I just got the email letting me know that i was named "Sound Off" artist of the year 2008 this morn'!

http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/fun/entertainment/music/x2094352641/Sound-off-Jake-Hill-artist-of-year-many-others-top-local-best-of-list

what a great way to start the day (considering it is raining and freezing outside, so it's shapin up like another one of those winter days where i do my morning routine, read for about 2 hours, then give it up to Jah, way up there on Mt. Zion for the remainder of the day.hah)

2008 was the coolest year of my life, hands down. (i guess i should re-cap a little.) I rang in the new year in Kuching, Malaysia. that was pretty far out, nothing more on that at this moment. hah. I did a west coast tour--in which i financed the whole thing by playing 2 nights in Yosemite National Park! which is a place that everyone in the world must see for its sheer grandeour. I did an east coast tour (both tours done with my main man Jim Hanft, couldnt have done close to anything without him, or his alter ego--james L.-- thanks jimbo, for your help, and just for being an awesome friend) what else? oh ya! recorded my second album, "Heave To" (big thanks to Mark Bryant for believing in me as an artist, me as a person, and me as an absolute maniac. maniacs paired correctly can actually accomplish a good deal. need proof? listen to HEAVE TO! ha. and also thanks to everyone who played on the record, because, it sounds so freekin nasty, and thats you guys, not me! Brian Hitchings, Dave Robertson, Bryan Pierce, Jim Callendrella, Johnny Souza, Rick Crowell, the gobshites, Al Tutulus, and a chorus of drunkards!) i played a ton of shows. playing shows is always a good thing, most of the time. i had the summer of 1000 dreams. did things i will never get to do again. spent time in places i will never spend time in again. just awesome stuff. and this fall, well, i forget what i did this fall. but i know i enjoyed it!

thanks everyone, truly.
with all my blessings (you get those when youre artist of the year for Sound Off) go and be one with the world. HA!

-jake