Album Notes

GrandBob is a well known songwriter and artist in Nashville, Tennessee. In this album he chronicles the struggles, defeats, and triumphs of the brave settlers who crossed the continent during the great 19th century expansion. The songs tell a kind of mini history of that time, starting with "Wayfaring Stranger," which refers to those who came because of religious persecution, and who made sure in our Constitution that no religious beliefs could be imposed by law upon the people. The album concludes with "America the Beautiful." It was written by Wellesley College professor Katharine Lee Bates in 1893, after she climbed Pikes Peak by prairie wagon and on mule back. She was awe struck by the beauty which she viewed from the summit, and wrote of her experience, "All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse." It is a fitting ending to this project. GrandBob hopes that everyone who hears these songs will catch the same inspiration which Professor Bates had, America the Beautiful, the Promised Land as it was then, and still can be.