Dave Bolen
August 2, 2010
Andy - It was nice to meet you Saturday on the bus back from RAGBRAI. Nice website and the music sounds great. Best of luck to you. Dave, Barb and Debbie.
Andy - It was nice to meet you Saturday on the bus back from RAGBRAI. Nice website and the music sounds great. Best of luck to you. Dave, Barb and Debbie.
Andy, I have enjoyed listening to you at Cool Hand Lukes twice in the past couple of weeks and find your music relaxing and fun. I'll bring my friends and family to see you as I know they, too, will enjoy your singing and music.
Marcella
Saw you on Wed. night with Charlie
Danials- wonderful music. I have
told many of my friends and family
how much I enjoyed your music. I
stood next to your daughter taking
the pic. she gave me your e-mail,
so here I am. I am the one that
asked you for your guitar pick. So
now to find a CD. Thank You
Needed a music fix....this is the place to go when you need help with a smile. Thanks!
great website Andy! great to touch base again and read all the experiences you have had. Cheers to following your passion!
I can't begin to express what you and others have done for me recently at a live performance in Reno, NV. I remember sitting in the audience thinking "they made this for me". I like to believe that at the end of the day, a contract is signed with a simple word and a handshake. What you guys do through music is evidence. Your music and stories are heartfelt, genuine and sincere. Thank you for the good times!
I just want you to know you all we Awesome Last night. My daughters loved you guys and Zabreena has the pick she was given taped to her wall..lol Cameo got very embarresd when your bass player came down but is talking about it today. We will probably see you this weekend at the pizza place.
How exciting! Saw an ad in the Eagle Informer about you singing at Cool Hand Lukes and wondered, "Is that the same guy whose financial planning seminars we went to." Sure enough, you're the guy. I listend to your clips from your CD and am excitied to stop by and give you a listen. Congratulations on getting back to the career of your passion.
Andy.... never knew.... great to touch base. look forward to catching up. Jerry
Andy,
I truly enjoyed your site. The music, photos and video clearly display that you love what you do, and I think that's GREAT! Keep on playing.
Your Friend,
Rick Lehrer
Andy - Thanks for sharing the piece from Fox 12; well done - tunes and your smile & energy as I recall from seeing you in the winter at the Depot in Bemidji with Ski & Zelda, who love your CD that I gave them.
I remember when you let me look at your song binder/book on at the Chippawah (sp?) council fire one summer ... I was in awe as to the number of songs, the poetry, and your imagrey. Even as a 17 year old teenager, I was most impressed.
fyi ... i'm going to add your web page to my FB. I figured you wouldn't mind.
Be well & God bless.
Willy
Hi Andy,
Saw your spot on Fox 12. Your music is awesome. It is great to see you follow your heart. You are incredibly talented. Love your website. I am still at BSU but will be moving to the community college soon. Take care of yourself and keep following your dream
All my best,
Kellie Branson
Andy, your music touches so many, and has for decades. Thank you for being you and how lucky I am to have watched your lovely daughters grow up at camp. Your songs at Moe's Memorial Service were tear jerkers, you do know that Moe was right by your side as you were singing.
Much love,
Sudsy
Dear Andy,
With Moe's passing this week I have been going through all of my old photographs and ended up on the Camp Thunderbird website where I found you. I was a camper from 1970-1977 and then a JL, so we overlapped exactly. That said I probably heard you sing as much as anyone during the early Thunderbird years, and I would like to purchase your first CD. I see that you have a new one out as well, but did not see how to order the original.
I hope you are well, but can imagine that you are as deeply moved as I about Moe's passing. I have been thinking this weekend that next summer would be a good time to return to the north woods.
If you are interested in who I am please see:
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~kaufman/kaufman.html
My life as a naturalist and a geologist was undoubtedly catalyzed by my years at Thunderbird.
Cheers,
Jay
Andy and Company,
I saw you perform on Wednesday (Sept. 24th) at the Knitting Factory (formerly the Big Easy) and I just had to find out more. I loved your music and wanted to take a moment to thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear you sing. It was wonderful. I am a local in Boise, Idaho and cannot tell you how refreshing it is to hear some "real" music. Hope your music continues to inspire others.
Hi Andy! Boy, it has been forever since the year I met you at camp (1975 or 1976 maybe. However, you may remember me as you and I took your vVW up to Canada to get some Macintosh Toffee for the camp kids and the Minnesota border patrols didn't seem to care for us to much. Anyway, Sheri Donat told me about your website, so I had to check it out. I actually live only 5 miles from the camp, so I haven't gone far and on occassion, I still patronize the Blue Moon Saloon (formerly the Donat Hole). I am pleased to see that things are going well for you.
