Harper December Blog

Hey Everyone,

I hope all my friends in the USA and Canada had a Happy Thanksgiving. Wow this year has really flown by with tremendous speed. It has been a turbulent year for my band and I with some huge highs and some very deep lows. The release of my new CD "Stand Together" in May was a huge high. The number of excellent reviews gave me a true sense of accomplishment. Getting to number 10 on Billboard and number 2 on XM/ Sirius Bluesville was another achievement. Another huge high was working with the amazing special needs kids at The Buckingham Center For Exceptional Students in Fort Myers, Florida, the Williams Syndrome kids at the Williams Syndrome Camp in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the inner city kids of The Detroit Merit Academy. To help others through my music is a true blessing. I feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity.

Of the lows would be the major accident we had in North Carolina in May. But this was not to be a one off event. I have to say that my wife Bobbi and I are very lucky to be alive. On early Sunday morning (November 21) after a fantastic show at Billy's Lounge in Grand Rapids, Michigan we were hit from behind with huge force by an SUV on our way home. Our Dodge Sprinter was catapulted through the air which caused the Sprinter to flip on to its passenger side. Bobbi and I were suspended in mid air, held securely by our seat belts. Thankfully no major injuries- just a little bruised and battered. The whole side of the passenger side was nothing but a twisted metal mess. The front window and all the passenger side windows were shattered. The frame was twisted and the back doors demolished. It truly is miraculous that Bobbi and I only have some bruises to show for our ordeal. Thankfully the driver of the other car and his passengers were also OK. A good Samaritan with powerful arms pulled both Bobbi and I out of the wreck. The rest of the band had driven to the gig in their own cars- which was also a true blessing. My didgeridoos didn't even get a scratch, my amp, my harps- all were OK. On a sad note- our Dodge Sprinter- named Sylvia is no more- she was totaled by our insurance company State Farm- who I would have to say were very helpful and supportive. Marc our drummer came and picked us up at the scene of the accident and even gave us a bed for the night. We were very lucky.

So as we enter this Holiday season, I would like to suggest that we all look over our lives and count our blessings. Material things can always be replaced, but a loved one can't. Think of those less fortunate than yourself and if you can, try to do something for others. It doesn't have to be big- helping someone with their groceries, or opening a door for a stranger, helping out at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Or as in our case- a perfect stranger pulling us out of our wreck of a Sprinter van. Every little bit makes this planet a much better place. Giving is the greatest gift of all. I can certainly testify to that.

Thank you all for your continued support. Have an amazing Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays to all. May 2011 be a year full of joy, prosperity and inspiration.

See you out on the road,

Peace,

Harper & Midwest Kind

www.harper.biz (Official Harper Website) CDs, E Book & T Shirt orders
www.myspace.com/harperband
www.youtube.com/harperband (for live video clips)
www.facebook.com/harperandmidwestkind (just for chatting)
www.blindpigrecords.com (for CD orders & downloads)

Harper November Blog

Hey Everyone,

We are having some incredible weather here in Michigan, USA this Autumn. Just lovin' the sunshine!!! We began the month with a benefit for Robin Rogers at Callahan's in Michigan. Robin is on the same record label as me- Blind Pig Records. She has inoperable cancer so many musicians around the country have been putting together benefits to help pay for her medical costs. My band and I were only to happy to help out. Laurie Wright put this event together and we thank her for her incredible effort.

The rest of the month saw us touring to Tennessee, West Virgina, some home shows in Michigan, then on to Pennsylvania and Canada. We had a very sunny afternoon show at The Chattanooga State College then it was on to Brackins Bar in Maryville, Tennessee. We then headed to The Empty Glass in Charleston, West Virgina to perform to a packed house. We were very happy to be apart of the West Michigan Blues Society twentieth year bash at Billy's Lounge. The Rusty Wright band also performed which was a treat for us to see. October also saw the closure of Blues On Grand in Des Moines, Iowa- we thank Jeff Wagner for supporting us over the years and we wish him and his staff all the very best. We will really miss this great music venue.

We were very happy to visit our favorite club in Sharon, Pennsylvania - Tullys then we headed to the Canal Bank Shuffle in Thorold Canada. We had some fun and games crossing the border. The Canadian border guard kept asking me over and over whether or not I had any guns. Of course I didn't have- but it was funny to be asked the same question over and over again. As we waited in the Border lounge for our passports to be verified, we saw a young guy being handcuffed and being led away to a private room in the back. Not Good! Thankfully we were Kosher! The Canal Bank Shuffle was a superb event- huge crowd, big stage and fantastic sound. We finished the month with a show at Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak, Michigan. It was a Pazman Super session featuring some of Michigan's finest musicians. It was a great event with some almighty jams. News just to hand - Mark Pazman has just received a "Keeping Blues Alive" award for his Sunday blues radio show on WCFX. Congratulations to Paz. Please note that we have decided to move our December tour to the West Coast to April, 2011. So never fear we will get to you, its just going to be a little longer than expected. Hope to see you all out on the road this November.

Peace,

Harper & Midwest Kind

www.harper.biz (Official Harper Website) CDs, E Book & T Shirt orders
www.myspace.com/harperband
www.youtube.com/harperband (for live video clips)
www.facebook.com/harperandmidwestkind (just for chatting)
www.blindpigrecords.com (for CD orders & downloads)