“Ray lived for over a decade in Napa...
how could I not write the ‘wizard of
the valley’ a song for this project?
We met around 2008 at Trefethen
Auction dinner, he had his keyboard
on the grass and after we had dinner
together he said ‘why don’t you sing
some Doors songs with me?’ We
rocked it and that’s when I made
a serious connection to this genius
and globally beloved artist.
“He was a little grumpy about
driving all the way up Spring
Mountain to the top where I
was recording at Pride Mountain
Vineyards’ Red House-family guest
house. But once he got there, he
was gracious and no BS, and was
like ‘let’s dig in and do this!’
“We are working on a video to go
with this song as a tribute to Ray,
and Doors manager Jeff Jampol has
kindly been helping us behind the
scenes not only with the video but
in giving us advice re: building out
our Napa Crossroads CD project
and future lifestyle brand. Great
guy, and I feel like he could be Ray’s
brother, they are so much alike.”
SW: How did you select the five
winery partners for the project?
DP: They were all friends or people
I’d performed for or with. It started
with Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo
Vineyards who invited me to his
Harvest Jam called “Oakville
Sessions” in 2005. He is so great! He
indulged my dream to meet the great
winery owners and winemakers and I
indulged his: I wrote a song with him
for his daughter April’s 2006
wedding, called April Born In May,
with country star Billy Dean helping
too...and now that song is on the
Napa Crossroads CD.
Jeff introduced me at that first
Harvest Jam to David Duncan, CEO
of Silver Oak--and I just knew I’d
met a life-long friend and someone
who was already writing poetry and
playing music in a sort of folksy
bluegrass ensemble, but also a lover
of Stones, Dead, Doors, Who! And he
loved the idea of co-writing with me
songs that were real parts of his and
my life. David and Jeff were the first
two to come aboard. And it grew
to become 5 great wineries and
great people.
I literally felt like I was in a heaven
on earth scenario, having these
winery owners as my partners on a
once-in-a-lifetime project like this.
SW: How did you select the
individual artists that play along
with you on the album?
DP: Again, friends and “casting”
the right friends to play on the
right songs.
That’s what a producer who knows
his craft does. He “casts” the
musicians, the engineers, the
singers, just the right way. Quincy
Jones taught me a lot about this,
and he is one of my real life mentors
in this area.
It also comes from a lot of
experience in the studio and the true
blessing of having these kinds of
artist friends. I do the same favors
right back for them when they need
it. We all pull together.
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