This month, in October, we will finish the long awaited South Wind record. I actually sang two cuts last night and a background part also, I seem to be singing better than ever these days and have never completed that much vocal performance in one session before in my career . We probably won't call it South Wind though so we don't get tagged as a typical southern rock thing.  I think the record is much more than that, sometimes listeners hear that type of dogma and say, "another southern rock band." We all know that there will never be bands today to even hold a candle to those older greats so no need to go there. Nevertheless, what we don't want is to be thrown into the pile of want-to-be bands and artist that are typical and trying to chase that Nashville new country rock sound that in many ways is not very believable and contrived. This album has been a labor of love for the past four years and has a great span of songs and players. We have just signed a record deal in effect with Aspirion Records and have put out my previous catalog worldwide on digital distribution and are in the final stages of contract negotiation with the release of South Wind with Aspirion which will be distributed in major stores the first quarter of the New Year in '08. We will mix and master the first of November and start replication the middle of the month with a warm up to radio and press. We hope to have the record on the streets in early to mid March of '08. I have had a great privilege working with so many great people on this record and I'm very excited to get to work with George Collier and his team at Aspirion , especially since George has the credentials going back all the way to Atlantic Records working along side one of my mentors Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler to name a few. I feel a veteran like him will get the record and know the best route to market it. That is the news, not so dramatic this month, we will give you a taste of a back porch song called "Time To Think," written in Salt Lake City through Montana and Colorado on a ski trip a few years back, a reflection of my life in the music business, the break up of Copperhead, going crazy, losing love, and drinking way to much to try and get over it all. One thing I can say is it has been a long strange trip since then and one I hope will start paying off tenfold more than before. Thanks to all you fans, Neil Carswell

Early this morning I got a call from the Andersons that Hughie Thomasson of the Outlaws band had passed away in his chair the evening before while asleep shortly after dinner. I met Hughie a few times and played several shows with the Outlaws band back with Copperhead in the early 1990's, we revered them as guitar rock icons and really didn't talk to them much, afraid to approach them I guess at such a young age but later through Chris Anderson I got to know him pretty well. All I can say is he was a very grounded, humble person with a good spirit that surrounded him, never letting his success throughout the years go to his head. He always took the time to talk and listen to a tune you just recorded. I have worked with Chris Anderson for a few years now, recording, writing and producing my records and to see him loose a friend like this is something I can only relate to oh so well myself. It's something I think you never quite get over and in a way something you shouldn't. This has come with such a shock to the great musicians, friends, fans and family alike that worked with him and loved him that I don't think it has really hit everyone like it will in the next few weeks to come. Although Hughie's untimely death is sentiment to us all , he leaves us not only with great songs of the past and a great classic rock vocal but also with a new record, one of the best he had ever completed.  I just hope the record industry, as jaded as it is these days, puts it out and soon for all the many fans as a farewell to a triple threat icon, more than just a southern rock standard. This month we dedicate to Hughie, God Bless a Ghost Rider in the Sky. Thanks fans, Neil Carswell : This month's newsletter free mp3 download is, "Keep you Guessing," with special guest Chris Anderson on lead guitar of the Outlaws, friend, and mentor.

Hello fans.  Here is the news, no deep stuff this month. In this month's newsletter we are offering a free download, so if you haven't signed up for the newsletter yet, go to www.NeilCarswell.com and sign up today.  We will also have some photos of the my new band Twist Of Fate. News is, I'm back in the studio this month with Chris Anderson to finish the new record, "South Wind."  We are currently in negotiation on a contract with South America for film and TV and are working on setting up major distribution in advance of the new release scheduled for the New Year in the first quarter. We will get back on the shows soon and are preparing a video for you fans to have a look. I will see you next month . God Bless you all, Neil Carswell