Take care,
Mona
my parents had the donat hole and i worked at camp 77-79 and remember your singing well ...and seen some names on your website that i havent heard or seen for years...
great job willard......sheri donat
Hi Andy,
It's hard not to call you Willard. I'm not sure if you'll remember me from Thunderbird, but like all of us former campers, I remember you very well. I'm so glad to see you're doing well and still moving people with your music. I look forward to getting the CD and playing it for my boys... hopefully they'll have a chance to see you perform sometime, maybe on the shores of Lake Plantagenet!? Thank you for the wonderful music and memories!
Tell everyone to tune in to you on my show April 13 at 9:30 PM PDT on klsx 97.1 free fm...at www.lindasalvin.com
See ya on the radio, Andy!
How the heck are you? I just went onto Tbird's site and there you were! I think of how great our 7 or 8 summers were and know that will always bring a smile to my face! ANDY BYRON!!! Wow!!! I'm in Boston, married, no kids but treat my dog as a child! Post camp sometime? I would love to bring my husband up to MN. Your pics of your wife and kids are great! Please tell Kim hello for me. Would love to hear from both of you! xxooJill "Bernie" Schoenfeld Ikens
I like "Somewhere or Nowwhere" The very best.(But not as much as Nancy)
Andy,
Congratulations on the awesome CD. This music brings back such great memories of my days at T-Bird as a camper and then as a counselor. I can still picture all of us around the council fire and in the lodge singing these tunes along with you.
My kids know all of the T-Bird songs as I used to sing them as I put them to bed.
I am so happy for you that you are getting to finally live out your musical dream.
It is now some 30 years later and I have never forgotten the words to Buckaroo. Willard will always have a special place in my memories of those wonderful summers in Bemidji.
Can't wait for what is next.
David "Marbles" Steinbrink
a camp Thunderbird alum ('79-'87), you were a legend that we kept alive for all the camper who came after us. I enjoyed your bio, and as a financial advisor who made a change kind of late in life as well, I understand and am glad your life has been so fulfilling. I made it back to T-bird in '96 and haven't had a chance since. My young kids will soon be ready for "post camp" and I can't wait.
All the best,
Mayo
Dear Andy,
I was up in Cool, California, where my dear friends, Bobby, Daisy and Aaron Eisenberg live. I really got a kick out of their putting on your cd! (had mailed it to them many weeks ago) Bobby, who is challenging to impress musically...and a musician himself (drummer), loves your new record! First song, Lucky Me....is Bobby's song. Meaning: that's how he feels about his life!
As an old Jerry Jeff Walker fan, he loves your stuff and he hears Jerry Jeff!
Figured you would appreciate hearing this.
Roberta and I have played it, too, with some regularity...and really, truly loving it. And it moves me...emotionally. I am so proud of you for doing this. I have said all along that you're a natural. And...you are! Lovely tunes. Wonderful production. And...I am still getting moved to tears on some songs. Wonderful to be so moved.
So...put that feather in your cap, buddy!
Love you,
The Rickster!
ps my love to the whole family. I had such a special, meaningful, memorable blast being up there for your gig. Getting to sit through it with Harvey was an extra treat! Yahooooo..........
Did you know that each one of your website pages look dirty or have brown smudges!:)
Andy, seriously, I'm extremely impressed. You've truely been blessed. One of my favorites on your first CD is Everyday and Too Late and Nancy and Lindsey's Song.
Hey Andy! Remember me? Paul "Simon" Ellis from Camp Thunderbird (Circa 1975-79). How are you?! Congratulations on your new CD. I plan on getting it. I am doing fine. I am married with three kids (ages 18, 17, 10). We are going through a difficult time right now as our daughter who is 17 has a terminal illness (Systemic Scleroderma) and is getting Chemo treatments, which we hope will work. Our oldest son is going to college next year on a full golf scholarship. I run a national junior golf Tour going on my 13th year. We run 100 tournaments in over 20 states from Sept to May. I dont know if you heard, but Mike "Blazer" Tines died of Cancer a couple of years ago. We remained very close since being boyhood friends so it was a huge loss. Alot of the camp people attended his funeral. He had two daughters who are 21 and 18. Stay in touch Andy. I still have a cassette recording from a gig you did at Western Illinois University.
Take Care!
Paul
Hey Andy. You may not remember me but many moons ago (I'm guessing 1978 or 1979) you and I took a canoe trip through the Boundary Waters together. The trip was amazing but even more incredible was getting to know you as something more than the guy who came to camp for a few days each year to do some singing. I was about 14 then and now I'm 43, but I still remember all of us jumping off of this huge rock into the cold lake.
