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From Bill's Desk View Previous Letters From Bill May 18, 2004 Hi Everyone, Hope all of you are doing well and looking forward to the summer season. Thank you very much for all of your letters, e-mails, and orders over the past year. It is great hearing from you. Please continue to stay in touch when you have time. I will be looking forward to seeing many of you at my performances during 2004. My best to all, Bill Hall hipeaks@telenet.net Letters to Bill View Previous Letters To Bill September 25, 2002 Dear Bill: I saw your concert during Teddy R's Days this year, and enjoyed all of your music, but particularly "Santanoni Skies". Will you do a new recording so I can purchase a copy? My family has a small cabin in Newcomb (right on 28N) which was purchased by my grandfather in the late 50's - he called it Santanoni, because it faced the mountain. We have a deep affection for Newcomb, and consequently dearly loved your song! Sue M Reply from Bill: Dear Sue, Thank you for your e-mail! I'm happy you liked my ballad "Santanoni Skies(over Pendleton)." I am planning to include it on a new CD, which I hope to begin recording during the early part of this winter. The album will feature my latest songs and will most likely be called "Santanoni Skies." There will be progress reports listed on my web site www.bill-hall.com. Also, thank you for sharing the information about your family's cabin and how it was named "Santanoni" by your grandfather. I'm glad you were able to attend my concert at Adirondac. It's such a special place to perform because it holds so many stories relating to our Adirondack heritage. It is also very meaningful to me that you took the time to let me know you enjoyed my performance and "Santanoni Skies(over Pendleton)." My best to you and your family. Sincerely, Bill New York Dear Bill Your book is a gem. I like the progression of stories and photos and stories continued. It reads easily and flows beautifully. It is such a gift to your children. I thank you for my copy! Blessings, Mary New York Dear Bill, Thank you so much for the book. Finally! I have started reading it and can see I will enjoy it greatly. You deserve a lot of credit for being able to do this all at home. Sincerely, Bob New York Hi Bill We met at the Art Center in Old Forge during our annual Neighbor Day celebration. You graciously gave me a tour of your sound equipment. I didn't realize it at the time but we share some Adirondack heritage. I read about your being a 5th generation and about your great grandfather. My grandfather discovered Grace Brown's body in Big Moose Lake and my great grandfather was the town justice who arraigned Chester Gillette. I have a question for you; do you know if Roosevelt shot any deer during his hunting trip in September of 1901? I know someone who has a mounted deer head with an inscription on the back that makes the claim that the deer was shot by Teddy Roosevelt at Tahawus in September 1901. She was completely unaware of the significance of the date and place. I saw photos of the head and the inscription, it's pretty ugly! I'll be looking for your performances this summer. Jim Reply from Bill: Hello Jim, Thank you for your message. Yes, we had quite a talk about guitars, amps, and recording. I think people's experiences are one of the best ways to find out about different musical equipment. There's so much to choose from today that it is hard to know where to begin. I guess if a person can figure out what he or she is trying to accomplish, that can be a guideline. Of course, there are always a few surprises. Thank you for sharing the information about the incident at Big Moose Lake. And to think your grandfather and great grandfather were part of that story that I believe was a book and possibly a movie called the "American Tragedy." It is a very small world. That's what I like about performing. It puts me in touch with other's experiences and heritage. Another few minutes and we might never have visited. Prior to my performance in Old Forge, I happened to be looking up information about Roosevelt. That's when I remembered something about a deer being shot. There's a small book titled "Theodore Roosevelt's Night Ride to the Presidency." I think the Adirondack Museum had it published. It tells about Teddy Roosevelt Jr. getting his first deer in 1901 just before his father became president. Could that be the buck you mentioned or did his father get one too? Maybe there will be further information in some of my other books. Thanks again for sharing some of your heritage with me. Hope you have a great summer! Bill New York Hi Bill It was nice to see and talk with you again at Author's Night in Long Lake. Please set aside a copy of your new book Echoes from the Past when it becomes available. Thanks Dick Reply from Bill: Good evening Dick, It was such a pleasant surprise to receive your e-mail. I will be happy to set aside a copy of Echoes from the Past for you. In fact, when I got home from Long Lake, I marked your name down, so you would be sure to get one. It as a pleasure seeing you again and having the chance to visit. Thanks for your continued interest in my music. It really means a lot. Bill