The world lost one of the greatest songwriters/musicians of our age, a few days ago. I lost a friend who took time to help me in my new move to Nashville TN. George took time to help me write, plug my songs and give me his worldly advice when so many other hit writers in Nashville pretend to be so busy only to forget oh so quickly where they came from. George on the other hand was a humble man, full of grace and talent that abounds most anyone in the music field, surpassing dreams and commitment very few have the tenacity to do -- only men like George are born with this, instilled in them from the deep, moral and spiritual benevolence of the true southern gentleman trait. George, along with Toy and Tommy Caldwell and a few other Marshall Tucker members, blazed a way from Spartenburg S.C. to touch the world with their sound, a southern country soul with a heavy jazz influence bands today cannot hope to comprehend. They spent time in the country prevailing from poverty with only a radio's help to polish off there guitar licks too and develop a true original sound. "Fire On The Mountain," a McCorkle standard and one of the greatest songs ever written, was told to me by George that he wrote it about his music career, a metaphor to the whole explosion of his career once it hit, "took my family away from my Carolina home," George replied, with a look of loss in his eyes, talking of Toy's death, his previous wife and so many friends along the way only to come to the reprise, "fire on the mountain lighting in the air, gold in them hills and its waiting for me there." The burning bush, Moses, lighting = God. George was so full of faith and spoke of his savior Jesus Christ so adamantly playing to me once on acoustic guitar a song called, "Jesus didn't get to ride a motorcycle," what a song it was, what a lyric writer. I know you're with your savior now and have surpassed the valley of the shadow of death never to fear evil. George stood up to them, all never backing down for what was right. Thanks for your friendship and fellowship throughout the last few years, I was blessed to get to know you and call you my friend. God Bless you, Neil Carswell

Sorry fans, I missed last month and have been busy, working the new band, getting ready for showcasing to labels, rehearsing, growing a garden, hanging out at the house, working the phones, trying to survive and make ends meet. We will showcase at 12th and Porter at 5:00PM on July 10th, industry showcase. We are playing a full show at The Rutledge on June 23rd in Nashville, doors at 8:00PM with opener; a great young talented band called Sterling Y and possible Billy Swayze and the Black Market Band. I hope you spread the word and come on out. Since we lost a month (on our newsletter) we will send a special month to catch up with 2 free downloads from the Good Man's Journey Album this month and I will keep you posted as things progress. As for now its schmooze time with the labels in the next few months, looking to get on the road soon, talking to a few new agencies. I don't really have any good stories to tell this month, as for now I just feel like a simple man waiting on some new direction to go toward. I did contact the USO and have gotten a response from them and hope to tour, doing some shows for the troops soon, maybe even Iraq or wherever. So God Bless our troops overseas and across the rest of the world who are supporting our right for freedom. God Bless, thanks for the fan mail and sales of CDs, Neil Carswell

It was on this day, April 17 2002, 5 years ago, about this time of night, one of the best friends I have ever known was killed, murdered, shot in the back while I lay side by side with him after a scuffle to get him out of the house we were in after the shooter had made the remark he was going to kill Lambert with a gun pulled, if I didn't get him out of there. Sadly, I didn't while we fought over foolish pride of what substance I still can't figure out. The shooter, shot him after I had Lambert on the floor, both of us tired and we had stopped fighting. I had just remarked to him, "Lambert calm down , I'm your friend, I love you man, calm down," when I heard the gun go off from behind us, actually shot in the back at point blank range, as if you held out a pistol toward your out stretched right foot and fired a shot. I administered CPR for about 30 minutes trying to revive him. When the EMS came they said he was gone. I couldn't accept that and the police subdued me and took me in. The next morning I was able to tell the detectives what had really happened and prove the innocence of a wrongly accused young black male used as a fall guy by the shooter. The Shooter ran and was later captured in Georgia and brought back for trial. He and Lambert were good friends at one time and had worked together. I had been friends with the shooters father and played music with him on occasion, he is a great guitar player and all around person. It's such a shame things like this happen and if I could go back and change that day I would in a heartbeat. Lambert, always was a music lover at heart he introduced me to so many giant artist such as Don Williams, and Tom T. hall, just to name a few. He had a deep insight of a lyrical passage and song arrangements, was a great carpenter, fisherman, and the strongest leader instinct of anyone I have ever met. He taught me to never let anyone get over on you and to stand your ground when you're right and never back down. In this sense I write this month not to recall the brutal death of Lambert but the fond memories we shared together building houses, fishing, spending time with his kids and mother of his kids, Kim, canoeing, swimming and having the slowest and greatest times of my life, although I didn't know it at the time I thought it was gonna be that way forever, living in a cabin on the river taking off in a canoe anytime we felt like it … In a way, I guess, to capture a brisk few years of our childhood we refused to give up so easy as the other ones had. Lambert, I write now how much I miss you, your wittiness and charm, all those old sarcastic sayings you could spill right off the top of your head in a second flat, bringing all of us to a laugh when laughter had almost escaped us for a spell back in those days. I can't write to mourn only to exclaim how great of a human being he was, humble, helpful, a fellow servant to any one in need and someone who was friend enough to give you hell to pull you back on the right track of life. Lambert spoke to me of a bad feeling and a dream of his death two weeks prior to this night in 2002, he said, "I have a bad feeling and I want you to promise me you will do something for me, promise me now, I ask you cause if you are my friend you will do it." I told him if at all possible I would do this favor. He grabbed me on the shoulder and said "I want you to play Amazing Grace at my funeral like you did at Todd Jackson's and when you sing it, I mean raise the roof!!" I was flabbergasted at such a request and the intentness profound manner in which it came to pass; he had a special relationship with God I think to know this profound wisdom of one's death, thus dreams and supernatural. I meet Tom T. Hall and told him the story I just told you fans, about Lambert and how much he loved Tom T. Hall. After I spoke of the story of how Lambert died, I said, "This is the real story I wanted to tell you, the story of his death was to let you know how much he loved you as an artist and songwriter … didn't you write the song "I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died?" He replied "Yes, I did."  I knew he did but I just wanted to make sure it was the one and only Tom T. Hall "The Storyteller" he is called. I began to give my story of a day on the roof sawing plywood and rafters, Tom T. Hall all ears, when I herd Lambert say as if it was yesterday, "Boys cut them saws off, cut them off now, shut up and listen, when a song this good comes on the radio, it's just time to shut up and listen, take a break." So we did for the length of Clayton Delaney and the song hit me at my heart so strong. I have carried that moment with me for years and I'm a blessed man to get to tell Tom T. Hall that story of Lambert and his love for that song, you could tell it meant so much to him in his older age. Lambert still touching someone's life even after the grave. So I don't mourn anymore but celebrate the life we lived as friends and years to come with all those quaint sayings burnt into the my mind by a true country poet who didn't even realize the talents he had. Thanks Mark for pushing me toward my music during those lost years of my life. I'm glad you were there for a short spell to toughen us all up. So for this month let's give away "The Edge of the Green" a song Lambert helped me arrange and get a few lines better, "He could still see through walls and hear the weeping willow whisper in the wind." That willow tree blew down today, ironic one would say of a friendship born along the river bottoms to the grandest mountains in North Carolina. God Bless You Lambert. Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound. Your Friend Forever, Till Our Paths meet Again. Neil Carswell

