29/12
Ken remixed an old song of his today. Previously written sometime in 1994 and hidden from view for the past 15 years.
Ken had decided to go on vacation to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for a long weekend. When he arrived on the beaches, he had a very inspiring moment come over him and he began writing. He sat on a wall outside someone's house on a private beach and started writing. He was inspired by all the sad looking old people that would walk by him. Some of them were alone...others with their wives/husbands.
The song could not be finished in one day. The next morning, Ken remembers having breakfast and went back to the beach he was writing on the previous day. He was able to quickly finish the song and recorded it once he arrived back in Connecticut.
This song sat in the archive files for many years before Ken would take it out and re-record the song once again. Ken plays this song out at Harvey's Bar & Grill in Huntersville, NC every now and then. You can also find a recording of this on ReverbNation at the website link below.
http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_details/11558048
-Admin
Ken had decided to go on vacation to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for a long weekend. When he arrived on the beaches, he had a very inspiring moment come over him and he began writing. He sat on a wall outside someone's house on a private beach and started writing. He was inspired by all the sad looking old people that would walk by him. Some of them were alone...others with their wives/husbands.
The song could not be finished in one day. The next morning, Ken remembers having breakfast and went back to the beach he was writing on the previous day. He was able to quickly finish the song and recorded it once he arrived back in Connecticut.
This song sat in the archive files for many years before Ken would take it out and re-record the song once again. Ken plays this song out at Harvey's Bar & Grill in Huntersville, NC every now and then. You can also find a recording of this on ReverbNation at the website link below.
http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_details/11558048
-Admin
18/12
Haven't been writing a lot lately due to Ken's schedule. Ken now plays and sings two nights a week...one location in Huntersville and the other in Concord.
On December 16th, 2011, Ken uploaded his first attempt for a You Tube video under the ID Name 'Itsgr82bMax'. Ken used to have a dog called Max, so this is where the phrase, "It's Great To Be Max" comes from.
Ken uploaded the old Buck Owens song, 'Arms Full of Empty' and his song 'I Won't Give it Another Try' as a test. Both songs were in very poor quality due to the old camera he had to work with. He will redo these videos in the next week or so with a better camera he found in the garage. Hopefully it will produce a better quality than what is already out there.
Video # 1 - Arms Full of Empty - (http://youtu.be/5OH93OCYePw)
Video # 2 - I Won't Give It Another Try - (http://youtu.be/bM8L5BgYza8)
Look to You Tube either by searching for 'Ken Menard' or by his ID Name 'Itsgr82bMax' for all future videos coming soon.
-Admin
On December 16th, 2011, Ken uploaded his first attempt for a You Tube video under the ID Name 'Itsgr82bMax'. Ken used to have a dog called Max, so this is where the phrase, "It's Great To Be Max" comes from.
Ken uploaded the old Buck Owens song, 'Arms Full of Empty' and his song 'I Won't Give it Another Try' as a test. Both songs were in very poor quality due to the old camera he had to work with. He will redo these videos in the next week or so with a better camera he found in the garage. Hopefully it will produce a better quality than what is already out there.
Video # 1 - Arms Full of Empty - (http://youtu.be/5OH93OCYePw)
Video # 2 - I Won't Give It Another Try - (http://youtu.be/bM8L5BgYza8)
Look to You Tube either by searching for 'Ken Menard' or by his ID Name 'Itsgr82bMax' for all future videos coming soon.
-Admin
01/12
On December 5th, around 8:00PM, Ken will be playing his first live performance in 17 years at Harvey's Bar & Grill in Huntersville, NC.
Last time he played publicly, it was in Collinsville, Connecticut at Gertrude & Alice's Coffeehouse. Ken was living in Unionville at the time and decided to play there several times.
So if anyone is around the Lake Norman area and would like to hear him perform live, stop by and visit Harvey's Bar & Grill at 13812 Cinnabar Place, just off I-77 in Huntersville, approaching Cornelius.
Sneak peak of songs will included Ken's song 'I Survive', Garth Brooks' song 'Learning To Live Again', Dwight Yoakam's song 'Ain't That Lonely Yet', and possibly some other original songs. Hope to see you there!
-Admin
Last time he played publicly, it was in Collinsville, Connecticut at Gertrude & Alice's Coffeehouse. Ken was living in Unionville at the time and decided to play there several times.
So if anyone is around the Lake Norman area and would like to hear him perform live, stop by and visit Harvey's Bar & Grill at 13812 Cinnabar Place, just off I-77 in Huntersville, approaching Cornelius.
Sneak peak of songs will included Ken's song 'I Survive', Garth Brooks' song 'Learning To Live Again', Dwight Yoakam's song 'Ain't That Lonely Yet', and possibly some other original songs. Hope to see you there!
