Hello from Doyle

July 6, 2008

Hello everyone! So nice of you to check in with me. I have been so busy over the past few months, but things have been going so well for me. My travels have reached from the west to the south to the mid-west and up to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada. One thing that I'm so proud of is the recording I did with my son, Caleb, a few days ago in Beverly Hills, CA, at my friend Michael Lloyd's studio. I wrote a song called Bridging the Gap, and I plan to put it on my new CD to be released later this year. The fact that he plays with a flat-pick is the perfect combination for me to duo with, and the ending will be recognizable to anyone who's been listening to my stuff for a number of years. I should be getting back into the studio in a few days. I'm more excited than ever and really hope you'll enjoy hearing it as much as I am working on it. So far it's all my own compositions and I feel some of my best stuff.

By the way folks... while in the Los Angeles area, Caleb and I also went over to Rivera Research and Development... in other words... Rivera Amplifiers. I recorded a video with Paul Rivera Sr. and Paul Jr. for their website. Of course we did a demo for the Sedona Amp line which is my signature line of amps with them. Please check out the you tube videos on their site, and soon you'll get to check out a video of Caleb and me as we're playing our new song "Bridging the Gap."

As I'm writing this it has been less than 24 hours that I played once again at the Grand Ole Opry. Since it was the 4th of July weekend, I was asked by Opry Manager Pete Fisher to play the Patriotic Medley. I'll have to say that in all my years of playing there (or anywhere else for that matter), I've never received such an incredible ovation and response in singing as I did there last night. There's a feeling in the air that America is pulling together. The incredible increase of fuel costs and the decrease in the value of the dollar has seemed to set in more than I've seen before. Also, the upcoming election and all the media on the war in Iraq all seems to make folks really wonder what's going to happen. Paul Rivera of Rivera amplifiers just returned from Europe where he paid 12 dollars a gallon for gasoline. So, although I'm concerned too for America, I also acknowledge my friends the world over, and my heart goes out to them as well. Since there seems to be a lot uncertainty about things I've also seen that in times like these it's a good thing to try to bring encouragment, and music is a good way to do this. I know, here I go preaching again, but I personally think music is an important investment and hope you'll continue to keep it alive by investing in good instruments and steering your efforts to perform in your churches and civic groups and places for live music as well. The Grand Ole Opry is an American institution and the longest running live radio show in history.

I chose to play my Liberty Tree guitar on the Grand Ole Opry on the Patriotic Medley. This guitar was made from the last existing Liberty Tree which was a part of our American history. According to Bob Taylor, Francis Scott Key actually composed under the shadow of this tree. After the show, George Gruhn came to my dressing room and hung out for awhile. His comment later was that he was glad someone actually played the Liberty Tree guitar rather than just collecting it. He brought in a rare 1922 Gibson L-10 that all the Opry staff pickers were drooling over. He wasn't selling it. It was his own personal guitar and he was proud of it. I played his, and he played the Liberty Tree. Guitars are a wonderful thing. They bring people together. I could never know all that George Gruhn knows about the guitar except that we both love it.

George Gruhn of Gruhn Guitars

George played us several old tunes on his L-10 in the exact style as Mother Maybelle Carter. He played Red Wing, Wildwood Flower, and others. Some of the other pickers like Kerry Marks and Leon Rhodes couldn't believe he could play like that. I couldn't either, and the fact that he came into my dressing room just to pick a tune for me was a nice surprise. George really loves guitars.

Another thing that I'm proud of is that my daughter, Holli, is getting her Masters' Degree at Lee University in a few days. Holli will be teaching French and Spanish in high school. Because of her new venture, I've also had to find someone who can work with me in a management/agent position. For a number of years, I've spoken with different people, but only one who I felt real confident about. His name is Mike Robertson.

Mike Robertson

Mike is a former employee of a large music store in the Chattanooga area and has sold more Doyle Dykes Signature Model Taylor guitars than anyone in the world. He's also a very talented fingerstyle guitar player.
Mike has also been approached by Taylor guitars to be one of their sales representatives but rather chose to join a ministry for teens a few years ago. I am proud that Mike is joining me to bring my music to the world and continue to be my friend and also a friend to lots of other people around the world.

For booking inquiries contact:
Mike Robertson
423.227.1575
mike@doyledykes.com

I sincerely hope you will be encouraged that God is our source no matter how things continue to go in the world today. He gives hope to the hopeless and will always supply our needs. As far as the gas thing... I ask a blessing and give thanks when I go to the pump these days. As far as everything else... I'm delighted to continue to play music and write new songs and write something like this to someone like you who'll take time to read it. Thank you so much.

God Bless,
Doyle