"HUNKPAPA"

The first cut on this CD, "Stone's Throw", caught me a bit off-guard. To tell you the truth, I thought I was being sent a country album. But, hey, I'm always up for something different….You KNOW how I feel about it, when they CLAIM to be country, but aren't. However, this isn't the case here. In fact, his bio describes his music as "roots, rock-n-roll". But you know me…I figure it never hurts to take a listen. I mean, who knows? I might find myself a star in the making! (smile)

Jeffrey Halford was born in Dallas, and grew up listening to Roger Miller. Who could go wrong, with THAT kinda beginning? But he was influenced by a lot of artists of the day and the days gone by, and loved them all, from Ray Charles to Benny Goodman! WOW. This guy, I liked already! His band, The Healers, are a perfect fit with Halford. They have a most unique sound. And you can't help but listen to the lyrics…I mean, REALLY listen. Very interesting stuff. Like his song, "Lost and Found"…it's a love story…a story of love found, lost, and ultimately broken. Now we folks who love country music, can CERTAINLY relate to that! And, by the way, a very talented writer, Halford wrote all the songs himself, with the exception of "Satchels Fastball", which he co-wrote with C.P Halford, and "Radio Flyer", co-written with M.G. Halford. Hmmm…sounds like a family who loves music! And his writing is poetic. I love that!

Thom Canova and Jeffrey Halford produced this album, and it's done very well, I might add. I really can't find a down-side here, even for a COUNTRY music lover. We all find ourselves listening to other kinds of music, now and then, if we TRULY love music. So I would very highly recommend this one to anyone who has a feel for the more "beat poetry" style of music. It'll keep you moving, and capture your ear for the entire half-hour or so that you play it the first time. Then, I imagine you'll be playing it again…and again. "Hunkpapa", is an interesting title for this CD, too. I'm told that Hunkpapa was a band of the Sioux Indian tribe. And Jeffrey says it defines the journey he and his band, The Healers, are taking around America. I hope I'll run into them somewhere, sometime. I will pay my dollar to see them, that's for sure! Ok, ok, I know NOTHING costs a dollar anymore. But, dang, it's a journalist's privilege to be poetic, too!

You'll find Jeffrey's music and more info at his website, www.jeffreyhalford.com, or contact Martha Moore at www.somuchmoore.com, and I'm sure she can fill you in. If you get a chance to listen to a clip or two, great. If not, just buy the album. "Hunkpapa" will look great sitting right next to George Jones!

As always, this has been.................