Pete Droge – “Song For Barbara Ann”
Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Pete Droge’s song “Song For Barbara Ann,” co-written with Elaine Summers, from his forthcoming album Fade Away Blue, which is set for release on August 22. Fade Away Blue was produced by Paul Bryan and Pete Droge with executive oroducer Elaine Summers; mixed by Paul Bryan; engineered by Paul Bryan, Pete Droge, Russ Fowler & Chris Sorem and recorded at Puzzle Tree Studio, Western Electric & Nest Recorders. It was mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters.
“Song For Barbara Ann” is Pete Droge on guitars and vocals; Jay Bellerose on drums and percussion; Paul Bryan on bass and chamberlain; and Lee Pardini on piano.
This is a song of soul searching, in particular a search for identity through looking for biological parents. Hazy imagery, old photographs, and tender vocals address this compassionate song: “I’ve got your hazel eyes / they say it’s uncanny how much I remind them of you / pining for someone that I never knew.” Syncopated percussion keeps the song moving forward as piano and violin carry the melody.
Pete tells us: “Around the time I turned 40, I began to do some serious soul searching to try to understand myself better. Thanks to a flurry of coincidences and a random computer glitch, it dawned on me that my adoption was a major piece of the puzzle I’d never looked into. Searching online, I learned about ambiguous grief and adoption trauma, unlocking an emotional tidal wave that culminated when I learned that my birth mother had died just months before.
“Traveling to Appalachian Ohio and meeting the rest of my birth family was incredibly healing. They welcomed me with open arms. My people have lived among the rolling hills near the Ohio River for five generations. I devoured every bit of family history I could get my hands on. I still have no idea who my birth father is. That space was left blank on the Pre-Adoption Birth Record. Perhaps someone who knew Barb at the University of Oregon in Eugene in the late sixties will hear ‘Song for Barbara Ann’ and reach out to provide clues as to who my birth father might be. Heck, maybe ‘Bio Dad’ himself will hear it and make contact.
“‘Song for Barbara Ann’ is the keystone of Fade Away Blue. All the other songs were chosen based on whether or not they could live alongside it. The song was originally intended to be part of The Droge & Summers Blend project. I cut the guitar and lead vocal back in 2013 before my fatigue issues forced me to put my career on hold. Ultimately, I chose to save the song for Fade Away Blue.”
Find the music here: https://orcd.co/fadeawayblue
