who know me (esteem: v.t. 1 to regard as valuable; regard highly or favorably). Walking into a music club is no problem, because reviews of my first album put wind in my sails. My idols are Abraham Lincoln, Allen Ginsberg, Walt Whitman, Bob Dylan, and Carl Sandburg.
Success comes through conscious of everything. It is the big and the small picture. Big can be looked back on, small is daily movements. A great deal of time has been spent praising what’s at hand right now. Last year I was living in a tent, and did so for nearly five months. Support came from all directions. No internet available during this time and at that no internet for a whole year.
What influenced me last year was four books and three CDs. It was the Bible, The Coen Brothers: Interviews (William Rodney Allen,editor) , We’re Going to See the Beatles (Gary Berman,author), Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman). Music CDs were Workingman’s Dead (The Grateful Dead), Bob Dylan (Bootleg #6 Live 1964), and Woody Guthrie (Smithsonian Folkways original recordings). Guitar and harmonica were fostered through this timeless folk music. Folk music was defined as: music; of simple character and usually anonymous authorship, passed down among the common people by oral tradition. (foster: v.t., 1.to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage:to foster foreign trade.)
The neighborly generousity of the South allowed me to stay, first as an underpriveliged explorer, then as a real citizen. From relative strangers, all kinds of gifts were given to make it easier. Kenneth gave me a microwave, Chris gave me two large bags of warm clothes, a woman gave me a coat. Winter came and getting to work each morning would keep me on track. Never was there so much of a track for me.
When you’re “looking at life from out of the grave” as A. Ginsberg describes it, perspective on everything is very immediate. What can be learned today which will make today easy? Made a collection of poems which will be distributed for Christmas. Made 18 recordings in early October which will eventually be mixed and after that, professionally mastered. All the things cannot be important if not first mentioning the Random House Dictionary, Rogets II Thesaurus, and The Complete Rhyming Dictionary (Clement Wood, editor). These books have helped write at least one song and one poem and at least gain a better understanding of countless other songs, poems, and books.
Down the road there will be more recognition for work, from different groups and gatherings. Indefinitely there are people interested in someone studying past poets & past folk music masters & politics. People and books I am interested in are Passay, Sand County Almanac, Lorca, Jack Kerouac, Carl Sandburg, Leadbelly, and Abe Lincoln (from whom I got the notion to write a public letter). Present day influences are Scott Neubauer, Tarl Knight, and Josh Naylor.
There are people who put a value on numbers and age, this is their way of judging importance. Can’t help but think of the five years it took A. Ginsberg to declare “the spider is dead.” His using of spider and web metaphor to building images thru poems.
Not only strive towards reading these books, writing poems, and making songs. Also would like to move to Milwaukee, WI and find a comfortable old house to live in. More importantly, find some mad crafters to share the space with. Work every day on theme of oneness, brotherhood. Starting to think and hope in equal amounts that what pays the bills is consistent companionship.
On the day of my 29th year of life, this letter I dedicate to the public. Never in my life before have I felt more comfortable addressing the issues faced. Time will dictate what is natural and always has been natural.
My music can be found at soundcloud.com/gustywinz
