Well, the album is finally finished, but we were thinking the title was too long. Therefore, the new name of the album is “Comin’ Home”rather than Songs from My Desk Drawer.

COMIN’ HOME – This track is a poignant examination of that something special we feel when returning to our roots after a long absence. The song evokes memories I had returning from the first Gulf War as an Air Force pilot.

A LONG WALK – a melancholy look at ruined relationships and the losses we feel in the world in the immediate aftermath of a breakup. “I got no place I wanna go”.

AIN’T NO DOUBT – I am married to a very beautiful and strong woman and like most of us men, can’t comprehend why they married us and why they stay with us. This song tells Diana how much she means to me every day.

CRACKS – As a Yoga and Pilates instructor, Diana constantly references the lyrics of Leonard Cohen about the cracks in each of us and how “that is how the light gets in”. His lyrics helped influence this song. To Diana, “ You complete the puzzle that is me”.

EBB AND FLOW – My life is heavenly influenced by the world of Yoga, into which I have become immersed over the last seven years. This song reminds us that life has an Ebb and a Flow and always works itself out. Just breathe…..

FLY – Believe in yourself and fly. That is the message of this song. Too many people play it safe. Life is too short to wait. Take that leap of faith. “You are my Wendy. I am your Pan. Open your window…and fly”.

I DON’T WANT TO WAKE UP DEAD – I turned 75 in October and am looking at the end of life creeping up on me. I fear that I will fail to wake up one day and my run will be over. Hey, there is still sooo much yet that I want to do.

LOVE IS HARD – …and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not. Love takes constant nurturing and the depth of the pain felt when we fail at love is Difficult to fathom. Mechanically, I wanted to see how low my voice would go to make that point.

ONE IN A MILLION – This song reflects the joy in finding that rare human soul that makes each of us complete. That “One of a kind…a love all mine”.

ONE MORE MINUTE – My Bother-in-law, Pete, and I were enjoying a beer on his backyard waterside deck with the subject turning to the art of song writing. He suggested I write a song about the gratitude we should feel about getting to enjoy just one more beer. Gratefulness changes everything.

OUTSIDE FROM WITHIN – Feeling melancholy at times, this song reflects the changes we feel within ourselves as we grow older. “This old man once full of pride, is stuck now looking outside, from within”.

SHADES OF FALL – This song began as a simple guitar RIF, needing a subject line and lyrics. I subsequently took a quiet walk through a local copse of woods and immediately felt the peacefulness of the earth and trees overwhelm my senses. “Listen to the silence so profound”.

SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT – This song was a lyrical exercise, using my imagination to create a haunting examination of the many adjectives that a writer can use to describe how, “Love once blossomed, now is dead”.

YOU AND ME – Trying to keep the mood a bit lighter, I guess you could call this a country song, describing the synergistic effect of two people joined as one. “I look around and all I see is You. You. You. You and ME”.

Man, time goes by fast. According to John Lennon, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”. Life has certainly been interesting in the last two years, from health issues to a coming apart of my recording venue. Severe disagreements over business management practices has forced me to sell my church in Sandusky where I recorded music for over 6 years. Thankfully, I found an incredible music producer just down the street from the church. Mr. David Givens and I have been working on my next album, “Songs from My Desk Drawer”, for about 18 months now. We are getting closer to releasing the album, so stand by to enjoy. I will put out a blog describing each of these new tracks, and how they came to be in my drawer in the first place.

I have two additional albums just waiting to be produced. The first, “Addicted to Fishing”, is a compilation of inane island party songs, emphasizing the humorous aspects of living here on Lake Erie. The second, “Davenport Yacht Club”, contains what I think are beautiful island compositions, romanticizing the island lifestyle. It has been so long that I actually have forgotten how to put together these blogs. More later. Keep writing and playing incredible music.

“Time Standing Still” is coming soon and should be uploading. I started this album out as acoustic only, but several songs required drums (Chris French) to fully appreciate the seriousness of the subject matter. Speaking of subject matter, these songs are of a more hardened nature, reflecting the tough times I was going through as I put them down on “paper”. This includes lost loves, failed relationships, marital squabbles, world chaos, and being surrounded by those less fortunate in my community.

I want to thank my son, Max Davenport , for contributing to the title track, Time Standing Still. His lyrical contribution of “…an hourglass in zero gravity…” set the tone for the song. Special thanks to my guest guitarist, Keaton Rood, for adding his special talents to the album. As always, thanks also goes out to Shawn Daley, owner of the Mohawk Studio at my music venue in Sandusky, Ohio, called HALO Live.

