Laditude is Here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

By Dr. Rick Herrick

I am a child of the sixties. Lots of exciting changes took place then, some interesting things were said. Perhaps my favorite quote from that era comes from a speech delivered by Robert Kennedy. In it he says, “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.”

According to a recent commentator on National Public Radio, there are more than 80,000 songwriters living in the Nashville area. While that figure seems astounding, it tells you something important about the music industry. It helps to explain the sad fact that when it comes to producing a CD most musicians say “why.” It would be one thing if creating a CD was mainly a matter of talent, but far more is involved like money (lots of your own), connections, and luck. We can surely sympathize with those who say “why.”

But with the recent release of “Laditude,” Ken LaDeroute said “why not.” Ken knows the risks, the enormous odds against financial success. Maybe he’s a little crazy. It’s fun to think of our favorite entertainers as a bit daft, but with Ken it’s more a matter that his music comes from somewhere deep inside. He writes with passion, is a gifted musician, and a good lyricist. The songs on the CD needed to be birthed!

In addition to Ken, we are treated to Amy, his wife of eighteen years, who does most of the singing. Her voice is distinctive, hauntingly beautiful, not easy to forget. On stage and live, Amy oozes with charisma. Her eyes jump out at you with warmth, compassion, and energy. Some of the charisma seeps onto the CD. For people who know her, this is not surprising. It should. The traits are genuine.

Though not sixties people, they are both too young to qualify, their music captures the essence of the sixties in one important sense. It is iconoclastic. It breaks all the molds. It is unique, their own sound. When you first hear “You’ve Got That Lovin Down,” you think this is country, but the theme of the song is anything but country. The mood is upbeat, peppy, full of inspiration and hope. With lyrics that are poetic, the song speaks simply about how humans love one another. It reflects the wisdom that comes from the solid ground of their committed relationship together.

Perhaps the most distinctive song musically is “Listen to the Rain.” It is a meditative, sorrowful song about the vulnerability of commitment, about losing someone, about a relationship that doesn’t work. You hear the rain, you feel the melancholy. It’s an impressive achievement.

The CD also has its surprises. It opens with four classic love songs-happy, feel good tunes that speak to the importance of love in a world that seems at times to have gone a little crazy. And then comes “Minefield,” a song about tiptoeing around a deeply troubled relationship. The music has an edge. It is loud, explosive, discordant in places. It captures and defines the lyrics of the song.

The signature song of “Here” comes near the end of the CD. It’s a hymn to the power of a good marriage. The song is moving with harmony that is beautiful and guitar work that is masterful. The lyrics will make you cry. Like all of the songs on this CD, it contains a message, but Ken never preaches. His message is always subtly expressed, woven together with music that is both exciting and appropriate and presented through the voice of Amy, a voice that you will remember long after the music has stopped. This is definitely a CD you will want to add to your collection.

CD’s are available at these locations. In Boone: Bare Essentials, TCBY, Hully Gully Music, Grapevine Music, Claison Salon. In Blowing Rock: Pandoras Mailbox, Dress Barn. Online at www.laditude.com, www.cdbaby.com, www.cdstreet.com and www.amazon.com 

Rick Herrick, author of A Week in October and An Uncommon Woman