News

Hi Everyone,

Belated happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there. And happy “almost summer” to everyone reading this. The calendar says summer starts on the 20th this year, but yesterday, we were already in the upper 90s, so clearly, summer is already here.

I want to thank everyone who came out to see the Gordon Ellis Ensemble last month. We filled the Springwater (Standing room only), and got a great response, so they are having us back on Thursday, June 27th from 5 – 7 p.m. Thanks also, to Gary Gullbergh, who filled in on the break and did a fine job holding everyone’s attention, which isn’t easy to do when you are following a full band.

For those who have never been to the Springwater, it is at 115 27th Ave. North, across the street from Centennial Park and a half block north of West End. Ave. We will be doing two sets of original Americana/Relevant Country music. I do hope you can make it. I will probbly send a reminder a few days before, as I know most of have busy lives. By the way the Springwater does not serve food, so you might want to grab a snack before we play, or dinner afterwards.

And for those of you planning to watch the Presidential Debate, we end at 7 p.m. and the debate starts at 8, so you can probably make it home in time to watch it from the beginning.

Well, I guess that’s all the news I have to share. Stay cool.

Be safe, we well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick reminder: The Gordon Ellis Ensemble will be performing at the Springwater Lounge on Sunday, May 19th from 5 – 7 p.m. The Springwater is at 115 27th Ave. North, Nashville Tn. 37203. It is across the street from the West Side of Centennial Park, and about a half block north of McDonalds.

All original Americana-Relevant Country music. It’s been several months since we have performed, but now that we have a new drummer, we are anxious to play out again. Note: They don’t serve food, but Red Hot Chicken is next door and there are several restaurants within a few blocks.

No cover charge, but tips welcome and appreciated.

Hope you can make it.

Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are enjoying Spring wherever you are. We’ve been in the upper 70s to upper 80s here, and it’s been mostly beautiful.

It’s been a while since my last newsletter, as there hasn’t been anything particularly exciting to share, and I don’t want to take up people’s time blathering on about nothing. But I do have some news to share this month.

After finding a new drummer, The Gordon Ellis Ensemble is ready to start playing out again. We will be performing at the Springwater Lounge, on Sunday, May 19th. from 5 – 7 p.m. Known as the oldest bar in Tennessee, the Springwater has been in the same location (115 27th Ave. North, across the street from Centennial Park) for over 100 years. I hear it used to be a pretty rough bikers bar back in the day, but it’s now a safe and popular place for bands to play. It is also no longer a “supper club”, so plan on having dinner elsewhere, if you come out. There is a chicken place next door (Where Hog Heavan used to be) and a McDonalds a half block away, plus several restaurants nearby on West End Ave. This will be our first gig in several months, and our first with a drummer in even longer. I’m excited about getting out there again–it should be a great time. Mark your calendars– I hope you can make it.

Meanwhile, the cicadas have started invading Middle Tennessee, though I haven’t personally seen one–yet. This is expected to be a particularly large invasion, as the ones that only come out of the ground every 13 years to mate, and the ones that only come out every 17 years will be coming out around the same time. The last time that happened the air was so full, it looked like snow flurries, and their buzzing sounded like distant chain saws . The good news is that they don’t bite or sting–they just annoy big time. If you are visiting , bring your goggles and ear plugs (LOL).

I guess that’s all the news to share. Everyone have a great month, and thanks for reading this. Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

Just a brief update here. The memorial service for Candy Paull on Saturday was beautiful and uplifting. Donna Michael did a terrific job of putting it together, Laura Powers put together a moving video tribute to Candy with lots of pictures, and there was some beautiful music, which I was honored to be part of. Thanks, to Larry Faragalli for putting the music part together.

This Sunday, March 10th, will be our last CSLN service at our Charlotte Pike location. We are selling the building, and will be sharing the new space with Unity on Franklin Rd., starting Sunday, March 17th.