-Admin
24/11
Released 11/24/2011, Ken wrote this song about change. What it is like when somebody leaves and the other person is left behind. Just about everyone had gone through this at one point in their life...hopefully this song has captured the feeling and sadness that it brings.
The song was supposed to just have a piano playing in the background, but when Ken started recording it on a digital piano/keyboard, he stumbled on a violin sound that the keyboard could make. He never did get the sound levels just right though, the violins are too loud. "The violins actually sound like they are crying...while the voice singing is telling them...it is going to be okay...it is just one moment in time and it will pass".
Regardless of what is going on in a person's life, a story can be told in the eyes. If you try to make each day just a little better by doing something different to get you over whatever stumbling block you are trying to overcome, before you know it, enough time will have passed and the stumbling block will be gone. "Keep your sadness under wrap...don't allow it to take control".
A simple drive down to the store, or to work, or spending it with others...make sure you put on a fake smile if you have to...don't let your stumbling block win the battle. Before you know it...time will have passed and you will be out of the woods.
-Admin
The song was supposed to just have a piano playing in the background, but when Ken started recording it on a digital piano/keyboard, he stumbled on a violin sound that the keyboard could make. He never did get the sound levels just right though, the violins are too loud. "The violins actually sound like they are crying...while the voice singing is telling them...it is going to be okay...it is just one moment in time and it will pass".
Regardless of what is going on in a person's life, a story can be told in the eyes. If you try to make each day just a little better by doing something different to get you over whatever stumbling block you are trying to overcome, before you know it, enough time will have passed and the stumbling block will be gone. "Keep your sadness under wrap...don't allow it to take control".
A simple drive down to the store, or to work, or spending it with others...make sure you put on a fake smile if you have to...don't let your stumbling block win the battle. Before you know it...time will have passed and you will be out of the woods.
-Admin
07/11
Ken has been working on a new song that will be make public on Friday, 11-11-11.
The song is titled 'I Survived' and speaks about being true to one's self. It is a spiritual awakening that Ken has been going through for the past few months. Not a Buddha thing...nor a Christian thing...it is just becoming a little more spiritual aware.
Look for it to be released on Friday with words and music. (Ken's not quite done with it yet)
-Admin
==========================================================================
This song is officially released on 11-11-11.
Ken wanted to write a song describing how it feels getting out of the 'rat race' and back to a normal life in the mountains.
The times of today seem so crazy...almost insane. Everyone is so hung up on their pride, they cannot be themselves. The economy is crap, our government is acting like children, and people are hurting financially. Ken writes how he has managed to overcome all that; not waiting for a miracle or praying that he would just die. (as the song goes)
The voice Ken speaks of is his inner voice (we all have one). The inner voice that has conversations with yourself. You know, when you ask yourself, "why did I do that?", or something similar. Ken is saying that his inner voice no longer talks him into his old bad habits of craziness. He no longer has to 'keep up with the Jones'.
Ken now watches other people and the strange things they do; completely aware of everything going on around him. Ken is at peace with himself and comfortable within his body...regardless if he is fat, short, balding, etc. He feels almost like he has been reborn with a clear mind...(no more drama).
Ken blends in with everyone else, but if you get a good look at his eyes, they still tell a very tired and worn out story. Ken fights his own demons and tries to keep them away from his day-to-day life. He presses forward...feeling relieved and relaxed, no longer feeling sad and unhappy of his situation.
So Ken survives. He breaks through that emotional prison that kept him from reaching his goals and spiritual achievements. He lives in the hills of North Carolina on the western side of the state. No longer waiting for a miracle to break the viscous cycle in Florida or a bad economy and mounting bills. At times Ken would pray that he would die...but now that has all turned around. Life goes on...and a better person comes out of the past teachings of life.
-Admin
The song is titled 'I Survived' and speaks about being true to one's self. It is a spiritual awakening that Ken has been going through for the past few months. Not a Buddha thing...nor a Christian thing...it is just becoming a little more spiritual aware.
Look for it to be released on Friday with words and music. (Ken's not quite done with it yet)
-Admin
==========================================================================
This song is officially released on 11-11-11.
Ken wanted to write a song describing how it feels getting out of the 'rat race' and back to a normal life in the mountains.
The times of today seem so crazy...almost insane. Everyone is so hung up on their pride, they cannot be themselves. The economy is crap, our government is acting like children, and people are hurting financially. Ken writes how he has managed to overcome all that; not waiting for a miracle or praying that he would just die. (as the song goes)
The voice Ken speaks of is his inner voice (we all have one). The inner voice that has conversations with yourself. You know, when you ask yourself, "why did I do that?", or something similar. Ken is saying that his inner voice no longer talks him into his old bad habits of craziness. He no longer has to 'keep up with the Jones'.