South Carolina Dear Bill At long last, this is being sent to you, a great article on beavers, which Dave and I figured you should make the centerpiece of your next folk song, as this is an amazing and valuable animal that does so many good things. Loved your Saranac Lake ballad, and the Great Camps song and everything on your cassette! Think you may get some good ideas for your next song from the enclosed. Have a good Year! Bob Reply from Bill: Dear Bob, I am sorry for the long delay in getting back to you. I want to thank you for the great information you sent me on beavers. They are quite extraordinary! "Leave it to the Beavers" will certainly be helpful in the event I can write a beaver song. Due to having composed works for a guitar recital that are made up of pieces relating to nature, I've been side tracked a bit from writing folk songs. Also, I am working overtime to finish my book. I think I mentioned it to you and Dave at Silver Bay. It's an autobiography that also includes the lyrics to 32 of my ballads. Maybe if I can get beyond the book project, it will free me to compose more ballads. If that happens, I will certainly keep a beaver song on top of my list of possibilities. I really enjoyed performing at Silver Bay and having the opportunity to meet you and Dave. I'm happy you enjoy the tape. Thanks again for thinking of me in regard to a beaver song. Hope to see you again at some point. Take care, and have a good summer. Sincerely, Bill New York Dear Bill We loved the music in Newcomb on Teddy Roosevelt Day. The students were very impressed. I particularly like the story song. Thank you Kathy Reply from Bill: Dear Kathy, Thank you for your very thoughtful card. Also, a special thanks to Kendra for taking the time to write me a beautiful letter about how she enjoyed my music and her overall day. I enjoyed performing for all of the students on Teddy Roosevelt Day at the Overlook in Newcomb. They were wonderful and very attentive. It was such a pleasure to sing and play for everyone and also being able to see the spectacular view of the High Peaks in the background. Again, thanks for taking the time to be in touch with me. It's fond memories like these that will help me write my next song. Sincerely, Bill New York Dear Mr. Hall Thank you for the lovely music. I had a great time listening to it. I liked the songs very much. It was a great day. I learned a lot about Teddy Roosevelt on Friday. He did many things when he was a kid. He hunted, hiked, and played. He collected animal's bones and minerals. I liked the displays a lot. They showed different types of nature. Once again, thank you. Sincerely Kendra Pennsylvania Dear Bill What a pleasure it was to see you on Saturday night! Thanks for coming and also, thanks for the great performance. We all enjoyed it thoroughly! I look forward to receiving the tapes, which I hope will hold me over until we meet again, Sincerely, John New York Dear Mr. Hall, I wish you all the best on writing your book. The memories of your debut on your classical guitar are still in my mind. Sincerely, Deb New York Dear Bill It was great to see you and listen to you perform again. It sure brought back some wonderful memories of you sharing your music with me. I'll always be grateful. Here is a clipping from our local newspaper. Love, Kim New York Dear Bill, Because of your entertaining music, the story of Teddy Roosevelt leaving the mountains to become President makes sense. Thank you for all your music as well as the ballad concerning your great-grandfather. God bless all your days, Sr. Francis New York Dear Mr. Hall, Thank you for providing the wonderful Adirondack entertainment for our Honor Society induction. You helped to make our day very special. Yours truly, Newcomb Honor Society New York Dear Bill, Thank you so very much for your beautiful performance at our library. Your quiet style and heart-felt love of the Adirondacks truly enhanced our local history series. Everyone in attendance truly enjoyed themselves...most of all, me! Best wishes in all you do, Barbara Amsterdam Library New York Dear Bill, We really enjoyed your presentation at our Morning Program. We plan to sing your songs all week. Thanks for the great kick-off to our Adirondack theme. Sincerely, Long Lake Central, k-3 Staff, and Students New York Dear Bill, I wanted to thank you again for your good music at the Authors' Party on Saturday. Thanks again for your participation - this year, and the years before. Best Regards, Alice Reply from Bill: Dear Alice, Thank you for your note. I want you to know that I always enjoy performing at the Authors' Parties held at the Adirondack Museum. It has great meaning to me whenever I sing and play in the atmosphere of the museum because of the close ties my ballads have to the exhibits. I always feel the sounds and traditions of the classical guitar seem to match those of nature and the Adirondacks. Thanks again. Sincerely, Bill New York Dear Bill The fruit basket is a token of our appreciation for your part in making my 75th birthday a memorable occasion. Your "concert" was the crowning touch to a great evening--also our conversations and sharing. Very sincerely, Clifford   © 1999-2014 Bill Hall. All Rights Reserved.