I met Shelley in Berkeley, California when she auditioned for our a cappella quintet, The Quintuplets, and blew our socks off. That was the beginning of a spectacular and lasting friendship. Her CD, Club Boheme, an upbeat mix of Django flavors, standards, and Americana can still be purchased, but hurry―there are only 600 left! Of her song, Give Me the Grace, she says, "I found myself between the proverbial spiritual rock and hard place. I was bottom feeding in my own cesspool of stale emotions, and this song just emerged, all at once. It was and is a prayer for patience and hope. I was thrilled to hear how Renee brings it to life here." The song is dedicated to the Shelley's late mother, the incomparable Foote Kirkpatrick.

Don is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, and award-winning video artist whose songs have been compared to such varied performers as George Harrison, Jason Mraz and Green Day. Sweet November Rain was the first song Don ever sang to me, and its haunting melody and emotive lyrics never let me go. I knew I had to pay homage to his heartfelt music. His own single, "If I Had a Son, He'd Look Like Trayvon," was inspired by the tragic events in Florida in February 2012 and President Obama's comments about the killing. On a much brighter note, Don's tune, "Another Sunny Day in Paradise," captures the beat and melody of a summer day when everything goes right. Both of these songs are on his two-set CD entitled Man on a Mission.

Henry started playing guitar in grammar school where he first met Old Friend, John Rodriguez. This meeting spawned a lifelong friendship. They began playing in working bands together by early high school, and both turned to songwriting while attending Ramapo College where I joined this cabal of friends and musicians. Henry's song, Fragile ,was first recorded in John's basement. (They thought it would be a perfect UPS commercial! Anyone know any high mucketymucks at UPS?) Years later, I heard the tune at John's house and the little song's seed was planted in my musical garden. Henry lives in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California where he enjoys live, world class music, finding the local arts scene and bicycling to be the icing on the cake. 

 I was blessed with the gift of performing with singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, performer, actor, and educator Timuel Kerrigan Black (1963-1993). Kerrigan was an academic whose original one-man show about African American history and songs, "Tryin' to Get Home," delighted and edified thousands of school children and adults in the Bay Area. His archives, which are housed at Stanford University, include an interview with Studs Terkel, material from Black Gay Men United, and the video, "To Marlon with Love," a tribute to Marlon Riggs, which features an interview with Kerrigan and a clip of him singing one of his songs. Ordinary Man is one of my favorites, and speaks to the essence of what Kerrigan believed and taught. Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Holly is respected around the world for her music and activism. I got to know her when I worked for the nonprofit arm of her company Redwood Records, where I was inspired by her talent, joy and commitment to social justice. Often cited as one of the founders of the Women’s Music movement, Holly also worked for peace and multicultural understanding. I had been looking for something to record that addressed my deep concern about climate change. When I heard the cut Jump Jump on her album Peace Becomes You, I knew I had to record it. Thank you, Holly, for forging a path of activism and love―and for letting me record your awesome song.