Ken now watches other people and the strange things they do; completely aware of everything going on around him. Ken is at peace with himself and comfortable within his body...regardless if he is fat, short, balding, etc. He feels almost like he has been reborn with a clear mind...(no more drama).
Ken blends in with everyone else, but if you get a good look at his eyes, they still tell a very tired and worn out story. Ken fights his own demons and tries to keep them away from his day-to-day life. He presses forward...feeling relieved and relaxed, no longer feeling sad and unhappy of his situation.
So Ken survives. He breaks through that emotional prison that kept him from reaching his goals and spiritual achievements. He lives in the hills of North Carolina on the western side of the state. No longer waiting for a miracle to break the viscous cycle in Florida or a bad economy and mounting bills. At times Ken would pray that he would die...but now that has all turned around. Life goes on...and a better person comes out of the past teachings of life.
-Admin
28/10
You Don't Love Me wasn't written about Ken. It was written from a view of what was happening to one of his siblings during the time when they were splitting up and going separate ways. Ken finished writing the song in November of 1993, but later modified it about a year afterwards around Christmas 1994.
The song talks about being in a relationship and the heartbreak of two people splitting up; eventually getting divorced. The song is sung from a male point of view about how difficult it is to let his wife go. "It was a very sad time for many of us in our family, especially the ones going through the break up. So many times I would visit them and have such a great time listening to Country Music, playing cards or a board game, and drinking beer. My memories of these times will always be wonderful...it was too bad that ended".
Ken recording this song on October 28, 2011 with only 12 takes to get it perfect. You can hear Ken playing 12-String, 6-String, Bass, and singing. Ken hopes you enjoy this version; compared to the 1994 version also available on the side.
-Admin
The song talks about being in a relationship and the heartbreak of two people splitting up; eventually getting divorced. The song is sung from a male point of view about how difficult it is to let his wife go. "It was a very sad time for many of us in our family, especially the ones going through the break up. So many times I would visit them and have such a great time listening to Country Music, playing cards or a board game, and drinking beer. My memories of these times will always be wonderful...it was too bad that ended".
Ken recording this song on October 28, 2011 with only 12 takes to get it perfect. You can hear Ken playing 12-String, 6-String, Bass, and singing. Ken hopes you enjoy this version; compared to the 1994 version also available on the side.
-Admin
27/10
Ken recorded and uploaded Modern Day Country today, October 27, 2011. This song had only one recorded version of it on a cassette tape stashed away in his vault for the past 23 years.
Modern Day Country is about a conglomerate of times throughout Ken's life in which there has been happiness and sadness. Ken woke up one morning feeling pride for his country and decided to write a song about having pride for the United States and Country Music. Although this song may not be the best thing he has ever written, it was added to his collection on ReverbNation / ReverbRadio.
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10760640
You can hear Ken playing both 12-String and 6-String guitar in this song while he added the digital drums in the background. Ken hopes you enjoy this song and looks to entertain people for years to come.
-Admin
Modern Day Country is about a conglomerate of times throughout Ken's life in which there has been happiness and sadness. Ken woke up one morning feeling pride for his country and decided to write a song about having pride for the United States and Country Music. Although this song may not be the best thing he has ever written, it was added to his collection on ReverbNation / ReverbRadio.
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10760640
You can hear Ken playing both 12-String and 6-String guitar in this song while he added the digital drums in the background. Ken hopes you enjoy this song and looks to entertain people for years to come.
-Admin
26/10
On October 25, 2011, Ken successfully recorded this 'unrecorded' song out of his archives. Unfortunately, there was no recording of this song on any tapes or CD's. After several days of pondering over the lyrics and trying to remember how this song was sung, Ken attempted the recording. There was only one mistake in the recording, but it took so much out of Ken to sing it, he decided not to try to do it again. As it was, it took him 6 tries to get this version. The mistake is when he is singing the last verse 'Tell me now so I'll relax' - somehow it sounds like he said 'Tell me now so I'll re-blax'. A fumble over words.
This song was written about a relationship back in the early 90's when Ken lived in Manchester, CT across from Wickham Park, right on the East Hartford / Manchester town line. Ken enjoyed the relationship for some reason she seemed very distant whenever visiting. Many times she would spend the night; yet it felt like Ken was alone. "She just would not open up to me and it always seemed there was somewhere else she wanted to be. It was a very odd relationship, but a very memorable one".
Eventually, Ken re-record this song when he had more time and energy. Ken has been fighting off a cold or something for the past week, but felt the need to get this song done. He hopes you enjoy the freshness of this song and to recognize how different it is from most everything else he has done.
