New Bell Witch Song Debuts at #7 on Blues & Roots Radio Chart

Blues and Roots Radio, a large international broadcasting network, has ranked The Bell Witch – Let the Game Begin in their global Top Ten, debuting at #7.

Kudos to my partners in crime–Snapper Long, Jimmy Williams, and Lydia Bain–for their hard work and musicianship, and to the others for their behind-the-scenes dedication to the project.

And, special kudos to the Bell Witch for leaving us alone while we worked, at least up to the point when we shot the promo trailer video (which is another story).

Haven’t heard it yet? Give it a listen at YouTube.

Want to know more? Check out the promo trailer with behind-the-scenes footage and performer interviews, here.

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New Bell Witch Song Already Making Waves

My new song, “The Bell Witch (Let the Game Begin),” is now on the Featured Artists list at Blues and Roots Radio. They have 3 main stations (Canada, US, Australia), and have affiliate stations around the world.

The song will be rotated on their “Featured Artists” show from time to time (avg. once daily), and can also be played from the Featured Artists page.

If interested in purchasing a download for your device, just click the iTunes or Bandcamp icon below the song’s listing.

New Bell Witch Song Releases October 1st in Time for Halloween

New Single, “The Bell Witch – Let the Game Begin” to Release Sept. 16th

THE BELL WITCH – LET THE GAME BEGIN is a new musical collaboration between Bell Witch researcher and musician, Pat Fitzhugh, and award-winning songwriter and musician, Mike Richards.

Brewed with rootsy Americana rhythms, gripping fiddle passages, and ghostly overtones, The Bell Witch – Let the Game Begin is a mesmerizing concoction of ghostlore and intrigue–where legend meets song.

In addition to Fitzhugh and Richards, the project features award-winning musician and vocalist Jimmy Williams and violinist/fiddle player extraordinaire, Lydia Bain.

The single will be released to radio and SoundCloud platforms on September 16th, and to iHeart, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and other international platforms on October 1st.

A video trailer and behind-the scenes compilation video will be released in the coming weeks.

2019 in Review

It was a busy and productive year, even to the point that I couldn’t find the time to update my site as frequently as I would have liked to. And since the beginning of 2020, things have become even more hectic, with plenty of the same-old as well as some brand new ventures and projects (stay tuned).

Rather than pen a bunch of long paragraphs discussing last year, I will show you how it went…with pictures. Just hover your mouse over the pictures to see the captions.

Grave of Ronnie Van Zant

The Great Escape – Nashville

Performing at the Exit 56 Blues Fest 2019

Showing my Strat to guitar legend James Burton

Boyhood home of three rock stars. Ronnie, Donnie, and Johnnie Van Zant.

Chatting with the news media at Jackson State Community College

At the Bell Family get-together, 2019, in Adams, Tennessee

Performing with The Music Highway Band

Performing at the Exit 56 Blues Fest 2019

Knockin’ it out of the ballpark with blues legend, Dudley Harris

Original tomb of Ronnie Van Zant

At Celtic Fest 2019

At Bell Family get-together with family genealogist Sharon Bell Hamilton.

From the Bell Family get-together 2019

Lunch at the Bell family get-together in Adams, Tennessee.

At Celtic Fest 2019. The guy on the left is also a Fitzhugh

With Joe from “The Fringe” FM

At Jackson State Community College lecture

At Great Escape – Nashville

Piano time

Me and my trusty 335

Small lane leading to the former site of Ronnie Van Zant’s last home.

At Celtic Fest 2019 for signing and meet-greet

Arkansas Paranormal Expo 2019

Met an Old High School Friend and Fellow Musician

Jammin’

Warming up at the Sleepy John blues jam 2019

With Tim Henson at the Bell Family get-together 2019

At The Great Escape – Nashville

“The Jug” in Jacksonville, FL., where the “Gimme Three Steps” incident occurred.

Lecturing at Arkansas Paranormal Expo 2019

Playing an impromptu blues gig and live radio broadcast

At Celtic Fest 2019

Old Woodcrest Grocery – The setting for “The Ballad of Curtis Loew”

With friends at Arkansas Paranormal Expo 2019

Playing at the 2019 Sleepy John blues jam

 

So, that’s it. My 2019 in a nutshell.

Meanwhile, in Louisville…

I had a fabulous time at the MID-SOUTH PARANORMAL CONVENTION over the weekend. I performed with the Orb Tones, gave a Bell Witch lecture presentation, and signed books all weekend.

It was also great to catch up with old friends and make lots of new ones. Great convention + great people! And, KUDOS to the LGHS for organizing yet another stellar, first-class convention!

Stay tuned for MORE conventions and excitement later this year!

 

Captain Jack, the Paranormal Pup

Free-hanging pendulums with audio + visual alarms

You never know who you’ll see at MidSouth

Doing one of the things I love

Giving my guitar a last-minute workout before performing with the Orb Tones

My book setout for MidSouth this year

Guitar Donation News Article

The newspaper did a nice little write-up about the recent donation of guitars to a school music class in Brownsville. It was such an honor to be a part of this awesome project, and to help advance the appreciation and instruction of music in today’s public school systems. I am also glad that the newspaper took it seriously, as well, devoting much of an entire page to it.

Donation to Guitar Class

I recently worked with the Heritage Center and the James Burton Foundation in arranging for the donation of 12 new guitars to the school in Brownsville. They had gotten down to just two guitars, which obviously made it difficult for the school to continue offering the classes. Thankfully, the Burton Foundation came through and donated new, high-quality acoustic guitars!

Brownsville, TN school guitar donation event

Brownsville, TN

It was an honor being a part of this worthwhile endeavor. Music is the globally-understood language of creation and expression, and it touches our lives and hearts in so many different ways. The FUTURE of American music begins right here, with young people learning to play musical instruments. Play it loud, play it proud, and play it forward!