Article from “Sticky Door Knobs” about last night’s San Angelo “Music For Life” tour
June 26, 2008
by Jimmy Patterson
SAN ANGELO -- Shortly after I met my wife, she told me stories of how she and her sister had grown up in Southwest Houston with a girl who she said was far more creative than the other kids on the block. The girl, Karen told me, had gone on to achieve a modest amount of pop star success. I admit I hadn't heard of the woman at that point in my life, but would come to know her, as would others, in the 1980s.
Her name was (and still is, actually) Sara Hickman. Sara didn't achieve the mega-stardom that would properly justify her considerable talent as a song-smith, vocalist extraordinaire and performer, but you get the impression when talking to her that didn't put the skids on what is obviously a joy-filled life. Sara's voice is exquisite, capable of acting alone, carrying a church sanctuary or a concert hall without aid of instrumentation. With the best of them she can bend all the right notes at all the right times, wrapping her nimble cords around melodies in a wide array of octaves. Her range is impressive, her passion for her craft infectious. If we can make superstars out of the likes of some of the people we have crowned in the last 20 years while talents like Sara Hickman are left behind, relatively speaking, we should seriously reconsider what we fancy entertainment.
It's not as if Sara has had zero recognition. She toured with the late Dan Fogelberg and rode a brief wave of media attention with her still memorable, hummable, "I Couldn't Help Myself." She's had some fine albums, "Shortstop" "Equal Scary People" and 2006's "Motherlode" among them. Based in Austin today, Sara has a new passion: she is in the middle of a 12-month tour of Texas to join with others in a dialogue about capital punishment. With the help of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Dealth Penalty and its founder, Bob Van Steenburg, the two will bring the year-long tour to a close in Austin in October. Their appearances are a time of peaceful, open and frank conversation and song, bringing awareness to Texas' rampant penchant for execution. I recently commented to Bob how massive an undertaking he and the others in the tour had undertaken. "Yes," he said. "But I'm right!"
Sara and Bob, along with talented San Angelo-based singer-songwriter Cindy Jordan, brought the tour to San Angelo Wednesday night
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Sara. Or hugging her about four times (Sara's a hugger). She painted revealing word pictures through her song and voice, and shared with the 200 or so in attendance her intimate emotive expressions on love, life and death through lyric.
Sara's most poignant moment came during a song she wrote called "The One," a heart-wrenching story told through the eyes of the mother of the Virginia Tech shooter, Seung-Hui Cho. Almost three hours after opening the evening with her beautiful a cappella, "It's OK," Sara closed with "We Are Each Other's Angels," one of the most uplifting and hope-filled songs I've had the pleasure to clap along with recently.
(Watch Sara singing both "The One" and "Each Other's Angels." last night in San Angelo.)
Thanks, Sara, for sharing your talent with West Texas.
http://www.stickydoorknobs.typepad.com/stickydoorknobs/2008/06/meeting-sara-hickman.html
posted by Sara Hickman at 12:08 pm
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Off to San Angelo, TX for MUSIC FOR LIFE
June 25, 2008
Oh, and I got signed to THE ROOTS AGENCY. I'm very excited about it.
(If you read my earlier blog, you know what I mean. If you
missed the entry, it is because I only ran it for 1/2 hour.)
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:04 am
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Thanks to Amazon Radio/WPKN for playing me!
June 24, 2008
When people ask me, "How can I hear you on the radio more?" all you need to know is this:
Call and ask. Email and ask. Send thank you notes to the folks who DO play my music.
Here's an example now of a playlist I just got today...so here's someone you could all contact and
say THANKS FOR PLAYING SARA'S MUSIC...
and PLEASE PLAY SOME MORE!
