This is the first compilation of my songs written for female vocalists. Seven of the songs, starting with 'A Simple Thing,' are sung by Buttafly Vazquez. Buttafly attended the professional performing arts high school in New York where she was classmates with Alicia Keys. I met her at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, Virginia. She had heard 'My

This is the first compilation of my songs written for female vocalists. Seven of the songs, starting with 'A Simple Thing,' are sung by Buttafly Vazquez. Buttafly attended the professional performing arts high school in New York where she was classmates with Alicia Keys. I met her at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, Virginia. She had heard 'My Beautiful Friend,' which was the first of my songs she learned. I wrote four others for her and we recorded all five at Jim Mohr's studio outside Richmond. That collection is called 'A Simple Thing' and was released in 2013, We later did 'Distant Star' and 'Smile While You Can' with producer Morgan Terry Hyde, who played (via keyboard) all the instruments except guitar (Dave Shiflett). Lyrics are included for all songs.

Jeanine Guidry sings 'All The Good Men,' 'Fly,' and 'Perfect Sky.' I met Jeanine during the recording of 'Songs for Aging Cynics.' She had been a missionary, including a stint near the Killing Fields in Cambodia. Jeanine, who sang harmony and three leads on 'Cynics,' is Dutch; English is her second language. She has an incredibly clear and beautiful voice. -- Dave Shiflett