I was so glad to hear about this opportunity to get your album which I will certainly buy. While I know that the money is going to a good cause, I think it's only fair to ask a favor in return for those of us who remember you so fondly. Please record quick cuts of a few of the old favorites and put them on your site. The two I would love to hear again are "Singing In The John" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." It is certainly thanks to you that the Gordon Lightfoot version of CRT and the Michael Murphey version of "Carolina in the Pines" are on my iPod.
Hi Andy. Paul asked me to purchase an office copy of your CD so I just completed my order. Looking forward to hearing all your songs. Take care!
CONGRATULATIONS!! I just left the CD release party and all I can say is "AWESOME"! Thank you for bringing such a first rate show and incredible energy to our venue. On behalf of myself and the staff of The Big Easy Concert House I send our heartfelt congratulations and we wish you much continued success.
Dean
I am so sorry that we couldn't make the release party. I hope it was a huge success. Michael and I can't wait to listen to the CD. Some of my favorite camp memories are of "Willard" concerts. It will be great to share this with the kids! Thank you for your pledge to contribute to the foundation, it is so generous!! Warm hugs!
Mazel Tov! I knew you were terrific, but the new CD makes it "official." I'll be out of town on the day of your release party, and I'm so disappointed, I can't tell you.
With great fondness.....Gaye
Andy,
Can't wait for the show Monday. This will be fun.
peace
Blake
Some of the music sounds like "Zideca" (sp) and river music from cajan country. I like it. Need more pictures of Nancy.
Andy,
I wish you the "best", your music sounds great.
Dinka Hadar
Congratulations on your upcoming CD, we are so proud of you, really look forward to getting my copy..lots of love, your big cuz
Andy,
I really wish I could be there for the big night...know it will be fabulous. Gorgeous picture of Nancy...Great website. Luv ya.dla
Andy - this is great. I can't wait to get my CD. I am a country boy at heart and love this !
Best of luck on your release party!
ANDY...I had no Idea!!! This is fantastic!! Can't wait to get mn CD!! CongratS and best of luck to you and your music!!
Good lookin' website. See you this weekend.
Andy,
You've broken the boundries again. Your music sounds great and the words are heart filled. Keep on living that "American Dream"
What a great site
J
Congrats on the CD! I have many fond memories of your playing guitar and singing in the lodge at Camp Tbird in the early 1980's. All the kids looked forward to hearing your songs. Wow, that was a long time ago!
Andy - great job on the new CD and a great cause. Both of my kids are now 2nd generation campers - with my oldest getting ready for the big PNW next year. I still think back to all those years at Tbird with Akorn, Benson and the gang listening to you bang out the tunes in the lodge or around the fire.
Good luck and hope to see you at the next reunion.
Radar
Yo Andy,
The whole family is so proud of you for doing this. We are really looking forward to the CD. Can't wait to hear the songs I've already heard before and the new ones yet to be discovered.
Wishing you all the best with the launch and all that lies ahead!
Willard,
I don't know whether you will remember me among the hundreds of campers and counelors you met at T-Bird but, like I am sure many others, your music has always been a big part of my fondest camp memories. Like "Dylan," while I still enjoy Michael Murphy songs, he just can't seem to do Wildfire as well as you did back then.
I have always thought it would be great to have recordings of so many of the songs your singing etched in my mind as kid so I was glad Moe and the gang thought to let us know of the opportunity to buy your new CD. While I didn't see "Dear Abbey" on the list of songs, I am sure I will enjoy the new ones just as much.
Let me know if you ever make it to Texas and I will bring some folks to hear you play.
Congratulations on your continued musical success,
Bill "Sqrl" Helfand
Andy-- I am one of those many people who have your voice and guitar engrained in my memory from childhood. I was at Thunderbird from '75-'80 as a camper, and then '84, '85 and '87 as a counselor. I haven't seen you in more than 25 years (though you look the same) but still remember the songs by heart (just listened to Buckaroo off of your site). I am working with Scout and Akorn on the Board of the Speedy and Honey Altman Memorial Camp Foundation and have hosted alumni reunions in Chicago the last two years. We are going to try to hit STL this Winter. I cannot thank you enough for your incredibly generous support of the Foundation in conjunction with your album release, and I cannot congratulate you enough on the release. You must be incredibly excited. I was just looking online to see if there were any reasonable flights to Boise as I would love to come out for your opening. Not finding anything yet that doesn't cost $2000 or require an additional night's stay in LA, but I am working on it and will keep you apprised. Again, best of luck with the album sales, thank you again for your support, and looking forward to seeing you one of these days. Take care.
--Daniel
I'm so happy for you, Andy. Can't believe I have to miss this but I'll be buying your CD and sharing it with all my friends. I love your music and you too!
Hey Andy!
