Chad Elliott on songwriting

Songs are a form of storytelling. They capture a time in a composer’s experience that can be shared and remembered because they are anchored to sound, not the page. I embarked on a quest to add a songwriting track to the 2024 Okoboji Writers’ Retreat (OWR). Since this isn’t my area of expertise, I asked former participants for their recommendations. The name ‘Chad Elliott’ was suggested repeatedly, and I soon understood why. He’s a versatile artist who brought to the forefront the visual side of his creativity when the threat of Clovid wreaked havoc on the live musical entertainment scene. He started painting, to the surprise of his fan base. The more we can lift the stories of others, the more musicians of different genres and audiences can jam, and the better a community we will have. Chad Elliott is a shining example of a gem found in the fly-over state of Iowa. I have a growing list of others. Listen: The name ‘Chad Elliott’ was suggested repeatedly, and I soon understood why. He’s a versatile artist who brought to the forefront the visual side of his creativity when the threat of Clovid wreaked havoc on the live musical entertainment scene. He started painting, to the surprise of his fan base. The more we can lift the stories of others, the more musicians of different genres and audiences can jam, and the better a community we will have. Chad Elliott is a shining example of a gem found in the fly-over state of Iowa. I have a growing list of others. House ConcertsRichard and I will host House Concerts for paid subscribers who are funding OWR scholarships. We booked Chad and his Weary Rambling collaborator, Kathryn Sever Fox, to join us on April 11. Both are remarkable and outstanding musicians. Stay tuned for details. Holding a house concert is an easy way to support a local musician. You invite folks to come to listen to the artist, not simply background music, in a bar or restaurant, then make a per-head donation. Win-win = live music in your living room. Check out the songwriting roster for the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat. You’ll find amazing talent who would welcome your support this way. More about Chad Elliott: https://www.chadelliott.netAlso, Kathryn and Chad will be at the Greenwood Lounge in Des Moines on December 29, starting at 9 p.m. The Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ event beckons. Pass it on: CLICK: OWR SPEAKERS (MORE COMING, INCLUDING DARTANYAN BROWN)Carol Montag Speaking of songwriters, here is one I commissioned Carol Montag to write as a Christmas present for Richard years ago. During a retreat, he had written the lyrics as a poem, and Carol composed the cherished song years later. You might want to grab a tissue: Carol will be with us again during OWR IV and is also available to perform at a house concert. http://www.carolmontag.comI cannot wait for Chad, Kathryn Sever Fox, Carol Montag, and all the other songwriters who will be with us during OWR IV to come together on the stage of the Lakes Art Center for a jam session after a fulfilling day teaching songwriting workshops. Here’s another private song composed by Carol for us after we invited her to perform at a house concert in our home in Annapolis in 2010. Hanging it up for tonight. There is too much liquid in my eyes from listening to these again. Carol Montag, Cedar Rapids, performs during our annual Iowa Day party on the Chesapeake Bay in 2010. See her in September, too. IOWA WRITERS’ COLLABORATIVE COLUMNISTS ROUNDUP AND ROSTER:ROUNDUP: ROSTER: Nicole Baart: This Stays Here, Sioux CenterRay Young Bear: From Red Earth Drive, Meskwaki SettlementLaura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor HeightsTory Brecht: Brecht’s Beat, Quad CitiesDoug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, CarrollDave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des MoinesIowa Writers’ Collaborative, RoundupSteph Copley: It Was Never a Dress, JohnstonArt Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm LakeSuzanna de Baca: Dispatches from the Heartland, HuxleyDebra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison CountyArnold Garson: Second Thoughts, Okoboji and Sioux FallsJulie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and OkobojiJoe Geha: Fern and Joe, AmesJody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des MoinesRob Gray: Rob Gray’s Area, AnkenyNik Heftman: The Seven Times, Los Angeles and IowaBeth Hoffman: In the Dirt, LoviliaChris Jones, Chris’s Substack, Des MoinesPat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, WaterlooFern Kupfer: Fern and Joe, AmesRobert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, BusseyLetters from Iowans, IowaDarcy Maulsby: Keepin’ It Rural, Calhoun CountyTar Macias: Hola Iowa, IowaAlison McGaughey, The Inquisitive Quad Citizen, Quad CitiesKurt Meyer: Showing Up, St. AnsgarVicki Minor, Relatively Minor, WintersetWini Moranville: Wini’s Food Stories, Des MoinesJeff Morrison: Between Two Rivers, Cedar RapidsKyle Munson: Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des MoinesJane Nguyen: The Asian Iowan, West Des MoinesJohn Naughton: My Life, in Color, Des MoinesChuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des MoinesBarry Piatt: Piatt on Politics Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.Dave Price: Dave Price’s Perspective, Des MoinesMacey Shofroth: The Midwest Creative, NorwalkLarry Stone: Listening to the Land, ElkaderMary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, KalonaMary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices, KalonaCheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone CountyEd Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, DavenportKali White VanBaale, 988: Mental Healthcare in Iowa, BondurantTeresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des MoinesWant to be invited to house concerts? 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