"TODAY"

Even in war, one must hold on to faith, find joy  in nature's gifts, keeping a stronger grasp on joy and choice! On this special day, September 11th,  I give thanks to God, and so I wrote:

TODAY- ONE MORE SPIN AT THE WHEEL.

BRAND NEW MOMENTS TO FEEL.

ANOTHER CHANCE TO HEAL.

PRESENCE TO SHARE.

THE CHOICE TO CARE.

THE PUZZLE TO SOLVE.

BEAUTY ABSORBED.

ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM BROUGHT.

NEW LESSONS LEARNED AND TAUGHT.

WITH POSSIBILITIES. WITH PROBLEMS.

THE BLESSING IS TO BE HERE.

EMBRACING GOD.

ELIMINATING FEAR.

Copyright2008BobbiHumphrey

BLACKS AND BLUES REMIX!

WITH CORPORATE ARROGANT SUPPOSITION

YOU FIGURED -COMPLAINTS,

BUT NO REAL RESISTANCE.

TO STOLEN SONGS

NOW SUNG OFF-KEY

IN HOMOGENIZED TRANSPOSITION.

A LEADER OF THE PACK.

YEAH!  YOU SAW THAT!

STRONG BLACK HORSES CAN'T BE BROKEN.

EVEN REFUSE "FOUNDATION" TOKENS.

SO, FOR THE SONGS YOU TOOK.

WELL, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK!

I WON'T COMPLAIN. JUST CHANGE LANES.

FOLLOW THE ROAD OF MP3.

REMAIN THE SAME.

FREE!

REMEMBER THIS NAME.

ONE WHO REFUSED TO "HUMP" TO YOUR BLUES.

NEW MELODIES KEEP ME "PHREY"! TRUE.

ACQUIESCE? ACQUIESCE.

I CAN'T DO THAT.

ACQUIESCE? ARABESQUE?

WHY?

WHEN I'VE PLAYED.

BROUGHT MY BEST!

"BLACK AND BLUES"

NOW,REMIXED.

IN A TRUER, DARKER ,

DEEPER HUE.

NOTES TRANSCRIBED FROM MY SOUL.

FROM MY SCORE OF LIFE.

PIED PIPER. FREEDOM FIGHTER.

CARRIER  OF STRUGGLE. SUN AND PEOPLE LOVER.

WARMED BY A QUIET DIGNITY.

SOUL SERENADED.

AGITATED.

FREE!

BY SONGS BLACK SPRITS  SANG TO ME!

AUTHENIC. BOUNDLESS. FEARLESS. FREE.

TRUE. TO THE ROOT.  THEY REMAIN.

ATLANTIC WATERS. SOUTHERN FIELDS COULD NOT CLAIM.

EONIC. ICONIC  SOUL MODES.

AFRICAN CURRENTS, FIERY. COLD!

ANCESTRAL CALLS I STILL HEAR. EVER SO CLEAR.

WORK SONGS. FIELD HOLLARS.

BLUES FOR  A BLUE COLLAR.

"HEY, BIG BOSS MAN'

"NO SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE" FOR TODAYS WPA.

ONLY OUR "OWNED SONGS WHEN WE PLAY.

'CAUSE THERE'S A MEETIN' AT "THE CROSSROADS"

"BLUE NOTES".  BEWARE!

A PIED PIPER CALLED "TRUTH" MUST BE PAYED.

AND NOT "PLAYED".

FOR ALL THE STOLEN SONGS.

FOR ALL MUSICIANS WRONGED.

PUSH-OVER  ALL THE NO-PLAYERS.

GUILTY GATE-KEEPERS.

HATERS. RAPERS. WANNA-BE REAPERS.

THIS FREEDOM SONG'S A KEEPER.

HAUNTINGLY, 

I STILL HEAR MY MOTHER'S LAMENT.

MY BROTHER'S DISCONTENT.

AS I BEAR THE BRUNT OF "INHUMANE WINDS"

THIS IS NOW. THAY WAS THEN.

THE REMIX OF "BLACKS AND BLUES".

TO A DEEPER. DARKER HUE.

THIS IS NOW. THAT WAS THEN.

NOW I "PAY TO WIN!

Copyright2008BobbiHumphrey

For my biggest record on Blue Note Records, "Blacks and Blues"; one I'm still fighting to get my just royalties!

"A REASON TO SMILE"

It is such a beautiful morning here in NYC. Watching the early morning light at dawn, I smiled as I watched my grandson,Tyler, sleep.  Such peace, love, and resolve comes over me, as I anticipate his "Nana, Love you".  This makes my day.  I embrace tranquility even as I start another day of creativity and War; a balancing act to be sure.  But one of focus and fierceness to reclaim  stolen resources of my Music which I pass on to my family.  You see Tyler is only three.  But when the time comes, I want to be able to show the Music that "Nana" created, and the fight she continued to be paid for her just royalties!

Another reason to smile today:  My friend Norman Conners told me of a great lawyer who recently won a million dollars for Billy Paul for his son, "ME AND MRS JONES". Boy, am I gonna call him now.  Also, my friend Steve Popovich recently won his record case against Sony Records after having sold in excess of 45 million units of "MEATLOAF"; he discovered him.  It was a long fight.  But winning is all, even after many years! 

Finally, I smile today for the beauty of Fall.  And now Central Park beckons me for a bike ride, and all of the wonder and respite nature brings to my spirit. Trees and the Sea have been my constant Joys, even during a time of War. I still choose to be happy, choose Joy and claim "YES"!

..."TELL THEM I'M AT WAR"

Well, the real battle just started to get my fair share of royalties after three decades of not one dime of royalties from Blue Note Records.  It's 2 a.m. so I'll write more in the morning. Briefly though, as the first female artist ever signed to their label in 1971, and having sold in excess of one million records, and still counting, it past time for justice and equity for my work. World-wide, I am known as the "First Lady of Flute", BOBBI HUMPHREY. I hope you check out my website www.bobbihumphrey.net, and also youtube.com for my work.

This blog will serve as a record and really "indictment" of the totally inequitable business model of the record industry (thank God for the internet) to Artists.  My quest is to right the wrongs, not just for me, but also through my course of actions legally, politically, spiritually,and with the global community of fair minds, I may encourage other artist to stand up for fairness in the recording arts!