Back in the Studio!

As promised, I am going into the recording studio next week to record the songs that accompany my books, and a new CD titled Boogie Woogie Bugs. It will take a month or two to finish the recording and then I will ship them off to be manufactured. So stay tuned for news about the new CD release.

Updated Tour Dates - April 2009

April 5 from 12:30-2:30, Book Signing, A Tisket A Tasket, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
April 5 from 3:00-5:00, Book Signing, Louisiana Food Festival, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
April 9 from 7:00-9:00, Book Signing & Reading, Barnes & Noble, Metairie, LA
April 11 at 2:00, Concert and Book Signing, Southern Food & Beverage Museum, Riverwalk, New Orleans, LA
April 18 from 7:00-8:30 p.m., Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA
April 19 at 3:15, Concert, Kids Stage, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, LA
April 24 at 5:30, Concert, Grand Opening of Westside Regional Library, Alexandria, LA
April 25 at 10:00 and 11:00, Concert, Peyton Arts Festival, First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA
April 25 from 3:00-4:00, Book Signing, School Aids, Alexandria, LA

Plenty of Smiles and Giggles - Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud Review

"Johnette Downing has shaped a clever just-so story out of the flora and fauna and mud of south Louisiana. There are plenty of smiles and giggles, and readers will even pick up a few Cajun expressions along the way. Once again, Downing has created a tale as lively and melodic as her wonderful song-and-story performances."

-Michael Tisserand
author of Sugarcane Academy and The Kingdom of Zydeco

Tour Dates - April 2009

April 9 from 7:00-9:00, Book Signing & Reading, Barnes & Noble, Metairie, LA
April 11 at 2:00, Concert, Southern Food & Beverage Museum, Riverwalk, New Orleans, LA
April 18 from 7:00-8:30 p.m., Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA
April 19 at 3:15, Concert, Kids Stage, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, LA
April 25 at 10:00 and 11:00, Concert, Peyton Arts Festival, First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA
April 25 from 3:00-4:00, Book Signing, School Aids, Alexandria, LA

Mailbox - Letters from Friends and Fans

"Douglas has been playing guitar for 6 years now and for almost 2 years has been playing stand-up bass in a couple of orchestra groups. We always tell people that he got his inspiration from his amazing Pre-K music teacher who made him want to play guitar. I use your music with my first graders all the time!!"

- Robin Snyder, Parent and Teacher

Thanks Robin! Douglas was always a dynamic and kind student in my class. I feel blessed to have inspired him along his journey. He certainly inspired me.

Tour Schedule - March 2009

March 1-3, Middle East Performance and Workshop Tour, Oman

March 4-10, Middle East Performance and Workshop Tour, Bahrain

March 11-19, Middle East Performance and Workshop Tour, United Arab Emirates

March 26 at 5:30, Tots N Tunes, Mandeville, LA

March 28 from 11:00-12:00, Book Signing and Reading, Playville, Covington, LA

March 31 at 3:30, Jeff Davis Library and Carnegie Library Co-sponsors, Jennings, LA

On Tour in the Middle East - Oman

Well, I'm in the Middle East again and having a great time. I just finished my tour in Oman. It was my first visit to the country and I was so impressed with the beauty and warm hospitality.  I stayed in Muscat and conducted workshops for educators in Sohar and Nizwa.  Dedicated teachers traveled from all over the country  (Batinah North, Dhahairah, Buraimi, Musandam, Batinah South, Dakliyah, Sharqiyah South, Sarqiyah North and Wusta) to attend my workshops and they were eager to learn techniques for using music as a teaching tool in the classroom. They even taught me a song or two (many thanks)! 

Many ladies made delicious homemade dishes such as halwa (the official dessert of Oman) to delight our taste buds and I was treated to some tourist treasures such as the Al Hoota Cave. The cave is home to the eight-eyed spider found only in the that cave. Luckily, the eight-eyed spider didn't have his eyes on me or me on him, but I did see some local bats hanging around. 

My hosts Walter and Michelle went above and beyond to make my tour enjoyable and successful. Michelle gave me many Omani gifts including a book of folk tales that she assures me will make my hair stand on end! I hope to return to Oman again soon, Inshallah, and want to thank everyone who made my tour so enjoyable. Shokran!

Next stop, Bahrain!