“Hi Gary. thanks for the nice message and the link.
Would you please send me the lyrics?
Lovely song and feel.
Cheers,
Ray”
That’s part of the email response I received from Raymond Dorset in August of 2020 after emailing him a link to If You Miss Me, a new song of mine.
Ray Dorset is none other than Mungo Jerry of In The Summertime fame; that one hit wonder from the 1970s that is as iconic a summer anthem today as when it was introduced.
When I wrote If You Miss Me I thought I had written a pretty catchy little tune. I liked the message of music bringing everybody together and also the celebration of my southern heritage “If you miss me I’m in Dixie…” After playing it through a few times I realized it reminded me a bit of the skiffle band style of Mungo Jerry. That is what prompted the email.
I wrote to Mr. Dorset thanking him for the years of wonderful music and the inspiration and sent the link to my YouTube video of the new song. Honestly, I never expected to ever hear back from him. He is, after all a pretty big deal; in his mid-70s and still playing live shows and appreciated around the world for his music.
Since that initial email contact, we’ve stayed in touch. I have shared more new music with him (which he’s said he likes!) and he has shared some of his new music with me. Because of the great divide of the Atlantic Ocean I doubt I will ever get to England to meet and make music with him face to face but I am enjoying our electronic “pen-pal” relationship.
At 58 years old I have no delusions of fame and/or fortune but I do hope I can continue to write and perform music that people will enjoy and that may help with their journey.
And knowing that the one and only Mungo Jerry digs my music…that’ll do.