Steven Katzoff sent me the link to your website. How cool! The last time I saw you in 1973, I was a 13-year-old camper at Thunderbird. I made a cassette of your songs that summer and it was one of my most prized possessions. I made the mistake of lending it to a friend in the 8th grade and I never saw it again, but the tunes stayed in my head. Good luck on your new CD!
Bobby
Andy,
No way you'll remember me -- I was a camper 1972-75, in Larry G's cabin for the last two of those years. (And yes, you were Willard and he was Schnooks. Oh yeah, I was Bobby.) I last set foot at Thunderbird 32 years ago this month, but the place had a huge impact on me -- and your music was such a big part of that. My daughters (now ages 12 and 8) still ask me to sing to them before bed, and that always means Lincoln Park Pirates or Cosmic Cowboy or Please Don't Bury Me or something else I learned from you in the early 70s. It's a tribute to you that they ask, because I am a truly lousy singer.
These memories are always near the surface. I look forward to hearing your CD and enjoying them anew.
Bob(by)
It been a while since the 50th @ tbird. Looking forward to playing your Cd
My best, Steven
Willard,
Good luck with the new CD. I just purchased 3. One for myself and one for each of my brothers (fellow counselors and camplers at T-bird)as gifts.
As a fellow Board member on the Foundation, thanks for the generous portion of proceeds. Since I am the treasurer, I will be able to see first hand, the money rolling in. Great support for a great cause.
Stay in touch & by all means, GOOD LUCK!
Akorn
The WebSite looks great!!! Sorry we can't make the CD Party, but plan on ordering a few CD's. Our love to the whole family.
This is way over due. We are so proud of you! Can't wait to hear all the tunes and looking forward to the release party! Lots of love,
Sandy, Joel, and Connor
And to think I knew him back when he was just another "Moody Jew"
Mazel Tov Andy!
Andy,
Congratulations for getting to nowhere! I look forward to listening to your tunes. Best of luck with the CD releae party.
You are an inspiration to all of us!
Steve J. from CT
I just ordered your CD, in fact I ordered 4 - they will make great gifts. We are so happy for you!! Isn't it wonderful to be doing something you love. We love you and Nancy. Keep on singing!
Nancy and Brownie
It's wonderful that you can make your dream come true!! Lots of luck. Our love to both you and Nancy. Shirley and Ellis
Ok- So I can understand not being in the bio, but certainly folks at home were probably looking for a photo of me singing back-up in the garage when we cut that song:)
Cheers!
Duv" Arizona Buckaroo" Weisz
Hi Andy,
Congrats on the CD release! I just ordered 2 copies and can't wait to hear all the songs!!!!
Love you,
Your Favorite Cousin!!!
Wow Andy the CD sounds great!! I already placed an order. Good luck with the CD.
Eddie
good luck with the cd, i've heard so much about your music, it's not offerten these days we hear words like your's coming right from one's heart, once the disc get out there, i feel lots of people will relate to it, music of every day life, dee
Andy: Listening to the "promo" version of the CD is great! You've made me into a real lover of true Country music. Awesome job by all the players and of course the engineering and producing squad. My [ten gallon] hat's off to you!
I can't wait to load "SOMEWHERE OR NOWHERE" and play it for my kids when they return from Camp
Yours ever
Kenny
Willard,
Your music and your natural ability to engage an audience will live forever within me. I was a camper at Thunderbird and each summer looked foward to the Hootenanny, that we were all able to listen, cherish and sing-a-long to the tunes of Cosmic Cowboy, Carolina in the Pine and Christopher Robin and Pooh. I just recently took a road trip with Betsy Thurman. We listened to some of those songs listed above and reminisced about they was we all were simply thrilled just to be in your prescence under the clear skies filled with stars in northern Minnesota every summer.
Best wishes to you and your family,
Fondly,
Anne Perlstein (Moose's Sister)
We are so excited for you and for camp! Hooray for everything you have worked so hard for!! All our love!
Hi Andy, your site is great and I will definitely get a CD! Would love to make the CD Release Party, but don't know if I can...we'll see. Good luck and take care!
love the site. That hat you're wearing on the home page is the biggest yalmuka I've ever seen!
Thanks for rekindling the memories. We'll see you real soon.
Congratualtions, you're amazing.
Make it a GREAT day!!!
Ken
Andy!
I ordered your CD through this website and can't wait to hear it.
I want you to know that ordering the CD on this website using the "Buy" button was fast and easy. I just put in my Paypal number and it was ordered!
If you want to see a fantastic 1970 Dodge Challenger go to:
www.thepinkcar.com
You are ON FIRE and unstoppable now! Go git 'em Tex!
You loving friends and fans...
Eileen and Lance Pelky