Arlene Radasky's Blog - Posts Tagged "celtic"
Steve McDonald Concerts
Steve McDonald Concerts
I was fortunate enough to be able to go to two concerts by Steve McDonald. He and Jackie Bishop, the woman in charge of the Steve McDonald Fan Club arranged some concerts in private homes in southern California. I live close enough to get a hotel, spend tow nights and go to both. Yep, I am fan. So much of a fan, that I was given permission to use his lyrics in The Fox and a song of his at the end of every chapter in my recorded version.
Jackie and I have been friends for several years. She and her husband Dan go to several Scottish Clan gatherings around the West every year, promoting Steve's music. I met them at one and they let me sell a few copies of The Fox.
At the concerts, I donated a copy of The Fox for each night's raffle so it went along with CDs of Steve's music. Two very happy people won and that makes me happy.
I overheard one woman say "His words just touch my heart." That is what all of Steve's fans feel. He has found the love for people, family and country in his Scottish ballads. He also has one more album out that is eclectic, not just folk music, and I love it as well, Ballads and Battles.
Being able to see him sing his songs live let me see his love of music in his face as he sang. It was moving.
I wrote a poem that Jackie is going put into a book for Steve along with memorabilia from the tour. Sometimes the words I want to say only come in a poem.
Heart of a Celtic Warrior
By Arlene Radasky
June, 2011
Today they are spread throughout the world
The Warriors brave and bold
One influencing with words and music
Telling stories of old.
Steve is what his parents called him
Yet he carries the blood of the Clan McDonald.
His poetry and songs tell the history of all
The many sons of Donald.
The ancient Donald came to us through
The Scottish King Somerled
Who in the twelfth century was born
To a father named Gillebride.
Vikings and Scots became one people
Under this man who became King of the Isles
The new name they were given was Gall-Gaidheal
A powerful and noted race, these Foreign-Gaels.
It was the Clan Stuart who in battle
Inflicted the death-dealing blow.
But not until after with his skilled leadership
King Somerled convinced many a warrior to follow.
He lead a life filled with many trials
But also one filled with love
Now his descendants measure in the many hundreds of thousands
And include much of the Clans MacAlister, McDougall and McDonald.
It is Somerled we have to thank
For Steve's bloodline of courage
For if not for his talent and curiosity
We would not have songs of Celts fighting their bondage.
We say words of hurrah to Somerled
For beginning this line of a Celtic Warrior family
And say our heartfelt thanks to Steve McDonald
Who continues to influence with words of love and history.
I was fortunate enough to be able to go to two concerts by Steve McDonald. He and Jackie Bishop, the woman in charge of the Steve McDonald Fan Club arranged some concerts in private homes in southern California. I live close enough to get a hotel, spend tow nights and go to both. Yep, I am fan. So much of a fan, that I was given permission to use his lyrics in The Fox and a song of his at the end of every chapter in my recorded version.
Jackie and I have been friends for several years. She and her husband Dan go to several Scottish Clan gatherings around the West every year, promoting Steve's music. I met them at one and they let me sell a few copies of The Fox.
At the concerts, I donated a copy of The Fox for each night's raffle so it went along with CDs of Steve's music. Two very happy people won and that makes me happy.
I overheard one woman say "His words just touch my heart." That is what all of Steve's fans feel. He has found the love for people, family and country in his Scottish ballads. He also has one more album out that is eclectic, not just folk music, and I love it as well, Ballads and Battles.
Being able to see him sing his songs live let me see his love of music in his face as he sang. It was moving.
I wrote a poem that Jackie is going put into a book for Steve along with memorabilia from the tour. Sometimes the words I want to say only come in a poem.
Heart of a Celtic Warrior
By Arlene Radasky
June, 2011
Today they are spread throughout the world
The Warriors brave and bold
One influencing with words and music
Telling stories of old.
Steve is what his parents called him
Yet he carries the blood of the Clan McDonald.
His poetry and songs tell the history of all
The many sons of Donald.
The ancient Donald came to us through
The Scottish King Somerled
Who in the twelfth century was born
To a father named Gillebride.
Vikings and Scots became one people
Under this man who became King of the Isles
The new name they were given was Gall-Gaidheal
A powerful and noted race, these Foreign-Gaels.
It was the Clan Stuart who in battle
Inflicted the death-dealing blow.
But not until after with his skilled leadership
King Somerled convinced many a warrior to follow.
He lead a life filled with many trials
But also one filled with love
Now his descendants measure in the many hundreds of thousands
And include much of the Clans MacAlister, McDougall and McDonald.
It is Somerled we have to thank
For Steve's bloodline of courage
For if not for his talent and curiosity
We would not have songs of Celts fighting their bondage.
We say words of hurrah to Somerled
For beginning this line of a Celtic Warrior family
And say our heartfelt thanks to Steve McDonald
Who continues to influence with words of love and history.