-Admin
This song was written about a relationship back in the early 90's when Ken lived in Manchester, CT across from Wickham Park, right on the East Hartford / Manchester town line. Ken enjoyed the relationship for some reason she seemed very distant whenever visiting. Many times she would spend the night; yet it felt like Ken was alone. "She just would not open up to me and it always seemed there was somewhere else she wanted to be. It was a very odd relationship, but a very memorable one".
Eventually, Ken re-record this song when he had more time and energy. Ken has been fighting off a cold or something for the past week, but felt the need to get this song done. He hopes you enjoy the freshness of this song and to recognize how different it is from most everything else he has done.
-Admin
22/10
On October 21, 2011, Ken successfully joined BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc)
BMI collects license fees on behalf of the more than 500,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers it represents and distributes those fees as royalties to members whose works have been publicly performed.
-Admin
BMI collects license fees on behalf of the more than 500,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers it represents and distributes those fees as royalties to members whose works have been publicly performed.
-Admin
18/10
Staring Over was written on September 11, 2011 and a copyright protection recorded the same day.
It speaks about Ken having to let go of his pride and giving up his store in Florida. Ken also broke up his empire, left the house, the dog, and all his friends behind to start a new life closer to his brother and sister. 'No More Headaches or Drama' refer to the pains and experiences of owning a small business in this economy. Ken's relationship was also not going very well and on many occasions 'drama' would rule the day.
The white car is Ken's current automobile; it still drives well, but it does not drive down the same streets or highways. The scenery has changed and there are no more pretentious people he has to deal with anymore. Living in the mountains can be very peaceful...nature is all around. There are no more 'rude people' like Ken would be exposed to from his store and even a few people he associated with in his personal life.
Ken starting building a childhood game called TOC. It has always been in his family; his father made one out of plywood and lightbright pegs. It was also played with a deck of cards and one would move around the board and try to get all your pegs into your goal. The game was always played by up to four people. Ken wanted to make a six person version, so with the help of his sister and some nice oak planks, he made such a board. Reaching the new horizons is about getting back to the basics again. Ken has always been very fond of music and he wanted to start promoting songs that he wrote to the people back in Nashville.
Although moving to Charlotte has been very adventuresome for Ken, he has not made any friends. Unless his brother or sister are around, most of the time he can be found dining alone either at home or at a local restaurant. The only home cooked meals are the ones he cooks. Ken's hair has slowed down with the graying process...probably due to much less stress. "The days go by so long here...probably because I am home all alone most of the time and have not found employment". When Ken looks into the mirror, he sees an aging person that he doesn't recognize. Lost is that young kid he remembers himself being not so long ago. "The last few years have really taken its toll on me and my aging process...I look like crap, but I am getting better. There is no longer any stress in my life regardless of what gets thrown at me".
So, Ken continues his day-to-day living not knowing what tomorrow brings. Honestly, does anyone?
-Admin
It speaks about Ken having to let go of his pride and giving up his store in Florida. Ken also broke up his empire, left the house, the dog, and all his friends behind to start a new life closer to his brother and sister. 'No More Headaches or Drama' refer to the pains and experiences of owning a small business in this economy. Ken's relationship was also not going very well and on many occasions 'drama' would rule the day.
The white car is Ken's current automobile; it still drives well, but it does not drive down the same streets or highways. The scenery has changed and there are no more pretentious people he has to deal with anymore. Living in the mountains can be very peaceful...nature is all around. There are no more 'rude people' like Ken would be exposed to from his store and even a few people he associated with in his personal life.
Ken starting building a childhood game called TOC. It has always been in his family; his father made one out of plywood and lightbright pegs. It was also played with a deck of cards and one would move around the board and try to get all your pegs into your goal. The game was always played by up to four people. Ken wanted to make a six person version, so with the help of his sister and some nice oak planks, he made such a board. Reaching the new horizons is about getting back to the basics again. Ken has always been very fond of music and he wanted to start promoting songs that he wrote to the people back in Nashville.
Although moving to Charlotte has been very adventuresome for Ken, he has not made any friends. Unless his brother or sister are around, most of the time he can be found dining alone either at home or at a local restaurant. The only home cooked meals are the ones he cooks. Ken's hair has slowed down with the graying process...probably due to much less stress. "The days go by so long here...probably because I am home all alone most of the time and have not found employment". When Ken looks into the mirror, he sees an aging person that he doesn't recognize. Lost is that young kid he remembers himself being not so long ago. "The last few years have really taken its toll on me and my aging process...I look like crap, but I am getting better. There is no longer any stress in my life regardless of what gets thrown at me".
So, Ken continues his day-to-day living not knowing what tomorrow brings. Honestly, does anyone?
-Admin
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