I have already laid down scratch tracks for my next album that I call “ Songs From My Desk Drawer”. Songwriters know that there are songs that take a long time to perfect…or at least make good enough to record. Having written over 250 songs now, I know quite well that some songs I write are inane, silly, simplistic, or just bad. Over time, improvements can be made to rhythm, lyrics, key, and chord structure, allowing them to come into their own over time. This next album includes many of these songs, with only 2-3 songs that are relatively new from my keyboard.

Unless you make a living from song writing, you probably don’t get much feedback, good or bad, on your music endeavors…at least in my small world. I am not a well-known musician or song writer by any means. By I do know that I am passionate about what I write and know in my heart that it mostly comes from my life experiences. When I am in my depressed state of mind, I tend to write very deep and meaningful songs that can tug at the heart strings of any normal listener (I certainly no not wish to define the term normal in this blog, because who in God’s name knows what that is). On the other hand, I have written many bawdy “drinking” songs regaling the island party lifestyle here in the center of the Lake Erie islands’ entertainment district. These songs put me in a happy mood, reflecting on the beaches, water, sunshine, and atmosphere that goes with living here in Port Clinton, Ohio.

Since I get few accolades for my musical talent, I decided it was time to celebrate my own music by throwing a party highlighting my latest album release, “Reflections”. Good or bad, I love my music. I make that statement despite the fact that I hate listening to my voice and knowing that my guitar skills are less that adequate. Mike “Mad Dog” Adams once told me that his original songs were his babies and to be kind when I listened to them. They meant something special to him as well. I now have 58 songs on various streaming music sites, not a small feat considering the expense of publishing even one song.

Think about how few people that you know who actually write novels, short stories, poems, or songs. We are a rare breed, and as such, we need to nurture our talents and our fragile egos. An album release party allows me to share the intimate details of my music with friends and family. I recently listened to Billy Joel Radio on Sirius FM and was fascinated to hear his stories about where each song came from and how and why he wrote them. I realized that this musical journey for most songwriters is deeply moving and personal. I would love for each of you to come and listen to one song writer’s story and share with me my personal journey through this rarified land of recorded music. (more below)

During this event, I will have another opportunity to perform my music with my band, the Island Song Trio. My good friend, Timothy Barrett, plays bass and cello. Our newest member (and good friend) of the band is Bart Kozar, our drummer, who plays so many other instruments that I can hardly mention them all. Last season our band played 42 summer gigs, mostly for fun and charity events. Joining us on stage is my new friend and recording studio collaborator, Keaton Rood, who is playing backup guitar for my next acoustic album currently is studio production. He is a talented musician, vocalist, and songwriter in his own right. I hope you can join us!

On February 25th, 2023, I will host an Album Release Party at HALO in Sandusky, Ohio. HALO is a 110-year-old stone church founded in 1848. HALO is also home to The Mohawk Studio where 3 of the 4 albums I have made were produced.

HALO (805Wayne Street in Sandusky) features a sound stage complete with lights and a bitchin’ sound system. I also managed to find an old 22’ oak bar from which to serve food and beverages. The COVID pandemic put a stop to all concerts for over two years and my partner and producer, Shawn Daley, and I are attempting to revive the business.
The party will showcase many of the 250 songs I have written, including some from my 58 songs currently available on Spotify, iTunes, etc. My band, the Island Song Trio, will play two sets with me, featuring my songs that we perform live for audiences along the north coast of Ohio on Lake Erie. Performing in the band and playing bass and electric cello, with me is Timothy Barrett, a retired elementary school principle and former member of the Akron symphony. Playing drums, keyboards, lead guitar, etc. is Bart Kozar, whose claim to fame has been hanging around with Neil Young. Tickets are available for a $10 donation with money raised going toward art programs for kids in Ottawa County. Tickets also available at the door. As the President of the Rotary Club of Port Clinton, this “fun”-raiser helps to highlight our club’s motto, “Service Above Self”.
My latest album, “Reflections”, is an eclectic mix of genres, capturing my very diverse song-writing style and multi-faceted life. Click on “music” on my home page and you can preview some of them. For additional information, contact me at colonelcrash@yahoo.com. Bring a friend and help support your local music industry.

New album coming this month.

