Monica Taylor/Songbird of the Cimarron
Monica Taylor, 'Songbird of the Cimarron', has been invited to again collaborate with Garrison Keillor, on another Prairie Home Companion broadcast.
The invitation follows her October 25th appearance on the National Public Radio week-end broadcast in which a wonderful evocation of Oklahoma Spirit of Place and Spirit of Red Dirt Music occurred with her beautiful assistance as well as that of Elvin Bishop, John Nemeth, The All Star Shoe Band (Garrison, Rich Dworksy, Pat Donahue, Cindy Cashdollar, Gary Raynor on the bass and JT Bates on the drums) and Hot Club of Cowtown.
"I've been listening to and have been inspired by Garrison and the music he brings to his program since I've been in the 6th Grade. I've always loved the show," says Taylor.
A fulfillment of a music career dream began in August when Keiller requested CD's of local musical artists who have appeared on the local National Public Radio music program 'Folk Salad.' The request was made to the shows' hosts Scott Aycock and Richard Higgs. The request was made in anticipation of the October broadcast from Tulsa's Chapman Music Center at the Performing Art Center.
Scott sent Taylor's cd "Cimarron Valley Girl" as part of the collection of available CD's by other Red Dirt Musical Artists.
And then on Friday, October 24 around 1 p.m. following a jam session that went into the wee hours of the morning, Taylor got a surprise call in Oklahoma City. It was Garrison Keillor.
"It was a wonderful conversation," recalls Taylor. "I told him that I had been trying to get a ticket to the show, but they were all sold out."
Keiller told her that he loved her Cimarron Valley Girl CD. She could invite four guests to the sold-out show. She had a room reserved for two nights at the Crowne Plaza, next door to the theatre.
Taylor raced to Tulsa, to make a 5 p.m. rehearsal and immediately found herself rehearsing one of Garrison's favorite old Carter family songs that Monica had recorded, 'Hello Stranger'. Keillor and Monica rehearsed other songs she had written... and many songs of Woody Guthrie, as well.
Keillor than asked if Taylor had a song that evoked the Dust Bowl, the Great World Depression.
And Taylor did.
She broke out the song, 'Young Mother,' (written with Patrick Williams).
It's a song that was written after Taylor had studied a picture of Florence Thompson, taken in a migrant workers' camp in California, in the depths of the Great Depression. The photo, The Migrant Mother', was taken by Dorthea Lange, and has become the most recognized picture of the Great Depression years.
Thompson's husband was dead. She had just sold the last tire on the vehicle that had taken the family from Oklahoma to California so she could buy a bag of groceries for her children.
Among the hundreds e-mails Taylor has received regarding her radio presence was a note from Cheryl Brady, a grand-daughter of Florence Thompson, describing how moved she was by the song.
She wasn't the only one.
The song describes the toughness, the resilience, the love, the compassion, that got this country through.
Monica performed another original tune (also written with Patrick Williams) entitled "Hello, Goodbye, I'm Gone."
"So much fun...," said Taylor. "Garrison would step up behind me and sing right over my left shoulder... he made me feel so good. Really included me on a lot of things... listened when I made a suggestion, critiqued songs, was a great role model of creativity and of work ethic.
Taylor says she is thankful for all the hours of playing music with her Red Dirt Music brother and sister musicians who prepared her for the fluid, impromptu, spontanous working of music that is a characteristic of Keillor and his show.
"The time was very tight for certain songs and skits... and then Garrison would cut this or add that, or move this segment up without more than a nod for a signal... but his staff and crew knew what to do. They've been doing it for over 30 years!" said Taylor
In Tahlequah the radio broadcast prompted an old fashioned, spontaneous party inside and on the street in front of Jacob Studio.The party was attended by Murv Jacob, Debbie Duval, Tom and Bridget Barlow, this humble reporter, and all who happened to be passing.
The show is not scheduled to return to Oklahoma anytime soon. However, Keiller and his crew enjoyed Taylor's contribution to the show so much that they are working on a date for her return to the show. She will be flying to a show in Europe or the United States, to again be "a prairie home companion."
