*NEW BOOK RELEASE* - Ritchie Valens Songbook

 

*NEW BOOK RELEASE*

I’m very happy to announce my new book Ritchie Valens Songbook: Hits and B-Sides is now available from Centerstream Publishing and Hal Leonard. This new book is the follow-up my first book Ritchie Valens: His Guitars and Music. This new book has new transcriptions to Ritchie’s other hits and b-sides in lead sheet form with guitar tablature. Ritchie’s songs featured in the book are the singles (including the commemorative and special-issue releases) on the Del-Fi label from 1958-1960. For the guitarist, I’ve has also transcribed Ritchie’s famous intros, riffs, and solos in guitar tablature format. These new transcriptions are meant to bring new enjoyment and study of Ritchie’s music to musicians and music fans alike. Song notes and photos are also included. Available now at booksellers everywhere.

Centerstream Publishing is distributed by Hal Leonard worldwide.

https://www.halleonard.com/product/465526/ritchie-valens-songbook-hits-and-b-sides

Surf Ballroom 2021 Masterclass - History of Rock

Tomorrow – April 7th 2021

Join Iowa State University Professors David Stuart and Ryan Sheeler for our 2021 Master Class, History of American Rock n' Roll.   Class available @ 9:00am on Facebook and the Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center's YouTube page.

Class Overview:

Part 1 (35min.) -- Rock History: The Golden Age of Rock 1954-59

Regional Sounds and Artists

• Memphis – Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis
• New Orleans – Fats Domino, Little Richard
• Chicago – Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley
• Clovis/West Texas – Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison
• Los Angeles – Ritchie Valens

Part 2 (20min.) -- The Winter Dance Party of 1959

• Tour and Artist Overview
• Surf Ballroom February 2, 1959

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCikh377ni6Upi8rSmYltHZA

Official Site:  https://www.surfballroom.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Surf-Ballroom-Music-Enrichment-Center-111141543853040

New Release (Remaster) - Letters From North of Town, 2021

*New Release (Remastered)* Come with me in the way-back machine to 2008. Letters From North of Town was my first full-length album statement of who I am as writer. Several of my old favorites are here: “Chasing Heaven”, “Always Have The Moon”, “Rain Down” and the title track. This new release features new mastering for added sonic clarity as well completely new album artwork and design. I hope you enjoy a fresh listen to one of my favorites. Available now at my Bandcamp store and coming soon to Spotify, ITunes, and more https://ryansheeler.bandcamp.com/album/letters-from-north-of-town-remastered

Christmas Eve 2020

Welcome to our world this night, Lord Jesus! Be with us in this time and in this difficult hour.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A18-25&version=NASB

18 Now the birth of Jesus the [a]Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been [b]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to [c]send her away secretly. 20 But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for [d]the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for [e]He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this [f]took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through [g]the prophet would be fulfilled: 23 “Behold, the virgin will [h]conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him [i]Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 [j]but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus.

KHOI Morning Masterpieces 12/24 - Christmas Eve Day

Tomorrow morning 12/24 - join me on Christmas Eve day for my monthly turn in the host chair on Morning Masterpieces. Christmas and seasonal holiday classical favorites from Elgar, Barrios, Bach, Mozart, Liszt, and Schoenberg are in the playlist. Settle in from the cold and tune to 89.1FM (Central Iowa) tomorrow morning from 9AM - 10AM. If you are not near a radio or are out of the listening area, feel free to tune in via the web stream at: http://khoifm.org/

Bandcamp - Official Store

Physical CDs available now - as well as MP3 downloads! CDBABY stopped their artist storefront service a while back. So I am now transferring all of my online merch to Bandcamp as my main store. They are the best storefront service I've found for working with indie musicians. All of my download MP3 albums and physical CDs are now available here. One-stop shopping! https://ryansheeler.bandcamp.com/

Tracky-by-Track #7 -- Walking In The Rain was a poem I had written many years ago.

 This is about no one in particular; it is a mélange of people I’ve known over the years. I’ve always been fascinated about the idea of rain, and sadness and depression .. and yet the rain is a bringer of new life as well. Lots of imagery in this one. Musically I was going for a blues-pop feel like Jonny Lang or Clapton’s 1990s output. Come for the groove and imagery, stay for the long outro – where I let fly with some guitar. 😊

ryansheeler · Walking In The Rain