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New photo of Kristin singing for the ERA....with Betty Ford and others

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:25:46 -0700

Sad to hear of the passing of First Lady Betty Ford - a champion for real women and spokesperson for real women's lives. I have just uploaded a photo of Betty Ford and others onstage for an ERA rally at which I was singing. Just click on my photo gallery and you'll see it. I believe it was taken in 1982, and I'm afraid I no longer know the photographer. Behind me was standing Lady Bird Johnson.....next to Betty Ford. They came together to support women's rights - still unfinished business! Enjoy the photos - and see who else you might recognize!

lovely summer night

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 21:45:15 -0700

Enjoyed the Starbucks performance with friends-fans-family-former students-neighbors all in attendance....one young man appeared to be immersed in his "Goosebumps" book although tapping his foot with the beats, and came up afterwards to tell me I was "the most awesome singer he had ever heard"! Don't let appearances fool you....I started the evening with "Satisfied Mind" and got lots of nods and singing along on that one....next evening there is Aug. 6, looking forward!

Cuyahoga River gets an Honorable Mention!

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:22:06 -0800

Not one to enter song contests -- but this one, the Great Lakes Songwriting Contest, Midwest-based and with a track record, seemed to have integrity. I entered a "Midwest" song, Cuyahoga River, about the time in 1970 that the Cuyahoga caught fire from pollution, and the song was awarded an Honorable Mention in this year's contest! I'm so glad this song has found resonance in the hearts of the Midwesterners who run this contest....and hope that it, like Randy Newman's song on the same subject, might have made some small difference in the river cleanup efforts. Thanks to all! (You can purchase a download of it here at the website and at ITunes -- and everywhere else these days!)

Kristin song at You Tube

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:35:51 -0800

hi there - here's a new upload at You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS_k46Xir2I

Bumps in the Road, words and music by Kristin Lems - for Anne Feeney's health benefit! Enjoy ~

singing for fundraiser at Heartland Cafe

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:55:35 -0700

Spirit were soaring despite worrisome bills at the Heartland Cafe benefit last night. One Chicago alderperson and the current City Clerk were in evidence along with lots and lots of Plain Folks. It was a pleasure to add my songs to the mix. I cracked out the harmonica, autoharp, penny whistle and the good ole Seagull guitar of course. Much revelry and enthusiasm! At the end, Katy Hogan singing Imagine, in true torch style, on stage. We raise our glasses to the whole crew at Heartland and wish them 35 more years!!

my inner autoharp....

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:30:45 -0700

This summer I performed for a wedding of a dear friend's daughter, and my part in the ceremony was instrumental music as the wedding party came down the aisle. Pretty cool! I decided to try out the autoharp....a much loved but underused instrument I've had for years ~ and got as a gift from a very special friend. I dusted it off, then took it in to the famous Hogeye Music and had it restrung and adjusted, then went to work on the wedding music. As I got used to the new muscle patterns needed for pushing buttons while strumming in a standing position, my "inner autoharp" emerged from a long sleep, and I got to love it. Next time you see me, just ask for my autoharp rendition of Pachebel's Canon.......!

Feature article in todays' Illinois Times

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:12:03 -0700

I did a phone interview with the Illinois Times and it's published in today's issue....please check it out and enjoy. Looking forward to the Springfield performance!

http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-7092-kristin-lems-is-back.html

amazing coincidence

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:57:13 -0800

I took a friend to the airport Thursday and on the way back to my car, stopped to listen to an amazing jazz violinist, just at the entrance to Terminal 3. He had a whole getup of "karaoke" jazz tracks which he played over with style and skill. Samuel "Savoir Faire" Williams is his name; and I took his card so I could download his recordings later. This guy, I thought, was someone really special.

Fast forward to last night - Saturday night - and a gig I was part of, a benefit for Haiti's children, held at the People's Church. Joe Jencks had invited me to be part of this special show, just he, another guy he know, and myself. I hauled my guitar onto the stage, turned to meet the other musician, and it was.....Samuel Williams!!! His bright, smiling face and complete devotion to his fine art once again stopped me in my tracks. He and Joe did many tunes together, beautifully, I did mine, and we all took a bow together at the end. (I'll upload the photo when I get it.) Samuel is obviously on my cosmic route this week....

You Tube of new song!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:17:43 -0800

I managed to capture the performance of the new song "Oh Little Bird" on video - and have now uploaded it at You Tube. Hope you enjoy it! It was the first performance, so a little rough, but you get the idea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZO_oaAYUgI

new song for Iraqi Student Project

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:44:57 -0800

I just penned a new song, as I often seem to be able to do on the very eve before a gig...."Little Bird" is about displaced persons everywhere, and especially for the people in refugee camps, outside Iraq and all around the world, who just want to go home to a peaceful place. Hope you'll come by for the song's debut. (Feb. 20, 2 pm, Evanston Public Library, Iraqi Student Project).