RANGER REPORT & Tuesday, December 6, 2005

BOY: "Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a musician."
MOTHER: "Son, you have to choose one or the other."

Hey everybody! It's me, Ranger Will with a whole bunch of season's greetings to you and yours from everyone here at Los Manatees International Headquarters.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, I have proudly joined the famous West Chester Christmas Carolers under the fine direction of Rob Dickenson. (Robbie is a West Chester, PA musician who fronts his own two bands, "Goodfoot" and "The Rob Dickenson Trio", and also plays the guitar left-handed and upside-down just like me.) Here are the remaining caroling dates:

Monday 12/12 & Brandywine Hall & 7:00pm
Tuesday 12/13 & Chester County Hospital & 7:00pm
Monday 12/19 & Barclay Home & 7:00pm

All of these dates take place in West Chester, PA. Other Los Manatees alumni caroling members include Ray Adkins and Dance Wareham. This Sunday we will be on "The Gene Shay Show" on WXPN radio 88.5FM! The show starts at 8:00pm but we probably won't appear until closer to 10:00pm. There will be four of us in the World Café Studios in Philadelphia with Gene: Ted the Fiddler on fiddle/vocals, Randy Wagner on bass/vocals, Kathleen Weber on vocals/percussion and myself on guitar/harmonica/vocals. We'll be playing three or four songs and promoting Ted the Fiddler's annual birthday show which takes place at 8:00pm, Friday, Dec. 23, at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, PA.

The Colonial is a grand old American theater where Harry Houdini once performed and where they filmed "The Blob" with Steve McQueen in the '50s. Ted the Fiddler works there as a film projectionist. The theme of this year's party is singer/songwriters. I will be doing an acoustic set of my own original material accompanied by Ted, Randy, Kathleen and Joe "Jozo" Rizzo (guitar/vocals). Ray Adkins will also be performing some of his own songs. This is a chance to see us in a smoke-free relaxed family environment. There is a small admission price with proceeds going to the theater restoration project.

On Saturday, December 17, Los Manatees drummer extraordinaire Ritchie DeCarlo will celebrate his 10th year (to the day) of playing with us. We will mark the occasion with a private party in his honor. Well done Ritchie!

New Year's Eve with Los Manatees! La Banda Grande with The Rhino Horns performing at Crazy Carl's in Schwenksville, PA. We will be playing downstairs in the big room. "Crazy View Dew" will play upstairs. Two bands, special guests, surprises, and goodies for only ten bucks! Tickets are available at www.crazycarls.com or you can purchase them from a band member at any of our upcoming shows.

Our long-awaited studio album is nearing completion. All that remains to be done are a few more over-dubs and the final mixing. We had hoped to have it ready for Christmas but we will have to wait for a spring release date. Meanwhile work has already begun on my new solo album at Manatee keyboardist Karl Frick's Lakestone Studio.

That's about it from this reporter.
Hah Bumhug,
Ranger Will

Link Wray & 1929-2005