Love love love,
Sara
DJ: Pamela Smith, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Amazon Radio! Play List: June 20, 2008 WPKN, Bridgeport, CT and WPKM,
Montauk, NY
DIANNE REEVES ~ Endangered Species ~ ART & SURVIVAL ~ EMI
CATHY KREGER ~ He's Gone ~ LUCKY 13 ~ Sonic Underground
ABI TAPIA ~ Another State Line ~ THE BEAUTY IN THE RUIN ~ Moonhouse
CHRISTINE HAVRILLA ~ Take Me To The River ~ IN MY CHAIR ~ Independent
CAROL WILLIAMS ~ My Little American ~ EMPTY BOOTS ~ Independent
CARYN KUFERMAN ~ If I Cry ~ PITCH BLACK MILE ~ Independent
COYOTE GRACE ~ Watering Down The Brandy ~ BOXES & BAGS ~ Independent
TANYA PLUTH ~ Don't Leave Here So Broken ~ SAVING GRACES ~ Independent
SU LIVINGSTON ~ Move My World ~ THE WILD WITHIN ~ Independent
BECKY CHACE ~ Jenny ~ A RIVER UNDER ME ~ Independent
ALLISON DOWNEY with JOHN AUSTIN ~ Texas (Hume Again) ~ ACROSS THE SEA ~
Independent
JENEEN TERRANA and the HOWL BROTHERS ~ Something Sweet ~ MY CREATION ~
Bitesized
JUDE JOHNSTONE ~ Blue Light ~ BLUE LIGHT ~ Bojack
RHIANNON ~ A Case of You ~ IN MY PRIME ~ Independent
NATALIA ZUKERMAN ~ Widow's Walk ~ BRAND NEW FRAME ~ Weasel
KJ DENHERT ~ Lucky 7 ~ LUCKY 7 ~ Independent
ROSEY ~ Be Somebody Blues ~ LUCKIEST GIRL ~ Quango
MARK BARNES ~ Calendar music bed: Back To Bali; Sunday Morning Dance ~
THE AWAKENING ~ Independent
SARA HICKMAN ~ This Is A Man's World ~ EQUAL SCARY PEOPLE ~ Elektra
TERRI ALLARD ~ Louisiana 1927 ~ TERRI ALLARD - LIVE FROM CHARLOTTESVILLE
~ Independent
CHRISTINE KANE ~ If I Were Me ~ A THOUSAND GIRLS ~ Breeze
MARK WEIGLE ~ Ones Who Came To Heal ~ SOULSEX (WRESTLING THE
ANGEL/VERSATILE) ~ Independent
SALLY FINGERETT Save Me A Seat ~ GHOST TOWN GIRL ~ Amerisound
BARBARA LAMB ~ L'Aroma Dell Amore (The Scent Of Love) ~ FIDDLE PIGGY ~
Lots of Coffee
MARIANNE FAITHFULL ~ Sister Morphine ~ BLAZING AWAY ~ Island
JENNIFER TAYLOR ~ Farther Away ~ A DIFFERENT VIEW ~ Independent
LILLIAN ALLEN ~ Revolutionary Tea Party ~ REVOLUTIONARY TEA PARTY ~ Redwood
TOSHI REAGON ~ Have You Heard ~ HAVE YOU HEARD ~ Righteous Babe
DEANNA KIRK ~ Belonging To Her Song ~ MARIANA TRENCH ~ Blackbird
Recording Co.
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK ~ Fulani Chant ~ IN THIS LAND Earthbeat!
MALAIKA ~ When A Woman ~ MALAIKA LIVE ~ Independent
VANESSA TORRES ~ Ain't No Grave ~ WITNESS ~ Independent
SUSAN DEVITA ~ Nobody Says Sweetheart ~ LUCKY 13 ~ Sonic Underground
NAMOLI BRENNET ~ Rough Enough ~ SINGER SHINE YOUR LIGHT ~ Independent
CATIE CURTIS ~ Passing Through ~ LONG NIGHT MOON ~ Compass
JEN FOSTER ~ Sunday Drive ~ SONGS FROM "THIRTY-NINE" EP ~ Fosterchild
MARK BARNES ~ Do You Remember ~ THE AWAKENING ~ Independent
posted by Sara Hickman at 11:16 am
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Job Opportunity with my good friends, Jonathan Friedman and BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL!
Job Title: Development and Marketing Associate
Description: This is a unique position in the non-profit world. The successful applicant will be able to utilize and hone his or her skills in a dynamic organization and be involved in making changes in the wake of strategic planning efforts. The Development and Marketing Associate oversees the execution of a number of complex and variable tasks. Success in this position will be measured by one’s ability to leverage online marketing and development initiatives to further the organization’s achievement of fundraising goals.
