Rick Mang: Certified Therapeutic Music Entertainer and Village Chaplain

Rick is a retired United Methodist Church pastor who is proud to provide music for children and senior adults, as well as providing pastoral support as a community chaplain, especially to individuals and families who are not part of a church home in Hood, Summervell and Johnson Counties in North Central Texas. In addition, Rick is currently serving as the part-time pastor of the Waples United Methodist Church in Granbury, TX.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Jorma Kaukonen and Ruthie Foster - Long Time Gone

A great cover of Long Time Gone by Jorma Kaukonen and Ruthie Foster. Jorma is 70 years old and can still growl out a great acoustic guitar lead. Ruthie's vocal are just as great as well!

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Another favorite from the 70's - Dave Mason-We Just Disagree

Dave Mason playing a 12-string on the video of one of his performances on The Midnight Special program back in the 1970's.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Saturday, February 14, 2015

More Acoustic favorites - James Taylor - "Sweet Baby James"

OK OK OK! I got nailed, I know it . . . how does one start listing favorite acoustic guitar songs without mentioning James Taylor.

Hope this gets me off the hook. More James Taylor to come!

Happy Valentine's Day!

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Friday, February 13, 2015

I just ordered a couple of sets . . .

I've heard about these new Martin Retro series guitar strings, after reading an article about Tony Rice and his preference for Monel (nickel) wrapped guitar strings. I was grazing around on the Martin site trying to get more info and came across this video.

I ordered several sets of the Tony Rice Signature version of these strings, since they are medium's and that's the gauge I play on my Martin D-18, J-40, and my Taylor GS Custom built. I will let you know what I experience in the next couple of weeks. I'll be recording a music video with some friends in the next few months as part of a volunteer project for the folks at the Hugworks Children's Network. I will need some time to figure out if these strings sound OK acoustically, and when plugged in to an amp or PA.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Thursday, February 12, 2015

This is so sweet . . . . Laurence Juber - "Stormy Weather"

This is so sweet! Laurence Juber playing stormy weather.

Please enjoy . . . I have each time I have listened to this.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Acoustic Favorite from the 70's - Michael Martin Murphey - Texas Morning

And yet still another acoustic favorite from the 70's.

Originally written and recorded by B. W. Stevenson in 1972, this 1980's version, sung on an Austin City Limits program by Michael Martin Murphey, is my favorite

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Acoustic Favorite from the 70's - Rocky Moutain High - John Denver

Another acoustic favorite from the 70's.

Call me weird, call me strange, call me a teen from the 70's . . . but this is still one of my favorite songs of all time.

Released in October of 1972 (if my memory serves me correct), this is a recording of John singing the song in 1994 at a concert in Australia. He shared in an interview once that this song took him over 9 months to write.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Monday, February 9, 2015

Acoustic Favorite from the 70's - Neil Young - Old Man & Heart of Gold

Another acoustic favorite from the 70's. Neil Young singing Old Man and Heart of Gold.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Acoustic Favorite from the 70's - Crosby Stills Nash - Southern Cross

Vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars. Chills running down my spine.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Acoustic Favorite from the 70's - Jim Croce - I Got a Name

Another acoustic guitar favorite from the 1970's. Jim and Murray both died too young.

Rick ><>

Friday, February 6, 2015

Acoustic Favorite from the 70's - Loggins and Messina - Danny's Song

Another favorite from the 1970's. My oh my, but it was fun to own and play and acoustic guitar back then.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Acoustic Favorite from the 70's - David Loggins - Please Come To Boston

A great song by David Loggins.

God's grace still amazes me . . . ><>

Monday, February 2, 2015

R.I.P. - Steve Weisberg

Well, I am a day late and a dollar short. I just found out that guitarist and songwriter Steve Weisberg lost his battle to cancer in May of 2014.

If you are a John Denver fan, then you will remember that Steve was John's lead guitar player from 1973 to around 1977. He was a brilliant acoustic lead guitar player, and multi-instrumentalist.

Guitar players like Steve Weisberg, John Somers, and the late Red O'Shea and the late Terry Clements were my first guitar heroes. And my brother, Joe Laughlin.

God's grace, and good guitar players, still amazes me . . . ><>

Rev. Rick Mang is a Certified Therapeutic Entertainer who sings for children in hospitals and for senior adults in various venues. He also provides music for community groups and events, and for churches as his schedule permits. Rick is a retired United Methodist Pastor who is now proud to serve the citizens of Hood, Summervell and Johnson Counties as a Community / Village Chaplain. In that capacity, Rick is available to officiate weddings as well as funerals, memorial services or services of remembrance. In addition, Rick has lead grief recovery classes and provided short-term grief counseling. Rick strives to be available to "anyone" who needs his services, schedule permitting. He has a 31 year full-time professional history of being able to serve not only a church, but also the citizens in the entire community as well. Rick feels called to provide music and pastoral support for children, senior adults, and for individuals and families who are not part of a church home by choice or due to a previous bad experience.

DISCLAIMER . . .

It goes without saying . . .

The announcements, updates, thoughts, opinions, ideas, stories, meditations, prayers, recommendations, and other information written anywhere on this blog, are usually my own ramblings and responses to things I have seen, heard, read, experienced or witnessed. I write out of the ever changing and conflicted struggle that exists between my head and my heart as I try to live out my life mission in the best and most productive way I can.

What I write or share in no way reflects the views of any church, denomination, political party, family member, friend, relative, writer, musical group, musician friend, artist, fishing buddy, fellow hiker, walker, other blogger, city, state, county, nation, or for that matter anybody else you possibly could ever hope to think of.

Sometimes, the words and thoughts of others are so well written, and touch me so deeply, that I am moved to share them. When and if I share the words and thoughts of others, I honestly try to give and acknowledge appropriate credit, and will do so if you bring it to my attention that I haven't.