Well, it's a new month coming on soon and here's a bit of where we're at. My attorney Wayne Halper is arriving from Europe from the MIDEM gathering in France, I hope with some good news on world wide distribution and such. I have some great players I'm working up my new band with as of now, still working out the kinks; we hope to get on the road soon. I also spoke to an agent in Boston of a all-star tour behind the records we have cut, which will include, if time off together permits, Chris Anderson, Johnny Neel and Barry Goudreau, Wes Powers and who knows on bass. Everyone is committed and I think this would be one of the greatest honors in my life, to get to tour with some of these old friends. I'm trying to get my catalog in order, what a mess it is from the old days and of now. I just bought a Wurlitzer electric piano 69 model, I'm sure it will add to the sound. I think I will call my new band Twist Of Fate Band in honor of Bob Dylan and one of my all time favorite songs. Doug Jones has worked feverishly on my career getting a radio and press campaign started with Macro Management, we will hit radio soon, and some old radio friends in Boston will start radio soon with the Cain Preacher, the first run single, I hope it has legs as Jim Zumwalt calls it. A song with staying power.

Tonight I watched Madia Goes to Jail, a black comedian skit filmed in Atlanta -- really powerful musical with so much meaning.  Madia, told this analogy of people , with the symbol of a tree. "People are like trees, some are leafs, some are branches. Leafs come and they blow away, some give a little shade for a season, then they are gone. Branches are you will think stronger but climb out on one when you need to move upward and they will break right off tumbling you off into the wind swept leaves but the roots of the tree are few much less than all the leaves and branches but only a few strong roots it takes to hold up a tree. If you can find a few roots in your life, hang on to them they will never let you down or blow away, friends family, God, Jesus, your Mom and Dad, wife, children, etc. true friends. If anyone in your life wants to leave let them go, they will come back around in due season but the roots will hold fast for a lifetime." Just a thought for all the struggles you fans and friends have been through. Thanks so much for you support, May God Bless Each and Everyone of You.
Sincerely, Neil Carswell

Fans, there it is, it seems I had deja vu today, some call it -- I call them visions. I know with this I'm where I'm supposed to be, just bought a new home and traded for another cadillac esqulade, probably spelled it wrong, not so bad for a small town guy who has lived in hotels, vans, and tour busses since I was about 16. I did stay in a small cabin in N.C. for a good few years span, writing and running my construction co.  formed a few years back. It has given me the opportunity to pursue my career in songs. I would change a lot of things if I could but not the times hanging out with my crew, working, fishing, doing job to job. Some of them guys are gone. So if I would have stayed with Copperhead I wouldn't have met my wife Melissa and daughter Kirsten, got to know all the people I have met along the way and ended up here in Nashville TN. working with Bill Patton as my publisher and all these legendary artists. Losing my band really hurt me for a long time but now I understand what God's plan was, only he knows ones path and will bring you down to put you on the road less traveled, then pick you up again and give to you in 10 fold the success you once treasured so dearly as a young man . Unaware time as a young man when they all want you, knowing how naive you are at that age. I can still here that shallow distant voice pleading join us, worship me, let me in, sell your soul to me and I will give you all powers of song.

