About the Banjo-centric Project

Singer-songwriter Robert Palomo describes himself as “an American of Hispanic descent who lives in Russia and plays and writes music for the banjo, an instrument of African origin”.

OK, that was just a quote from my Bio. True as far as it goes, but not really what this blog is About. Here’s the scoop: I’ve spent my whole life as a musician performing other peoples’ music. Nothing wrong with that — you help folks enjoy themselves and forget about the old Rat Race for a while. I’ve had a lot of fun, both in bands and as a solo acoustic music act, entertaining folks with favorite tunes they know, and can hum along with, or dance on tables to whilst swilling brewskis. I’ve forgotten more cover tunes than a lot of musicians ever learn.

But all along I’ve had a dirty little secret. I’ve lived with it for more than 25 years. Now it’s confession time. I am a closet songwriter. On occasion over the years, as the Muses have seen fit, I have penned tunes and played them for my cats. Not my parents. Not my wife. Not my kids. Not the folks in sedate restaurant and hotel lounges. Not the folks in smoky dives. Just the cats.

There’s an odd thing that happens after that much time. First, you can start to lose the older folks. Second, you start to realize you ain’t gettin’ no younger, your pain and your hunger are drivin’ you… STOOOOPPPP! (Sorry. Another cover tune leaked out.) Third: You get a new Mac and start recording some of your old tunes and you start to think maybe, just maybe, at least some of them are not that much worse than a lot of what other people have done. And finally, you start to wonder… is it all just crap, fit only for cats who mostly sleep through it, or is there any chance some other folks out there might like any of my music? Your inquiring mind wants to know. Even if the answer ultimately turns out to be “Yes, Robert… it is crap.”

I guess I was galvanized into action by the passing of both my parents in 2010, and realizing I’d never really shared my music with them. So I’ve taken on this project: to record my stuff, cast it forth upon the Internet month by month… as time outside The Dreaded Day Job allows… and see what (if anything) comes of it.

This blog is part of the internet presence I’m creating to that end. If you like acoustic music, folk music, kind of countrified music, different music, I invite you to stay tuned here and to my website. You’ll get to hear stuff as I record it. A lot (but not all) will involve the banjo. You’ll be able to comment here on early takes and log comments which might (or might not!) influence how I finish them up. You’ll also be able to download free MP3 audio of my songs to keep in your library or share with friends.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay out of jail.
<robert>