I just want to alert everyone to a new CD that was released last week on Gadfly Records - David Massengill's "We Will Be Together".   

I've been a David Massengill fan since the early 80's and I could never figure out why he was never snapped up by a major record label when others with lesser talent were.   Perhaps it was for the best.

David is one of the most creative and articulate songwriters around. He has grown as an artist and his story telling abilities have become a huge part of his performance.

His new CD is a sampler of sorts. David is working on 7 different projects ranging from a tribute album for his mentor Dave Van Ronk to a musical version of Jack in the Beanstalk.   The CD gives us an insight into the diverse imagination and creative process that is David Massengill.

Particularly touching are the songs dealing with Dave Van Ronk.   When I chatted with Dave at NERFA a few years back, he told me a touching story of how Dave's widow Andrea Vuocolo gave him the remains of the last cigar that Dave would smoke. This has evolved into a song appropriately titled "Dave Van Ronk's Last Cigar". He also does a version of a "Somebody Else Not Me", a song that was closely associated with Van Ronk.

The CD is available from Gadfly Records .

I gave further review, plus some memories of the Fast Folk days, on my website - www.ronolesko.blogspot.com

This is an essential CD, and I think it is fair to say that it will appear on many "Best of" lists for 2006! Check it out!!!