Gordon Ellis

Hi Everyone,

After a pretty quiet Hurricane season, Mother Nature has made up for it big time with Hurricane Ian. I am sure you have all seen the news, so no need to recap here. As far as I can tell, people I know down in Florida have escaped the worst of the storm. But for others, it has no doubt been devastating. Now would probably be a good time to donate to the agency of your choice, to help out.

——————————————————-

This coming Friday, Oct. 7th CSLN will have its monthly Writers Night. We will be deviating a bit from our normal format this month. Although there will still be an Open Mic at 7 p.m., instead of a couple of “Spotlight” acts, there will be just one Featured Performer: David McHenry and his band Void Contact. They will be doing at least an hour show starting at 8.

I believe David was the first drummer for the CSLN band around 30 years ago. Although I don’t have bio info on him, I saw his CD Release Party online a year or two ago. It was during COVID so there were only a few people in the live space, but David and his band did a fabulous job. I know he is planning a large ensemble, including backup singers and guest performers. If this is anything like his CD Release Party, it should be great.

$10 suggested love offering for use of the space.

My next gig is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16th at the 404 Bar and Grill. I am still trying to confirm it with the club owner, who has been hard to reach, so I won’t say anymore until next month’s newsletter.

It’s fall, and it’s beautiful here in Ellisville. Hope it is like that where you are.

Until next month,

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

I mentioned this in my last newsletter, so this is just a brief reminder. I will be the Guest Performer at tomorrow’s CSLN Sunday Service, doing 4 of my songs with that stellar band. I’m sorry for the short notice. Rosemary Cathcart will be speaking, and she always gives a good talk. Hope to see you there.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

Wow, August seems to have gone by fast. It’s almost the end of the month.

Just a couple of things to mention. First, next Friday, Aug. 2nd, CSLN will be hosting another writers’ night. We will have 3 excellent performing songwriters: Gary Gullbergh, Julie Grower, and Billy Lee, preceded by a half hour Open Mic. Billy is an accomplished writer, including a #1 country hit. Julie’s songs are heartfelt and defy simple classification, but probably lean toward folk. And Gary is a consummate songwriter and entertainer, whose songs cannot easily be put in a box, unless you simply label that box “Great Music.”

The event will be in the Sanctuary, since part of the Fellowship Hall is off limits. The Open Mic is from 6:30 to 7 (Space for 5 performers. Sign up at 6:30). Please note–we may not have access to a piano. There is a $5.00 suggested love offering for the Center. In the past, we have encouraged potluck snacks and drinks, but not many people have brought or eaten the food, so I don’t know what to say about that. I guess, if you haven’t eaten and are hungry, bring food, bring some to share.

——————————————

On Sunday, Sept. 11th, I am honored to be the Guest Performer at our service again. I will be doing 4 songs, backed by our stellar band.

I believe that’s it. Until next time, be well, be safe, and be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

Just a brief reminder, that I will be performing with Arnie Reed and David Johnson (The Gordon Ellis Ensemble) at Brown’s Diner this Tuesday, Aug. 9th from 6 – 6:45 P.M. As usual, all original music. Brown’s is at 2102 Blair Blvd, Nashville, Tn. 37212, less than a half block off 21st Ave. South, and across the street from Friedman’s Army Navy and Hillsboro Kroger. Hope you can make it.

——————————————————

I am copying and pasting this Scam Alert from the Next Door app. I can’t verify it, but someone thought it was important enough to post, so I am including it here:

“Scam Alert- More sophisticated. I (DB) got this in an email through the Nextdoor Neighbor email list. “BEWARE, FRIENDS: I almost fell for this very sophisticated debit card scam. Here’s how it goes: got a call, the caller ID was my bank. The guy says he’s from the fraud dept, calling about my debit card ending in —-(the 4 correct numbers), and asks if i’d been traveling, reports 2 suspicious charges that happened at out-of-state stores (Lowe’s and Walmart). I said nope, wasn’t me. He says they’ll send me a new card. He knows my address. He knows all my phone numbers. He sends a verification code to my cell and asks me to read it to him. THEN HE ASKS FOR MY PIN NUMBER, so he can deactivate it. That’s where I said “no.” But he has an answer for my suspicions: he says look at the number I’m calling from, it matches the number on the back of your card. It does! But still, then I said let me call you back and he hung up! I reported this to my bank’s fraud dept, who said WE WOULD NEVER ASK FOR YOUR PIN NUMBER. (And immediately cancelled my card.) They also said this is the new scam, they’re hearing about it a lot. Tell everyone! I knew also right away because as I was on the call… I checked with my identity protection service because I would have gotten an alert from my service before this call ever came. No alert found. My scam radar was screaming. Be careful out there guys these scammers are very tech savvy these days.” Thank you”

Have a great week and month,

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

If you are like most of the nation (Not to mention much of Europe), you have probably been roasting for the past month or so. Here in Ellisville, we have only broken 100 once so far (It was 101 right around my birthday in late June), but we did have 28 straight days in the 90s before getting some relief this week, and they said it was only our 5th longest 90 degree streak (Hmm–so what’s the record? I think 34 days,but don’t quote me).

Just a couple of things to share this month. First, I will be performing with Arnie Reed and David Johnson (Collectively known as the Gordon Ellis Ensemble) at Brown’s Diner on Tuesday Evening, August 9th from 6 – 6:45 p.m. An all original set, of course. It would be great if we can bring in a good crowd, as that seems to be the requirement for being asked back by the new manager. Come on out–you will not only get to hear a set of great original music, but you can treat yourself (If you aren’t vegan or vegetarian, of course) to one of the least expensive, yet best burgers in town. I hear the catfish is really good too. This will be the first time we have performed together since early June, so we are really looking forward to it.

Brown’s is located at 2102 Blair Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212, about a quarter of a block off 21st Ave. South, and across the street from Hillsboro Village Kroger and Friedman’s Army Navy Store.

The CSLN Writer’s Night is resuming on Friday, Aug. 5th, after taking off in July. There is a slight modification of the format.

The Open Mic will be from 6:30 to 7 p.m. (Sign up at 6:30–we will probably have room for the first 5 or 6 people who sign up). We have pared down this part of the evening to shorten the event some, and because sign ups for the open mic have decreased from what it used to be.

We will then have 4 acts each doing a half hour set. I don’t have promo on anyone but here is the info: At 7 P.M., we will have Tom Huebner and Dottie Escue–a husband and wife duo with some cool songs and harmonies. At 7:30., Bruce John Brigham will take the stage (He was a Spotlight Performer a couple of times at the old Coffeehouse ). At 8 P.M., we will have Gary Cavanaugh, who has some humorous songs, as well as some moving ones. Gary currently hosts a writers show at Bobby’s Idle Hour on Monday Afternoons. And at 8:30, Richard Trest will close out the evening. If you don’t recognize the name, he was the owner of “Richard’s” (French pronunciation–accent on the second syllable).

We are trying to build up this event again, after cancellations due to COVID and other issues over the last couple of years slowed us down. Hope you can make it out. There is a $5 suggested love offering to the center, and this is a potluck event–we will only have what people bring.

That seems to be all for this month. Keep cool, and remember: “I wish I had won more arguments” said no one ever in their final moments.

Have a great month.

Gordon

---