After a year of hard work at The Mohawk Studio and my home studio, ”Reflections” is ready to hit the streets. The album is an eclectic mix of genres, reflecting my many moods (and there are plenty of those), events near my home on Lake Erie, and world events. Here is what you can expect:

“Bloody Fingertips” creates a lyrical picture of those who have given up hope in this world and are hanging onto life by their fingertips

“Forgive But Not Forget” evolved through my yoga practice. A family member uttered harsh and cruel remarks about me and my family. I am learning to forgive…but I will never forget…”the damage has been done”.

There has been much sadness in my life and this is reflected in the song ”Frozen”…that cold feeling that permeates your soul when someone you love chooses another.

“I Rue the Day” takes a ball bat to a former spouse, having a little fun with the words ”rue” and ”ruin”.

The world is again on the brink of a world war, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatening to ignite the fuse. “Knocks the Raven” demonizes Putin as he inflicts misery and death upon those people.

I found out that one of my childhood sweethearts was brutally murdered in a jewelry store. “Looking for Mary Lou” is for her.

I am constantly wrestling with the aging process, watching the years swiftly pass by as my life is now being reflected through an ” Old Man’s Eyes”.

I suffer from PTSD, having served 20 years in the military in some very nasty places. I have an explosive temper that reveals a hidden demon inside me. “Screamin’ at the Demon” is written for that second personality that sometimes escapes to wreak havoc on those around me.

I wrote ” Sea of Sadness” as I watched many around me succumb to the ravages of COVID complications.

Our emotions we share with lovers in the night change as darkness slowly recedes and sunlight once again reveals the colors in our lover’s eyes. It is a magic time ”Til Color Comes Around”.

I wrote ”Time Standing Still” with my son, Max Davenport, during a father-son expedition to Yosemite National Park.

Several years ago, my wife, Diana, and I flew down to our condo in Clearwater Beach near Tampa to get out of the cold for a few days. I awoke the first morning to a temperature of 31 degrees. We went out and purchased winter slippers and I wrote ”Song of the Sea”.

As things go in life, so they also change within the musical spheres of musicians and their bands. Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, we bid farewell to David Altman (drummer), but we have a new band member to announce for the summer of 2022. Please welcome Bart Kozar. I met Bart while performing at the Gristmill in Port Clinton last summer. Our “old” drummer had injured his hand and couldn’t perform that evening. While lamenting the loss of percussion over a glass of bourbon at the bar before the gig, the stranger sitting next to me mentioned that he played drums. I turned to him and offered him $50 to sit in for the evening. Acknowledging my request, he walked the few blocks to his home down the street and returned a few minutes later with his home-made “suitcase” drum kit.

Bart went on to sub for us periodically last summer and has now become an integral aspect of our new sound. Here is what is amazing….despite some severe physical work-related injuries, he manages to perform brilliantly in several roles. We soon discovered that Bart Kozar was an accomplished drummer, bass player, lead guitarist, and keyboard player, with years of musical experience playing with many bands. Like manna from heaven, Bart dropped from the sky and into my life. I am so lucky to have met him.

The Island Song Trio’s sound just keeps improving. Two years ago, while taking my wife’s yoga class, I met this guy, Timothy Barrett, who played cello (years ago he reminds me) for the Akron symphony. We got together for a quiet cello/acoustic guitar yoga-music gig for Soul Stretch Yoga and the rest is history. Tim has been with me ever since as our band’s bass and electric cello player.

Somehow I have surrounded myself with “real” musicians who make me sound good. I am always humbly reminding them and everyone else that I am a mere amateur with very limited guitar skills and a mediocre once. I am truly blessed as they really appreciate all of the songs (over 200 now) that I have written. This is one skill that I am really working to improve as my 4th album of original songs is now in studio-production.

let me introduce to you…the Island Song Trio….

My son, Max, is the Associate Art Director at Gearbox, a video game company. He created the album art for my next album, initially titled “It’s Still Me”. “Reflections” more aptly reflects this album’s examination of where I live and how I perceive the world around me. Thank you Max. Some of the names on the album will probably change once it is completed. Until then, follow me on most music download sites like Apple Music and Spotify under John “Crash” Davenport.

p.s. Max and I hiked the guitar to a mountain-top lake in Yosemite National Park for this photo-op.

I recently joined forces with Soul Stretch Yoga in Port Clinton, Ohio, to offer a wonderful evening of Yoga Nidra at the Catawba Island Club. Working with Rose Sabin and my wife, Diana, I played over an hour of what Rose called “lullaby music” to place participants into a deep, relaxing state of consciousness. Perhaps musical versatility is something that musicians should strive to achieve? It was fun, a paid gig, and gave me the opportunity to introduce some of my own instrumental compositions.