To listen to the entire performance and to see pictures, you can go to www.prairiehome.publicradio.org. For more on Monica, her music and her life, go to www.monicataylormusic.com.
The invitation follows her October 25th appearance on the National Public Radio week-end broadcast in which a wonderful evocation of Oklahoma Spirit of Place and Spirit of Red Dirt Music occurred with her beautiful assistance as well as that of Elvin Bishop, John Nemeth, The All Star Shoe Band (Garrison, Rich Dworksy, Pat Donahue, Cindy Cashdollar, Gary Raynor on the bass and JT Bates on the drums) and Hot Club of Cowtown.
"I've been listening to and have been inspired by Garrison and the music he brings to his program since I've been in the 6th Grade. I've always loved the show," says Taylor.
A fulfillment of a music career dream began in August when Keiller requested CD's of local musical artists who have appeared on the local National Public Radio music program 'Folk Salad.' The request was made to the shows' hosts Scott Aycock and Richard Higgs. The request was made in anticipation of the October broadcast from Tulsa's Chapman Music Center at the Performing Art Center.
Scott sent Taylor's cd "Cimarron Valley Girl" as part of the collection of available CD's by other Red Dirt Musical Artists.
And then on Friday, October 24 around 1 p.m. following a jam session that went into the wee hours of the morning, Taylor got a surprise call in Oklahoma City. It was Garrison Keillor.
"It was a wonderful conversation," recalls Taylor. "I told him that I had been trying to get a ticket to the show, but they were all sold out."
Keiller told her that he loved her Cimarron Valley Girl CD. She could invite four guests to the sold-out show. She had a room reserved for two nights at the Crowne Plaza, next door to the theatre.
Taylor raced to Tulsa, to make a 5 p.m. rehearsal and immediately found herself rehearsing one of Garrison's favorite old Carter family songs that Monica had recorded, 'Hello Stranger'. Keillor and Monica rehearsed other songs she had written... and many songs of Woody Guthrie, as well.
Keillor than asked if Taylor had a song that evoked the Dust Bowl, the Great World Depression.
And Taylor did.
She broke out the song, 'Young Mother,' (written with Patrick Williams).
It's a song that was written after Taylor had studied a picture of Florence Thompson, taken in a migrant workers' camp in California, in the depths of the Great Depression. The photo, The Migrant Mother', was taken by Dorthea Lange, and has become the most recognized picture of the Great Depression years.
Thompson's husband was dead. She had just sold the last tire on the vehicle that had taken the family from Oklahoma to California so she could buy a bag of groceries for her children.
Among the hundreds e-mails Taylor has received regarding her radio presence was a note from Cheryl Brady, a grand-daughter of Florence Thompson, describing how moved she was by the song.
She wasn't the only one.
The song describes the toughness, the resilience, the love, the compassion, that got this country through.
Monica performed another original tune (also written with Patrick Williams) entitled "Hello, Goodbye, I'm Gone."
"So much fun...," said Taylor. "Garrison would step up behind me and sing right over my left shoulder... he made me feel so good. Really included me on a lot of things... listened when I made a suggestion, critiqued songs, was a great role model of creativity and of work ethic.
Taylor says she is thankful for all the hours of playing music with her Red Dirt Music brother and sister musicians who prepared her for the fluid, impromptu, spontanous working of music that is a characteristic of Keillor and his show.
"The time was very tight for certain songs and skits... and then Garrison would cut this or add that, or move this segment up without more than a nod for a signal... but his staff and crew knew what to do. They've been doing it for over 30 years!" said Taylor
In Tahlequah the radio broadcast prompted an old fashioned, spontaneous party inside and on the street in front of Jacob Studio.The party was attended by Murv Jacob, Debbie Duval, Tom and Bridget Barlow, this humble reporter, and all who happened to be passing.
The show is not scheduled to return to Oklahoma anytime soon. However, Keiller and his crew enjoyed Taylor's contribution to the show so much that they are working on a date for her return to the show. She will be flying to a show in Europe or the United States, to again be "a prairie home companion."
To listen to the entire performance and to see pictures, you can go to www.prairiehome.publicradio.org. For more on Monica, her music and her life, go to www.monicataylormusic.com.