This Sunday will be the last time for a while, that we will have a full band, as the acoustics at Unity can’t accommodate that much sound. I’m not exactly what the new configuration of the band will be, but I bet it will still be good.

This Sunday, I am proud to be one of 3 performers who will be doing a song at our last Service. I will be performing my song “Something Good’s Gonna Come From This” at the beginning of the service. Antoinette Olesen will be singing “I Will Remember You,” and there will be a video presentation assembled by Buddy Farler, that I am sure will bring back lots of memories. Shawn Gallaway will end the service with his song “We Choose Love.”

If you have ever been part of the CSLN Community, I hope you can make it–there will probably be a large crowd and perhaps, people you haven’t seen in a while. Note: Saturday Night, March 9th, we go to Daylight Savings time, so don’t forget to Spring ahead one hour (Otherwise you may be showing up as the service is ending).

Looking ahead to Sunday, March 17th, the CSLN service will start at noon, following Unity’s service at 9:30. Fellowship will happen before our service around 11:15. I believe the Stereo Angels (Joelle Platt and Raven Barrientos) will perform. Big changes like this can bring uncertainty and anxiety, so let’s know that Something Good’s Gonna Come From This.

Spring is coming–enjoy.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

I hope your new year has gotten off to a good start. Mine has been mixed. Every new year is symbolically, a milestone and a blank slate. It brings new hope, and I like that (Not that the New Year is the only time to create new ideas, dreams, etc., but it seems like a good time to start.).

A few weeks ago, a good friend, and a practitioner and long time member of CSLN, Candy Paull made her transition. She had been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks before, and for a while, it seemed like things were hopeful–she was hopeful– but due to a perfect storm of events (Which I won’t go into here), she started going downhill, and was gone quickly. I am grateful that I got to see her a few times before she passed.

For those of you who knew Candy, CSLN is holding a memorial service at the Center For Spiritual Living, 6705 Charlotte Pike, this Saturday ( 3/2/24) at 2 p.m. It is also going to be streamed on our YouTube channel. You can go to YouTube and type in CSLNashville, and should be able to join. Donna Michael will be officiating. My guess is that there will be an opportunity for people to share stories about Candy, and a few of us will be sharing a song, as Candy was a songwriter herself and lover of music. I am honored to be one of the people sharing a song and I hope it will be meaningful for everyone. More about Candy below.

On Sunday, March 10th, CSLN will hold its final service at the building that has been our home for nearly a quarter of a century. We have sold our current building, and will be sharing the Unity campus on Franklin Road on a trial basis, beginning on Sunday, March 17th, at noon (Unity will have their service first, at 9:30). I am honored to be one of the last performers to do a song at our current building, along with Antionette Olesen. I expect a lot of people to show up. If you have ever attended, come by to see some old friends and say goodbye to our home.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF CANDY PAULL:

I met Candy through the Nashville music community many years ago. We both were members of CSLN, but it was only seven or eight years ago, when we both became part of a spiritual sub-group of CSLN, that we got to know each other better, as there was a lot of personal sharing in the group as we got to know and trust each other more. Candy was one of those people who saw the best in others and encouraged them. She did that as a licensed CSLN practitioner, but also did that with just about anyone she knew. She had tremendous faith in our teaching, and used it during some tough times in her life to find her way through situations where it was hard to see a positive outcome. But her faith and positive attitude created the kind of positive outcomes no one could have envisioned–that was Candy. In addition to being a fine songwriter, she was a literary writer, with several books published, including “The Art Of Abundance” and “The Art Of Encouragement” to name a couple. She had just opened an Etsy store, creating and selling online greeting cards with positive sayings–some of them from her books–when she became ill.

Candy was a light, because she could always find the light in a dark situation–for others and for herself. I will miss her–we all will. Thank you, Candy for your love, wisdom, faith, and encouragement.

That’s it for this edition. Everyone have a great March, and don’t forget to spring forward on Sunday, March 10th.

Thanks for reading this newsletter.

Gordon