Album Notes

"Songs of a Lifetime and Other Tales" is the debut CD by Santa Rosa based drummer-percussionist, singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist, Brian Gardner. The songs cover a wide variety of styles including Acoustic, Country-Rock, Pop and Rock.

All of the songs have a story to tell and many feature stirring harmonies. The instrumentation features a wide variety of percussion instruments and cleverly written acoustic or electric guitar leads. The bass guitar work is rhythmic and makes a great foundation for the arrangements to rest solidly upon.

There are unexpected surprises on the CD as well, like the humor on "Darlene" or the cleverly placed sound effects on "Be My Friend". He's not afraid to show his "romantic" side either, as Brian does on the beautifully arranged "All Day Long - (I Love You)".

One example on the CD of the passion and responsibility Gardner feels to try and help make the world a better place through his music, comes out in the song "Do Your Part". In his own words about this song from a recent interview: "If there is an "message song" on this CD is has to be "Do Your Part". The second verse lyrics drive the point home: "As an individual you're powerful. Yes YOU can change the world!" I really believe that and I wanted that song on my this first CD."

Gardner celebrates his 40th year as a performer in 2009 and he fervently hopes the compositions on "Songs of a Lifetime and Other Tales" make listeners smile, ponder life and perhaps even to decide to use some of their own personal time in service to others. To celebrate 40 years of performing and to give something back to the world, Brian has started the 1-Hour-A-Week campaign to encourage all people of the world to donate just 1 hour a week to some sort of community volunteer work. Brian imagines, with the worlds population now over 5 billion - how improved this world would be with even a small percent of people doing just 1 hour a week in service to their communities or others.

His debut CD also carries a personal anti-drug message from Gardner in the liner notes. He is working with Artists for a Better World which utilizes performers from all facets of the arts and from all levels, to speak out against drug use and alcohol abuse when they are performing or being interviewed in the media. Artist for a Better World can be located at www.artistsforabetterworld.org

Brian now performs with his group - The Manzanita Acoustic Band - www.myspace.com/themanzanitaacousticband in the Northern California Sonoma Wine Country. If you see that we are performing near you - come up and sit-in or say hi.

Brian encourages people to write to him to express the effects these songs have had on them. Brian loves to receive information when performers have spread the word about his 1 hour a Week program or spoken out against drug use and alcohol abuse. The address for correspondence is: Copperfield Music, P.O. Box 503, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.

Gardner is especially interested in working with film makers, TV producers and musicians looking for fresh material for their films and CD projects. He encourages bands and acts to cover his songs that they like.