I love the phrase coined by Elbert Hubbard "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."  This positive outlook is at the core of my being and a driving force of Will Forever music. Like my fellow singer-songwriter Dolly Parton says "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."   It has been some time since my last blog post, so I wanted to share some goings on.

Rainbow Sighting

Have you ever seen a rainbow?  Did an image just pop up in your head?  Do you remember when and where you saw it?  
I ran into Ben, an old friend, after my show Saturday and we began talking about rainbows.  It's no wonder as I surround myself with rainbows!  Anyway, he asked me if I had ever seen a complete rainbow.  I immediately recalled seeing a rainbow encircling the sun when I was a Lifeguard teaching a student how to float on his back in the city pool.  I later learned that this phenomenon is called a sun halo.  What my friend actually meant was if I had ever seen the end of a rainbow.  He told me that one time he was driving way out in the country and saw a rainbow end right on a cow!  We laughed.


Human Nature

On Thanksgiving Day, our 5 year old daughter Piper excitedly exclaimed to her four cousins "Smile at him and he'll smile back at you!".  She was talking about our 3 month 2 week old son Rowan.  What an inspiration he is!

Perspective

During my show Saturday, I kept telling the crowd that I want to turn frowns into rainbows with my music.  Next time, maybe I'll say that I want to turn frowns into rainbows and then turn those rainbows upside down into rainbow smiles!  Can you imagine that?

Hello to my Forever Fans and "Skittles" Kara and Kelsey!  Thank you again for buying Will Forever Music stickers and for sending me the photos!  

We can fix it up (our world) peace by peace!

​Will ∞
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This was a week of intense practicing.  I was especially focusing on my new song "Anonymity" which I planned to debut at my upcoming show Saturday night at KC's Artisan Pizza.  By Thursday I was already exhausted!  That afternoon I received a surprise invitation to be interviewed on WONN 1230 AM "The Spirit of Lakeland".  I gladly accepted and my interview aired the same day.  It was a wonderful experience!  WONN's Donna Renfroe was so kind and in touch with the heart and soul of my musical message - to share love, peace and unity to others.  Thanks Donna!  

Here is the irony.  I had just finally embraced my feelings of anonymousness, expressed it by writing a song about it, and committed to sharing it with the public and then, right before I did, I was on the radio! 
 
I debuted Anonymity last night as planned to a full house at KC's Artisan Pizza.  Here is the last chorus of my song.

Anonymity is the life for me.  It's the press free stress free life.  I don't need no bourgeoisie.  I don't need no paparazzi.  All I need is my anonymity.
Anonymity is the life for me.  It's the press free stress free life.  I don't need no hip hooray.  I don't need no radio play.  All I need is my anonymity.  All I need is my anonymity.  All I need is my anonymity.

A Sticky Situation

According to UPS tracking, I would get my delivery "by end of day".  I had been waiting for weeks for my Will Forever Music stickers to come.  I wanted them ready by Friday to sell at my show at 801 Main.  I probably should not have gotten the word out that I would be giving one away before I actually had any stickers.  It was getting closer and closer to the time that I had to leave, and the stickers were still not here!  I jokingly asked Wren, "Why does it seem like when we are out and about in our neighborhood we are always getting out of the way of UPS trucks?  Now, when I need one it's not coming until "end of day!"  It was minutes before I had to go set up for the show.  I tried to chill out by laying on a blanket in the front yard.  I told myself everything will be okay.  Just then, my stickers came and I made it to set up in perfect time.  Thanks UPS!

The Best Seat in the House

​A few friends arrived early and we chatted as I set up.  By show time, 801 Main was packed!  The crowd was very warm and receptive, applauding after every song!  I was so happy to see everyone having such a great time, especially a young girl sitting next to me.  She was literally bouncing off of her chair!  I kept saying it to the audience that night and I'll say it again:  I had the best seat in the house!  Thank you, Walter for taking my picture!

True Friends

My show was combined with Coloring Night.  A local artist named Two Headed Baba provided prints for everyone to color.  She mentioned to me after the show that she thought that half of the audience must be my friends, as they were singing along to my songs.  I think she was right!  I had been announcing that I would be giving away a Will Forever Music sticker and had been asking people to put their names in my hat.  It was finally time for the giveaway.  Knowing that so many of my friends were present, I wanted to make sure that the audience knew that the drawing was fair.  I asked a trivia question to everyone.  A young man answered immediately.  I asked him to draw a name out of my hat.  He handed me a name.  It was his sister!  The coolest thing was that she had told me earlier that she really wanted a sticker.  Congrats, Tilly!

Highlights

Friends greeting me, making new friends, singing a round with the audience, lots of laughs, help tearing down, a drawing in my hat, happy sticker customers, guitar students and their families coming, people singing along, and the cool venue.  Finally, my two favorite highlights: the bouncing girl and when at the end of my song "So What", I spontaneously told everyone to scream and they most certainly did!  Thank you to each and every one of you for making Friday night at 801 Main such a special night!

