A little visiting with your friends, some relaxing beverage, an intimate reading accompanied with song, a room packed to the gills all for a visit with one of the most famous songwriters out there, a personally signed book in your hand: This was Lemuria last night as singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell kicked off his book tour for Chinaberry Sidewalks.

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Rodney said that you write a book because you have to write a book. This certainly was a book he had to write–it took ten years to write his memoir, but the work has garnered the attention of respected, colorful characters like Rick Bragg, Mary Karr and Kris Kristofferson. It is unquestionable after listening to Rodney sing last night that he has the heart of a poet, he is a wordsmith of the old school with songs like “Back down there . . . the sweet delta dawn” and the beautiful Roy Orbison melody “What kind of love?”

I asked Rodney about his connection to Mary Karr–who was just here this past July. I figured there was a meaningful one since they were both writers with a gritty Texas childhood. Not only are they buds, but collaborating song writers. Rodney said they will have an album coming out soon. Hopefully, they will do a tour and share a wonderful evening with us again.

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