Key Responsibilities
• Plan, execute and analyze multi-channel, cause-related marketing campaigns, with an emphasis on using technology to further fundraising goals
• Manage BCI’s workplace giving campaigns and relationships with Earth Share
• Manage BCI’s participation in Bat Run and BatFest events, including soliciting sponsorships, managing volunteers and conducting all pre- and post- event preparations and meetings
• Work closely with the Director of Development on major donor solicitations and moves management
• Manage execution, evaluation and reporting of the Planned Giving program
• Be “the face” of BCI and fulfill media requests
• Work with the Director of Development and the Director of Finance on developing departmental budgets and audit reports
• Promote and manage corporate events at Bracken Cave (see website for further information about Bracken Cave: http://www.batcon.org/home/index.asp?idPage=56&subPageID=75
Requirements
The Ideal Candidate will have:
• 2+ years of experience in nonprofit development, marketing or related field
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications or related field
• Excellent skills in all Microsoft Office applications
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge software
• Familiarity with Google Analytics, strong analytical skills
• Experience with Web 2.0 technologies, including social networking
• Attention to detail and experience in event planning
• Passion for conservation and environmental issues
• Knowledge of or curiosity about bats
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to be a spokesperson on television, radio and at live events (PR experience a plus)
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
BCI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Applications will be accepted on line. Please send email with cover letter and resume to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If there are any questions about the position, please submit via email. No phone information will be available and any such requests will eliminate a candidate from consideration.
posted by Sara Hickman at 08:47 am
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Heartland Cafe
June 21, 2008
"I like "oomph" on my walking bass lines...and my voice is mid ranger/soprano, so I like bottom end" because he brought the oomph and the bottom end to the top of the edge!
It was ROCKING! Sometimes I had to look behind me because I was like WHAT? WHO??...HUH??? It was as if I had a drummer with a double kick on stage but it was ME ON THE GUITAR
and man it was FRICKIN' ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM get outta my way goodness! I loooooooove the Heartland Cafe...and the audience...creme de la creme...singing along! Laughing out loud!
Listening! Partaking! Sharing their chips and guacamole on stage with ME! Oh. Oh oh oh oh it was sheer bliss, I tell you. Thank you for putting me in that room, Charlie Dahan! I had
an enormously great time. I think the audience did, as well...No. I take that back. I KNOW THEY DID cuz half of them walked me out to the car in their cool Angel Mike Buffalo shirt and
Brian with his camera and all the ladies and their bright smiles and Lance's friend Cathy, all joy filled, and Tracey, dear Tracey Dear, helping lug those two G-less stringed guitars and Lance
tugging along with the suitcase of cds and me just enjoying everybody everybody in the glow oh such an amazing thing to sing and share that Kohl's makes shirts that smell like pot when you
sweat and David with the plaid shirt wrote me a love note for my pocket, for later he said, and I read it outside under the stars and everything was swimmingly happy.
Holly and Jim and Barbara, wowing me by coming into the city from oh-so-far away to sell cds...Holly made handmade cards to promote the cds and to announce that she would answer any questions
about the music/songs/Saraisms....and I was warming up in the bathroom and so I sang "I Couldn't Help Myself" for Holly cuz I knew she was in the bathroom, too, and then later from stage when
I told her I wanted to sing it for her but couldn't because I had no G-strings on EITHER guitar, she said she was ok because she'd already heard it and gosh that made my heart feel so r-e-l-a-x-e-d
because I knew what she meant.
Dear Tracey, thank you for letting us stay in your home with your sweet boys and wife and now I must go to bed I must I am so so tired and it is 2:15 in the morning and tomorrow we get up at 6:45 to
leave for the airport for Austin and goodbye whirlwind Midwest tour. I hope I can return soon. I hope the numbers of people grow in attendance because I do want to come back.
iolana turns 8 today! We will celebrate all day, planes or no planes, it's all good as we are all together as a family and the love grows wherever we land!
posted by Sara Hickman at 10:58 pm
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