Will has been spending the month of August at Sound House Studios recording his debut album titled Greetings, due to be released this year.  Will is also gearing up for monthly live shows at the Dixieland Twilight Market.  Keep checking the calendar on the Show page for Will's performance schedule.  Most recently, he performed for a lively crowd at Books A Million.  Check the Music page for clips from that show!

"You will get a few bucks floating in the wind" my fortune read from a fortune cookie I got last week.  I laughed.
Saturday, I enjoyed sharing my music at the August Art Assault in downtown Lakeland.  It was blistering hot and I was thankful to share a friend's tent and to receive applause and encouraging words from passers-by and my fellow vendors.  Thank you everyone!  In the second hour of my show a breeze began to blow.  I yelled into my microphone "Runaway bike!" as I saw an adult tricycle rolling out of the festival and into Main Street.  Fortunately, nobody nor the trike was injured.  Some time after, a gargantuan gust of wind swept through the grounds.  I kicked my leg up to brace the tent leg beside me with my foot.  Then, like a scene from Frosty the Snowman, I watched my top hat, that was also right next to my foot, fly away.  The tips that were in the hat flew even faster as if they were racing with each other.  My hat didn't get very far but the dollar bills fiercely followed the path that the tricycle had paved and even billowed beyond.  Ryan, my friend who had already been gracious enough to share his tent with me ran after and retrieved all my tips.  Thanks again Ryan!  
A few days later, I remembered my fortune "You will get a few bucks floating in the wind".  I laughed again.

First Fridays mean long strolls with Wren and Piper, chatting with friends along the way, popping in and out of shops, hopefully finding something to nibble on, seeing colorful sights, and hearing sonorous sounds of local musicians.  Last night, I was on the other side as one of the local musicians.  I'm left with a deeper appreciation for street musicians.  Thank you all.  And thank you to those who lent me their ears.  It was challenging but worth it as I saw joy in the eyes of children tranfixed as they passed.
I am overflowing with optimism!  This Thursday, August 13th from 6 to 8pm, I will play in the heart of downtown, Munn Park, for the Lakeland Food Truck Rally.  Thank you for your support.  I hope to see you there! 
Will Forever

Hi everyone, long time no blog!
When we last wrote, Will had been performing at Mahan's Eatery on a weekly basis.  Unfortunately, the owners closed shop last month and we are sorely missing their seasonal veggie hash.  Will, however, has been fortunate to play shows at various other venues in and around Lakeland since.  There was a small show at the end of June over at Dixieland Relics antique store, where they host vendors and musicians every last Friday of the month.  It was a hot night with a good audience, and Will even took home some raw, local honey and homemade pineapple jam as tips from a kind young woman selling the tasty goods.
On the fourth of July, Will played to a packed house over in Tampa at The Loving Hut vegan restaurant.  I may have invited several of our friends as a late surprise for Will's birthday, which we celebrated on the 2nd (and then again all weekend long).  The kids lined up in front of Will and clasped hands, dancing and jumping to the music.  Still the weekend after that, Will played a house concert at our longtime friend Amabel's house (otherwise known as Spirit Dreams Haven).  The crowd was more intimate, but Piper didn't hesitate to grab the microphone and start singing along with daddy as the concert came to a close.
Finally, just today Will played at Givahoot Cafe to a small crowd that ventured out in the Mulberry rain.  We got some good footage from the show, and are working on getting them up on YouTube now.  Please continue to check his YouTube channel, the calendar, and the shows page on this site to keep up with all of Will's performances.  We love seeing you all out there.  Keep in touch!
Wren
P.S.  Remember to stop by the Downtown Lakeland Farmer's Curb Market this coming Saturday, July 25th from 11:00 to 1:00 to hear Will perform live.

We enjoyed another of Will's performances at Mahan's Eatery last Sunday (June 7th).  Unfortunately, we learned that our beloved restaurant will be closing next week, so come on down this Sunday, June 14th to hear Will perform his original music.  We are planning other shows as you read this, so be sure to check the calendar on the show page to see the dates of Will's upcoming performances.  Until then, I will leave you with some footage from June 7th.  Enjoy, and please subscribe to Will's YouTube channel!

Hello, all!  It's Wren here again to remind you to come on out to Mahan's Eatery this Sunday (June 7th) to enjoy some more good eats and original music by Will Forever.  Will plays a variety of styles, with something for everyone to enjoy.  The children especially love his songs for Piper, so bring the whole family and show your support for quality farm-to-table food and local music.  We are also pleased to announce that Will is now playing at Mahan's every Sunday, so if you cannot make it out this weekend we'll be looking for you one of the following!  You can check out some footage from Will's latest live show on his YouTube channel, or under the Music tab on this website.

Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday,
Wren