spring has sprung!

It was a looong winter...February brought me to Raleigh, NC for the 9th annual Ignited By Truth Conference where Matt Kelly (speaker & writer) reminded us what it is to live life with passion and purpose from his newest book Rediscovering Catholicism...interesting reading. I also met Deby Schlapprizzi (speaker and radio host)...great message, visit her site: www.spendorofyou.com. I returned to Raleigh in March for the Southern Women's Show. Met a wonderful artist: Howard Blichfeldt and now proudly display 2 of his prints in my office. Visit his site : www.blichfeldtphotos.com. I think my fav is "Life's challenges are not designed to break us but to bend us toward God." We had Taste of the Beach here in the Outer banks in March...was very well attended...it has really grown in the last few years...I sang at the Good Life Eatery and we had folks dancing in the isles! Put that on your calendar for next year...you'll enjoy it! Thursday May 12 I'll be debuting with my buddies THE JAZZMEN (keyboards, bass & drums) at the ribbon cutting reception for Cafe Lachine in Wanchese 5-8pm...join us for some great food and music! (252-473-5700 info@cafelachine.com)

Sunday May 15th I'm in Edenton Music in the Park Sunday Series...free & open to the public...stop by...I'm on at 4pm-5pm

Currently I'm gearing up for the summer schedule. The Christian Music Summer Concert Series is looking good. We will be at the Good Life Eatery at MP 4.5 in Kitty Hawk this year Mondays 7-8pm beginning Memorial Day May 30 with the kick-off started by yours truly. Gallop Funeral Services is one of our sponsors so you might want to bone up on your funeral trivia for Courtney Gallop's trivia game. This is our 3rd season. Proceeds will benefit the Food Bank and ICO. All artists who have CDs will have them available. Food and beverages from Good Life will also be available.

The rest of my summer schedule will be posted as soon as I can get confirmation from my vendors.

If you're visiting the Outer Banks and would like a living room concert at your rental/summer home while you're here, please use the phrase "Life's too short!" when you contact me for a special discount!

see ya in the sun!

Happy 2011

Since my last entry, I have been to and from Florida visiting family and singing for some wonderful folks in Wildwood, Ocala, and Auburndale. I also was in Williamsburg VA for the New Years Eve First Night Celebration...always good to go back to Williamsburg. I was able to show "Footprints: a tribute to our troops" at many of these shows. One of the shows (Ocala) was a benefit for Honor Flight which transports veterans to Washington DC to visit the war memorials. We had many veterans in the audience that night and the video was well received.

This past weekend was the Outer Banks Wedding Association's 2011 EXPO...I sang all day Sat & Sun...yes ALL DAY!...but we had a blast!

So you ask, what am I doing with all my free time? I'll be cleaning off my desk, working on taxes, scheduling and hopefully will get some creative time in there somewhere.

Unfortunately, I've said goodbye to 3 dear friends and they will be missed: Audrey Parks, Zee Merkel and my dog Hogan (yes the golden/lab mix in my cookbook & on this site).

I hope your holidays were enjoyed and blessed...and your 2011 is filled w/love, laughter and good health!

see you on the road....

our military

If you have not viewed the recent youtube clip on my site or youtube, please do but have a box of tissues handy. This was put together my my media/graphics manager Barbara Roche. I have not been a shout-out-loud "support our troops" kind of person, but this video really puts all in perspective especially at this time of year. I have the utmost respect for our troops - I don't know how they do what they do but I am evermost grateful for the life they provide me. This was sent to me via email this morning from a viewer: "This means so very much to me. My very best friend and the man I love went into the army not long ago. I never thought I'd see the day that he wouldn't be by my side, but that day did come and much too soon and long, long before I was ready. I love you MQD. I'm proud of you and I always will be. Thank you for serving the US."

I will try to show this video at all my performances as a "thank you" to those who have served and those who continue to answer the call of duty. If you have a loved one serving, I pray their team of angels is working overtime.

Footprints in the Sand - Kim Kalman

life gets in the way

I don't understand why the first words out of someone's mouth who I haven't seen in a few weeks or months is "you're staying busy, aren't you?" I can't imagine they've checked my web site knowing that I haven't BLOGGED since JUNE when all you-know-what broke loose...so to recap we had a great Christian Music Summer Concert Series and raised $2000 which was split between our local FOOD BANK & ICO (Interfaith Community Outreach). It was a terrific mix of musicians from many different faith based communities and I'm am so proud of the fact that our audiences got what we were doing and rose to the occasion! Thank you to those who came once or every week for your support of our musicians and the cause!

