door.

VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People) is a non-profit agency serving low-income families, individuals, elderly and disabled persons in the communities of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, and South Minneapolis. VEAP offers emergency food to over 7,500 low-income monthly, over half of which are children. VEAP also provides transportation to the elderly and disabled, along with back-to-school & holiday toys to thousands of low-income children in the metro area. Visit their website at www.veapvolunteers.org.

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Jerry asked us to thank everyone who shared their kind words, songs and money in support of his life work last Tuesday evening at Coffee Grounds. Jerry requested that folks reach out directly to him through writing to:

Jerry Rau
PO Box 13014
Minneapolis, MN 55414

We are now closing down PayPal! With gratitude to everyone who pitched in.

As many of you also know by now, Jerry was admitted into the VA yesterday, but today he’s feeling great and hopes to be out of the hospital very shortly. So the evening with the Jerry Rau Band is still on for Oct. 2nd, 7:30 – Armatage School, 6625 Penn Avenue South in Minneapolis 612-861-3308.

One a last note it’s Jerry’s 72nd birthday this September 28th. Happy Birthday Jerry.

Monarch Butterfly in ReposeWe had a blast at Lake Nokomis on Saturday celebrating the monarch and enjoying great food, music and company. We had a great turnout with hundreds of people coming out to enjoy the day and learn more about the monarch.

And the festivities lasted well into the night over at Merlins Rest, where Larry and friends had the after-party.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the festival and thanks to Merlin’s Rest for hosting the after-party.

Jerry Rau Benefit

Join Larry, Fiddlin’ Pete, and special guests Lonnie Knight, Doug Lohman and Joe Savage next Tuesday at The Coffee Grounds in Falcon Heights. They’ll be playing a benefit concert for Jerry Rau, a Vietnam veteran whose health issues recently left him unable to perform around town.

This benefit is our small way of raising money to support Jerry through the coming winter and to give something back to a man who continues to serve his country and community through song.

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Larry will be opening for brothers Billy and Ricky Peterson, who’ll be performing with the Steve Miller Band Tribute (current and former Steve Miller Band members). Proceeds for this event will go to The Salvation Army – Harbor Light Center, who provide transitional housing with supportive services to formerly homeless veterans.

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Can’t make it to the show? You can still contribute to the Harbor Light Center to help them continue with their mission. Our vets need our support now more than ever. Visit their website to donate.

Harbor Light’s Website >

Join Larry and others at the American Legion in Austin, MN, this Saturday. The afternoon will be spent sharing memories with old friends, enjoying music, and looking to our future by honoring our past. Speakers will include Jim Guyette, Ray Rogers, Pete Rachleff and Pete Winkles. Music will be provided by Larry Long and others."

Where: The American Legion (809 12th Street Southwest, Austin MN)
When: 2pm through the afternoon (Dinner will be served at 6pm)
Cost: There will be a small fee to cover dinner.

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