John Lennon: Today's the day he was murdered 26 yrs ago. He was such an icon to me, a bit twisted in his belief on Christ and such but from this madness drew some of the greatest songs ever written. I remember Ed King of Skynyrd said once to me. "Lennon was the real king of rock and roll, he once came into the studio in NYC and we just had to stop playing, we just couldn't perform in his presence." That's something, how could you shake up those hard core Skynyrd boys. I guess that was the respect he had, true genius. I heard some of his tunes today and they put a tear in my eyes. My daughter said,"are you crying"? I replied yea, Im thinking back to my childhood; the power of a song! The tears were tears of joy from the blessings I have received recently. What a Gloryful God we have to turn to, a God that knows all. I guess God knew I needed a few more songs for my South Wind Album. I am currently working with Stu Kimball and Chris Anderson while they are off the road from Dylan and the Outlaws, Donnie Herron also cut some tracks from Dylan's band, brought in by Stu, true old style hillbilly playing, a lost art form it seems, I see why Dylan has him in the band. Man I tell you this album is gonna be an epic. It's a piece of work over a prolonged period of time. I hope to get the singing done and into mix phase soon, while I chisel away slowly in the new year with The Burn It Down Record. I have all my basics, Johnny Neel 's parts , Barry Goudreau and Bucket of Bad Co. I'm now cutting some of Stu's parts and have spoke to Ed King and hope to have him play on a cut or two also along with George McCorkle of the MTB ; a lot of work. We are currently working out a distribution deal in Europe with on of my many attorneys you must surround yourself with in this business. And have signed with a new booking agency. All my equipment has been refurbished Cases, B3, Rhodes, Gtrs and Amps . Ready to get back to touring ASAP. I will audition some new players this coming week, only the best of the best to keep up with them old Copperhead boys ,"they could bring in the thunder" That's it ,good luck, God Speed , hope to see you on the road. Thank you all my fans your kind words keep me pressing on. Sincerely, Neil Carswell of Copperhead.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

new record, Good Man's Journey Current mood: creative Category: Music Thanks, all you fans for your response. The new record is now in hand and we have caught up on all our back orders. Thanks for your patience with us. So send us an order this can be placed on www.copperhead.info or on www.neilcarswell.com look for the link for pay pal and check out all the copperhead stuff too. We are now working on a copperhead DVD with live footage and 5 or so un-released songs from the Live and Lost sessions. We hope to have this product in a few months ready to go. As for now Im working up a band and looking to go tour Europe within the new year. So please get a fresh copy of my solo Debut Album," Good Man's Journey." Thanks for all your support. Neil Carswell

Neil Carswell update on new record Good Man's Journey Current mood: artistic Category: Music Fans, my new record "Good Man's Journey" is ready for the stores. We are in artwork phase and distribution as of today. So look for it on my website as of now www.neilcarswell.com. This record is one of my best works and will be posted in a few days. We will sell it independent with a major indie release in a few months. As for now I will keep the label it is coming out on a hush. So get your rare indie CDs while they last. Many players along the Journey on this one; some legendary guys. Spread the word and thanks for all your support. Sincerely, Neil Carswell. Sunday, April 16, 2006 Neil Carswell of Copperhead Good Man's Journey Record Category: Music This week I go to Skitchim Studio's to work on my Album "Good Man's Journey," to finish up some vocals and start mixing the record. I will be working with Chris Anderson of the Outlaws, he will be eng. and involved in playing, vocals and mixing of the record. This album is a collection of songs I wrote and recorded over a 7 to 10 year span of my gypsy days living from town to town and all around. These are songs written from stays in Mansions in L.A. to nowhereville towns and motels across the U.S. and Europe . What a time in my life it was, I'm blessed to have made it out alive, several friends along this journey didnt -- still I carry their memories with me always. What a shape I was in back then and what an array of great players that helped me out. Some were in it for the money and some were in it for the song. I hope to have this record out soon with a commentary of each song and credits of players the work entails. God Bless all you fans, Thanks, Neil Carswell