As I scrolled down I came across his birthplace – Saginaw, Michigan. This blew my mind a little bit, because I’ve been there, and it was overly underwhelming – I suppose a lack of things to do could be partially credited to his virtuosity on multiple instruments? Saginaw started to make sense the more I thought about it. It was just over an hour’s drive to Detroit, which is where Stevland moved when he was four, and was where Berry Gordy founded Motown Records just six years later. It only took a year for Gordy to find and sign Stevie, and the rest is history.

Now there is no doubt that Stevie Wonder is a genius, and arguably the most influential songwriter in pop, soul, and R&B music, but it was more than just talent that put him where he is… time and place also played there part. It makes me wonder (no pun intended) how many Stevie Wonder’s are out there, never to be heard. So much talent, so many songs, so little radio stations.

I guess that’s why you just have to live your life and be happy with any outcome, because no matter what you do, time and place will always play their part.

As a bright young talent, Caleb Hawley has created an excellent new album with incredible songs that range through a variety of genres. He does not pin himself down at all on this album, showing off his incredible vocal abilities with a soulful delivery. The highlights of the album are reggae song “Real Vacation” and the folk rocker “My Own Two Feet.” The biggest surprise is a cover of the song “The Way It Is,” which Hawley interprets in such a way that it keeps its classic appeal while still feeling new and fresh. Caleb Hawley is one of those special unknowns that you love discovering, and his latest album is definitely worth discovering.

“But Still… Across the map there’s all this tension built
A whole world living by division’s will
But I’d like to think it’ll change”

A perfect juxtaposition, but it gets even crazier…

Here are the words I was singing as one girl fell to the ground after taking a slug to the face…

“Ever since the world began, when the people go down
They get right back up again.”

Sure as shootin’, right as I sang “Back up again” she was on her feet back up and swingin’.

This was the first “real-time” soundtrack that I’ve ever witnessed, and if it was gonna be a movie, it would definitely be in the action films right next to Die Hard VI.

Opening Act.

http://www.jmundok.com/concert.html

Email: jmundok@gmail.com (Jason) to RSVP!

Hope to see you there!

W/ Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes

Check back for details…