I love the summer here in OBX because I get to see so many familiar faces and meet many new folks all while doing what I love to do: music - weddings, festivals, restaurant gigs, private parties, church. It only takes 2 months to clear my desk of all the paper work that has to wait until you all go home!...hence the tardiness of this entry. I was in MD & PA 2 weeks ago (ST Peter's in Hancock MD, a retirement party for Bill somewhere near Williamsport PA & a living room concert for Jean & Frank in Millville PA)...if I can't sing here I'll come to you! Next week I'm off to Wilmington DE for the Nativity Preparatory School Benefit at Tatnall School where the Nativity Prep Boys Choir will make their debut singing with me - you don't want to miss this night! Also joining me will be the string ensemble and the girls choir (lovingly referred to as my Divas) from Tatnall High. Then off to St Paul's Luthern Church, Ardmore PA and Seaford DE Church of the Nazarene...December takes me south to Florida with hopefully some stops along the way...love it! Where would I be without my GPS! Check the web calendar for all the venue info and COME!

The only difficult part of all this is when life gets in the way...my ball playing buddy Tigger of 11+ years died the end of September from cancer...if you have a 4 legged fury angel, give him/her lots of love every day because as with any living gift, when they're gone, they're gone...Tigger & I were bonded from the moment I stepped out of the truck & she jumped in my lap as a lost 4 month old pup...we played ball every day...she had that "poster puppy" face and an ever-ready battery bunny outlook on life...and I miss her~

The dog on my web site, handsome Hogan, is 13 and has cancer as well...if you've ever been a care taker, you know what is going on in my world...

but...I have lots to be thankful for, including my own health and the daily miracles in my life...and people who I see every so often who ask "you're staying busy aren't you?"

Thank God yes I am...and thank you for asking...

summertime, summertime...

catching up here...thank you to all for your support of the Nativity Preparatory School benefit concert May 27 and special thank you to all our musicians who gave their time and talent: our church choirs, Leslie Erickson (Club Violin), Shannah Noble, Bill Rea, George Graham, Bill Downing, Cheryl Needham...thanks to Doug Leal on sound (OBX-PA), Susan Cheney and crew. We gave the school rep, Deb Piper, a check that night for $1500. Next major concert, we hire a production manager!

Our Christian Music Summer Concert Series was kicked off June 14 Monday by the Sojourners Quartet from Elizabeth City (www.sojournersmusic.net): Randy, Rich, Gwen & Woodie...a great evening had by all!

This past week, Great Day Gospel Ministries (www.greatdaygospel.com) put on a wonderful program of material from their newest CD Family Tribute. It was Lisa's last concert at the age of 15...Tuesday was her 16th birthday and we wish her a year full of love, laughter and peace! Bill, Brenda, Lisa & Steven (6 year old brother) have a beautiful blend. We hope to have both groups back next year!

My schedule has me as usual all over the map from Corolla down to Avon & everywhere in between! Check out my schedule...join us for the Monday evening programs at Holy Trinity in Nags Head,,,they're free and fun (bring the kids!)...catch me on the decks and stages around town this summer. I am doing living room concerts, retreats, weddings as well...feel free to email or call with questions about scheduling.

On a special note - thank you to the anonymous person who mailed me cash with a note "please accept this $$ for a CD I made a friend using some of your songs." Now I know we all do this but the cold hard fact of the matter is when we do this we are actually depriving the writer of the tune royalties...one of the ways writers get paid is by the song/cd sold so if we're making free cds for our friends, someone is not getting paid for the gift. The artist also loses money ie if we make a cd for someone, that's one less cd you'll buy right? just food for thought

Look forward to seeing everyone...if you're at a venue, please come say hi!

Church of Redeemer Mechanicsville VA

Last Friday April 30 I was at Church of Redeemer in Mechanicsville VA to share my muisc. I knew it was going to be a good show when I arrived to bowls of M&Ms on the tables AND coffee brewing...my kind of refreshments!

Thank yous to Fr Jim for joining us, the team of Community Life committee that put the evening together and to Cindy Jenkins for the invitation. Cindy & I are W&M buds and have kept in touch since graduation. The best part of the evening for me was after the show, after the clean up and break down of equipment, the kitchen was filled with "stories of when" from my new Italian family at Church of the Redeemer. After the stage, the kitchen is my favorite indoor place to be...here are a few words from coordinator Nancy Crosby:

The only word to describe Kim Kalman’s concert is “awesome”! From the first song to the last she had her audience at Church of the Redeemer in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in the palm of her hand and left them clamoring for more. Time literally stood still the entire time she was on stage. Her voice is pure and vibrant and her songs are magical.

We were truly blessed by her too short performance. She is, indeed, an awesome talent.

Thank you Nancy for your kind words & support...& the M&Ms!