“Not Again,” Featured in Columnist Piece on Protest Songs
FolkWorks columnist, Chris Wilson, featured “Not Again,” in her recent column entitled, “The Protest Song is Alive and Well.” The piece underscores the current place and importance of protest songs, and features two other excellent artists as well.
Performing by Lake Geneva: Women’s March
On January 21st at the Women’s March in Geneva, Gregg performed with his daughter, Casey, and a local Geneva musician, Sito Sprenger, in the final minutes of the local march. Estimates put the Geneva March turnout at approximately 2,000 people, with marches around the world turning out around five million people on the day. Gregg, Casey, and Sito performed a song Gregg wrote for Women’s March entitled, “We Fight,” and also an adapted version of the cover, “Where is the Love?”. Here is a clip:
Gregg Publishes Blog on “Helping Our Kids Overcome Information Overload”
Gregg published a blog with MomsRising entitled, “Sense, Satire, and Support: Towards Helping Our Kids Overcome Information Overload,” where he offers some approaches for parents. He also discusses his new book, “A Patient Man Named Joe Watched Trump Refuse to Go…,” the proceeds from which are being donated to MomsRising.
Gregg is interviewed on Story Warriors Podcast – “Tomorrow Will Be Better Than Today”
“Enjoy It All” – A Song for Robin Williams
Like so many of you, I was deeply saddened when I heard the news about Robin Williams. He was someone I did not know personally in any way, yet felt like I knew so very well. He made me laugh, a lot, but also made me think. He was someone I truly admired. I cannot remember a time before I began watching his films and laughing at his jokes.
His passing led me to write “Enjoy It All,” a song that reflected how I felt about the sad news and more generally about the times. I needed to find something good in it all.
Performing a Song by a Russian Legend
At my recent Moscow concert I only performed one song that was not my own. The song “You Can’t Turn Back Time” was written by the great Bulat Okudzhava, a highly important twentieth-century writer/poet/songwriter/performer in Russia. I admire Okudzhava’s beautiful language and imagery, and his ability to transport the listener, something that mesmerised Russian audiences for decades and earned him an important place in Russia’s cultural heritage, including a prominent statue on the famous Old Arbat. I was privileged to have met him in the early nineties when he was visiting the United States.
Remembering My Dad – “You’re Not Far”
For me, every November 27th is a day of memory and reflection, for it is the day my Dad died, shortly after 9/11. Here I am again. My Dad – his name was Jack – was such an important person in my life, and I wish I could have had him around much longer. Many people wish that. But memories help to sustain us, and when we lose someone so close to us we ache and miss them, but at the same time we find ways to keep them with us, always.
On this November 27th I want to share the song I wrote in his memory, “You’re Not Far.” While it is very personal to me, I hope that it will speak to many of you as well.
Say “Not Again” to Gun Violence in America: A Song and a Perspective from a Dad Abroad
(Published by invitation as a blog on MomsRising)
I am very grateful to MomsRising for the opportunity to share my music and thoughts with all of you.