David Starr: Blog

I made the decision to make some changes in my retail business lately. Given the economy and changes in buying habits, I decided to close the brick and mortar aspect of the my guitar/music store.
This is a particularly difficult thing for my employees.  They are such a talented group of people... It is my hope that their lives will be disrupted as little as possible during all of this. And I believe that they can all move on to a better and higher purpose. 
The future of the retail music business is like a lot of other businesses these days; it is changing.  But as hard as change can be, it can be a a good thing. I plan to spend more time writing, performing and making music as I reinvent my business over time.
I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who have darkened the door at Starr's Guitars over the years. You have enriched my life and helped spread the word.  Make yourself a bookmark at www.starrsguitars.com and keep in touch. I will be there when you [...]

I was asked to play a benefit for the local chamber of commerce. The idea was that I would play a solo show and do my tunes.  I figured out pretty quickly that when songs are stripped down and the ability to include solos in the arrangements is gone, the songs get pretty short. And in some cases, not nearly as interesting.  So I asked Roy Martin and Ellen Stapenhorst to join me on most of the songs and I am glad I did. 
I have always recorded my music from the ground up. I start with a drum or click track and build from there by adding instruments as I go. While this is how lots of folks do it, I actually write the songs as I go more often than not.  What does all this mean? It means that many of the songs I have put together on CD's have never really been performed solely on an acoustic guitar.  The thought of working without that "net" of instruments had me pacing a bit.
The net result was that after only a couple of rehearsals, the songs took on new life. And [...]

I am pleased to report that I am working on some bookings for the band for the coming months. We plan to take the show to Arkansas (my home state) to play some shows with our good friend Kirby Kelly from Texas.
Also in the works is as possible show in Montrose with The North Fork Flyers at Turn Of The Century.
We have a show coming up at Belly in Montrose late this month as well.
We appreciate those who continue to support live music!

I started on a song for my new grandson today. I have been pondering it for a long time, and now that he's here in this world, I have more direction and energy for it. 
Hang on, little man, I am working on it!

I am thankful for the wonderful folks who call and ask us to show up and play the music we like. And for the fine people out there in the dark who decide, once in awhile, out there in the dark, to go online and buy a CD download of my music.  Sometimes I wish there was a little box they could fill in telling me what made them pick my stuff out of the millions of great songs on the web.
I am grateful for family and friends and for my wonderful daughter who is about to have a child of her own. I can't wait to see the little man when he arrives. 
An amazing journey for us all and I am truly grateful!
Oh, I am grateful that I used to be as skinny as I thought I was as evidenced by the old photo Hal Capps posted on Facebook. (left)