 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A Revealing Memoir
now including a bonus audio song!
Gentle Peace: Songs For Survival
(PineTree Press, 2023)
Roger Lee Hall has worked for over 50 years
in
popular music, folk music, and classical music.
For his extensive research and publications, he has been
honored with listings in various directories, including
the International Who's Who in Music and Who's Who in America.
He is now Director of the Center for American Music Preservation (or CAMP),
which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023.
Over many decades, he has collected research and recorded music from
two of the oldest singing traditions in America, both began
in the 18th century and he has included songs for both in his book:
The American Shakers ("Gentle Words")
The Old Stoughton Musical Society ("Gentle Peace")
In his newly expanded book,
he writes about songs that had special meaning for him throughout his life,
from the sorrows of his childhood ("You Belong To Me")
to the joys of his later music compositions ("Gentle Peace").
The first original song Roger wrote was "Dream World,"
written while he was in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany.
He was inspired by the words from a popular song recorded at that time
by Elvis Presley, "It's Now Or Never."
Here he is with his bongo drums ready to record "Dream World"
Another of Roger's early songs, "The Soho Serenade,"
was written after his visit to London in 1963,
where he first heard recordings by The Beatles.
He hoped his song might be used in a film set in London
but that didn't happen.
Here he is holding a framed copy of the 45 RPM record
of "The Soho Serenade"--
He also wrote a song, "Lovely One,"
for his wife
and based on the melody of her favorite classical work --
Debussy's "Clair de Lune"
Besides being a composer, he is also a poet.
He wrote a series of haiku poems for each season of the year.
Six of them
were set to music as his first classical vocal work,
and premiered at Rutgers University in 1970.
These songs are included
on the accompanying "Gentle Peace" CD (see below).
In his book there is a list of his many radio guest appearances
on WGBH-FM where he produced tributes to many popular songwriters
like Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer
and
film composers too, like Bernard Herrmann and John Williams.
These are the 20 songs discussed in Roger's book:
+ = songs arranged or composed by the author = 15
1. “You Belong To Me” (1952)
2. “Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning” (1954)
3. “Shake, Rattle And Roll” (1956)
4. +“Sleep Walk” (1959)
5. +“Dream World” (1961)
6. +“The Soho Serenade” (1964)
7. “The Shadow Of Your Smile” (1965)
8. +“So Far Away” (1965)
9. “The Look Of Love” (1967)
10. +“Lovely One” (1967)
11. -16. +"Six Haiku Songs" (1970)
17. +“Gentle Words” (1976)
18. +“Simple Gifts” (1987)
19. +“The Dark Night Is Ending” (1988)
20. +“Gentle Peace” (1990)
Gentle Peace: Songs For Survival
(PineTree Press)
This memoir book has been revised
and contains
over 100 b&w and color illustrations
including sheet music for his songs
and is available exclusively here and nowhere else.
The PDF book will be sent directly to you by email attachment,
with no extra shipping charge and no delay in mail delivery.
To order your copy of this PDF memoir book
and also receive the bonus audio of his "Gentle Peace" song,
click on the "Add To Cart" button below,
for the price of only $11.95
payable by credit card to PineTree Productions,
owner of PineTree Press,
through Safe and Secure PayPal --
After you have made your payment,
to receive your copy of the PDF book and song audio
sent directly to you,
send your email address to:
Available separately is the AMRC CD with his music:
You can hear how Roger Hall's career developed from high school onward, and how he became an American Music Preservationist.
Click on any of these links to listen to the hour long podcast
with James Gardner on "Your History - Your Story":Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-history-your-story/id1535889414?i=1000611257078Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mS6z5JjFwUapMnp3jk5XJ?si=lYjF4XNiT7iHmZmD7qCF9wYou Tube
https://youtu.be/aPlzapgMVkM
Support YHYS Podcast & become a patron!
See his other volumes all based on song titles in the Memories and Music series:
"You Are My Sunshine": Memories of Bloomfield, NJ
"Free As The Breeze":
A Songwriter's Songs and Sorrows"Peace'Lovin' Blues": Raised On Rock n' Roll
"Dream World" - Songs, Poems, Stories
"Following The Stars": Music & Memories
of Hopalong Cassidy
"Search Thou My Heart": A Musical Life
"Crazy Rhythm": Memories of Oheka Castle
and Eastern Military Academy
Read about his many publications
as an American Music Preservationist -- click here
As a longtime member of ASCAP,
he has written both pop songs
and classical works.His music is exclusively published
by PineTree Music.
To see the list of all his compositions -- click here
© 2023. PineTree Productions. All Rights Reserved for all original material here.
Contact: pinetreepro@aol.com